Families and Tinnitus with Denise and Jennifer Capriati

ATA PODCASTS: TRANSCRIPT

     Families and Tinnitus with Denise and Jennifer Capriati

Title: Families and Tinnitus with Denise and Jennifer Capriati
Description:ATA member Denise Capriati speaks about her personal tinnitus experience with her daughter Jennifer.
Author: American Tinnitus Association; recorded by filmmaker, ATA member and advocate Jose Zambrano Cassella
Length: 03:29
Size: 2.39 MB

Transcript

(Music intro)

Denise Capriati: Hi, I'm Denise Capriati. About 5 years ago, I encountered this noise in my ear and I was told I that I had tinnitus and it was a condition that would never go away. I frantically searched for help and I found the American Tinnitus Association and sent for all the information I could possibly get and to learn more about the condition. Then I realized there are millions of people afflicted with this, especially our veterans coming back from the war. I realized this was something that had to be addressed and researched and to do whatever I could to help others.

Jennifer Capriati: I'm Jennifer Capriati and I'm the daughter of someone who suffers from tinnitus, my mother. She's had it, it started about 5 years ago. I had no idea what it was and what she was talking about. She had just gone through this surgery, we both and been going through surgery at the time. She came to me and said I have this noise in my ear and I could see kind of the panic in her face and the worry, I said it would just go away, it's nothing, it will be gone, it is just something temporary.

Denise Capriati: You know, when I first told everyone that I had tinnitus and no one really knew what it was, no one in my family really understood it, and all my friends. I was like 'can you hear it? can't you hear this?' and nobody really could relate. So that's why I reached out to people, I got online and different groups and organizations, so I could talk to people who had it, who could understand.

Jennifer Capriati: My mom has always been the life of the party and just so enjoyable and just so happy, no matter what obstacles she has faced in her life and we faced as a family. I could see this was something different and it was distraught for her, and I had never seen that side of her before.

Denise Capriati: I think people get fearful. I had a lot of fear and that is something that does control you. So, just keep being hopeful and reaching out to people.

Jennifer Capriati: There has to be a cure for this condition. I can't see my mother suffer like this for the rest of her life. With your help we can all band our voices together to help the ATA fulfill its mission. I know that many of you out there have loved ones who suffer from tinnitus too and this is the perfect opportunity to join the fight for a cure.

Denise Capriati: To learn more about tinnitus for yourself.

Jennifer Capriati: Or a loved one.

Denise Capriati: Please visit the American Tinnitus Association at www.ata.org.