|
If
you would
like to opt-out from messages such as this, please send the
message "Unsubscribe" to this email address: editor@ata.org.
Having
trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser.
|
ATA Electronic Newsletter
October 2012 – Volume 2,
Issue 3
|
A Message From the
Editor
|
|
Dear ATA Supporters,
Happy Fall! I hope
you all had an enjoyable summer and are all looking forward to the
changing of the seasons. ATA has been hard at work all summer long
preparing for some big events in 2013 that we look forward to sharing
with you in the coming months via email, our social networks like
Facebook and Twitter and in the Winter 2012 issue of Tinnitus Today. 2012 was an
incredible year for ATA and we look forward to making 2013 even better.
Some of the most exciting things on the horizon in 2013 include two NIH
sponsored clinical trials for new tinnitus management/cancellation
techniques that hold potential for new treatments. You can read more
about those trials below and learn how to
participate by checking ATA.org/clinical-trials beginning in 2013.
There will also be some brand
new ATA-related events in 2013- walks, runs, bike rides, mountain
climbs and more! These exciting events will take place in every corner
of
the country and ATA would love for as many people as possible to
be
involved. Again, please stay tuned to ATA.org, and our social
networking sites for more information on how you can be involved in
these events, and how to support these events.
Additionally, as we approach the holiday season, (which seems to come
earlier and earlier each year, doesn't it?) it is also the time of year
when people begin to think about their end-of-year giving. And so, I'll
take this opportunity to encourage you to give as much as you possibly
can to ATA as part of your end-of-year giving. All charitable
contributions to ATA are fully tax-deductible and so it's a wonderful
way to help one of your favorite charities and also help your 2012
tax-return.
I hope you find the content in this newsletter enjoyable, informative
and inspiring in your own journey with tinnitus. If you have questions,
comments or submissions for the ATA
Electronic Newsletter or for the print edition of Tinnitus Today, please send them to
me at editor@ata.org.
Kind Regards,
Jennifer Born
Editor, Tinnitus Today
editor@ata.org
Support the Next
Generation of Tinnitus Researchers
|
It was 2 a.m. on June
28, 2009, and everyone in the house was asleep – except for 15-year old
Gita Bhattacharya. Tossing, turning, and putting
her hands over her ears, she was trying to convince herself that the
sound she was hearing was not there. This had been going on for
several nights now. Unable to sleep, she searched the internet and
started doing a little research. She discovered that she had tinnitus
and that there was currently no cure.
One of the first websites she found was ATA.org. "One of the things
that affected me most,"
Gita told us later, "was a video created for ATA about the dangers of
loud music. It scared me to learn that listening to music at loud
levels can be a main cause of tinnitus." Gita was scared, but
determined not to let her tinnitus stop her from doing the things she
enjoyed. "I played percussion in the marching band, jazz band, and
drumline for years. It really hurt me to realize the music I loved
could be the reason for my personal agony."
As Gita learned more about her condition and began to adjust to life
with tinnitus, she turned to ATA for help. "I tried to figure things
out on my own," she told ATA staff. "I was scared, confused, and
frustrated. I felt alone. No one could hear what I was hearing, and the
sounds were getting louder. Working on the problem was something that
helped me through it all, and ATA was there for me when I needed them."
Read Gita's full story and donate to the campaign by clicking here.
International
Tinnitus Seminar 2014 - Berlin
|
The new Berlin, host
of the XI International Tinnitus Seminar 2014, presents itself to
visitors as a cosmopolitan city. The Brandenburg Gate, once a symbol of
the divided Germany, has become the emblem of the German capital.
Berlin is situated in the heart of a continent moving towards
unification, and plays an important role in the European integration
process. In an area of about 891 km², Berlin unites a large number
of urban districts, which are completely different in character. More
than 434,000 people of the 3.4 million inhabitants of Berlin are not of
German origin. They come from more than 180 different nations and
provide Berlin with a large variety of lifestyles and cultures.
For more information please visit: ITS
2014.
| Shattered:
A New Novel About One Woman's
Tinnitus Experience |
Fictional Book Based on Real Life Events
Endorsed by ATA Board Member Scott C. Mitchell, J.D., Will Help Benefit
ATA's Mission to Cure Tinnitus
Shattered provides inspiration and
hope to the many tinnitus sufferers in our world. Shattered is being
released on October 23, 2012, the anniversary of the car accident
that caused her tinnitus and left her debilitated in so many ways. In
that one moment, Megan lost everything. Her husband died; she basically
broke every bone in her body from the neck down; and she suffered
severe brain trauma, with three basal skull fractures and a subdural
hematoma.
Shattered
can be found at shatteredbookdeal.com
and the authors are asking that those interested in reading it TO PURCHASE IT
ON October 23, 2012. They are looking to make the Amazon top
100 Bestseller List, on that day specifically in hopes of raising
awareness to help bring an end to tinnitus suffering everywhere.
As a special offer, tinnitus sufferers who buy two copies of Shattered will also get a FREE copy
of Tinnitus Turning the Volume Down by
Kevin Hogan, Psy.D., and Jennifer Battaglino, LCSW (a $26 value).
All you have to do is email your October 23, 2012 Amazon receipt for Shattered with “Tinnitus
bonus” in the subject line to stmcompany@qwestoffice.net
and
be one of the first 300 people to do so no later than 11:59 p.m. on
October 24, 2012. The free book will be sent to the address on
the
receipt.
In addition, five percent of the net proceeds from the book will be
donated to the ATA for Tinnitus research with a minimum donation of
$1,000. The book is both informational and a page-turner! ATA's Scott
Mitchell said:
"This novel Shattered is a first rate
psychological thriller that portrays the anguish of dealing with
intrusive tinnitus. I could not put it down."
| New Items Including Sound CDs in the ATA
Store |
ATA's online store is a helpful
resource with sound CDs, books, relaxation tools, sound machines and
pillows, hearing protection, and more! Check out some of these brand
new additions to the store and remember that ATA members receive a
discount on every item purchased.
Air Purifier
Sound
Decades ago, when air purifiers first
gained popularity, people with tinnitus discovered the sounds helped to
provide relief and distraction from their tinnitus. Listen to a sample
of ATA's latest CD and see what you think!
ATA.org/store/air
Brown Sound
ATA
adds to its collection of "color sounds" with the introduction of brown
sound. Similar to ATA's white and pink sound CDs, brown has a lower
frequency range that some people find more pleasing.
ATA.org/store/brown
Recorded
in the remote outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, the steady trickle of a
stream provides a relaxing backdrop and transports you to a Sonoran
Desert oasis.
ATA.org/store/tucson
Wind Chimes
Created by ATA member Tom Merrill at his
ocean front home in Tampa, Florida, this CD is a random soundscape
featuring exotic chimes from around the world.
ATA.org/store/chimes
Read a recent Tinnitus Today
article written
by Tom where he discusses his allergies and tinnitus.
| Ototoxic Drug Information |
Some prescription and
over-the-counter drugs can affect/worsen existing tinnitus, or in some
cases cause tinnitus as a side effect. ATA is pleased to share several
avenues where people with tinnitus can learn more about medications and
tinnitus.
Contact tinnitus@ata.org for the
latest packet of information on ototoxic drugs, including the latest
Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) Drug Interaction Guide index. Also
included are some informative brochures that discuss ototoxic
medications.
Remember: Before you consider any change in your medication(s) or
treatment strategy, consult with your personal physician. Ask questions
and be sure to mention other medications, supplements and vitamins you
currently take. These documents are designed to be utilized as a
conversation tool with your doctor.
Additional resources for ototoxicity:
| Have You Read The Summer 2012 Tinnitus Today? |
The Summer 2012 issue of Tinnitus Today was our first full
color issue and our first real digital issue. If you have not had a
chance to explore the new digital edition please click on the image
below.
Or, simply log in to the Members
section at ATA.org at any time with your last name and member
number MERGE_ACCT_NUMBER
This is our annual research issue and covers the latest in the world of
tinnitus research and treatment. Some of the articles cover:
- Coverage of the
Sixth Annual Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference
- Questions and
Answers
with Amit Gosalia, Au.D.
- Research Round Up:
What's New From Around the Globe
- ATA Funded Research
Progress Reports on Gap Detection and rTMS
- Wrap-up of the 2012
Tour de Tinnitus and Walk Season
- Stress reduction tips
And much, much more.
We've already begun work on the Winter 2012 issue which will come out
in December. We'll be telling you about some big and exciting events
and changes taking place in 2013, so be sure to be on the lookout for
the Winter issue in your inboxes and mailboxes.
| Download
a Sound Meter App and Report to
ATA! |
Do you have a
smartphone? Or maybe you have an actual sound meter?
ATA is asking for
help to get sound level readings in all the noisy places you visit. The
goal is build up a wealth of
information about loud places people are exposed to in every day
experiences so that we can raise additional awareness.
We hope to use real-life examples from our members and supporters and
all you need is a sound meter or a smartphone with a free sound meter
app which are available in both the Apple
App store and the Google
Play
store.
If you are really motivated, you can also purchase a decent sound meter
for about $20 from Amazon.com.
Results Released for Phase IIb Study of
Injection Treatment
Results
from Auris Medical's phase IIb study with AM-101, a novel
intratympanic (IT) treatment for acute inner ear tinnitus, were
presented at the recent Sixth International Tinnitus Research
Initiative Conference in Bruges, Belgium.
Auris Medical's double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled,
parallel-dose phase IIb study was conducted in Germany, Belgium,
Poland, and the Netherlands, involving almost 30 sites. A total of 248
patients suffering from persistent acute inner ear tinnitus were
randomized to receive three injections of either AM-101 at 0.27 or 0.81
mg/ml or placebo over three consecutive days. Participants' tinnitus
had to be triggered by acute acoustic trauma, idiopathic sudden
sensorineural hearing loss, or an ear infection after a recent inciting
incident.
MicroTransponder
Presents Positive Clinical Trial Results
MicroTransponder, Inc., presented data from its
initial 10-patient tinnitus clinical trial during the Sixth
International Tinnitus Research Conference in June 2012.
Patients with tinnitus were treated using a novel paired vagus nerve
stimulation therapy which pairs listening to tones with small bursts of
stimulation to the vagus nerve in the neck. The results for this
initial trial were positive and many of the patients experienced a
reduction in the severity and perception of tinnitus.
MicroTransponder is in the final stages of development for the Serenity
System™ and is preparing for
additional clinical trials in both Europe and the U.S. Tinnitus
patients will be able to enroll in those trials by visiting Microtransponder.com.
To get the latest updates on this, join
their email list.
Pink Noise May
Help Sleep
Researchers at China's Peking University
are
studying the effects of pink noise on sleep. "Pink noise is a type
of sound in which every octave carries the same power, or a perfectly
consistent frequency," said study author Jue Zhang, Ph.D. "Think of
rain falling on pavement, or wind rustling the leaves of a tree."
Note: ATA
sells many sound CDs, including Pink
Noise. Visit the ATA online store at ATA.org/store and listen to a
sample today!
Students
Develop One-Minute Tinnitus Therapy
As part of a Young Scientist project, students
at Ursuline College Sligo developed a one-minute web-based therapy
to clear the ears of the ringing sensation. "We are running a clinical
trial on our website with initial results due in December. We can't get
FDA-approval without a clinical trial, so that's why we're doing it.
Right now there is only one FDA-approved tinnitus product in the U.S.,
but that's for permanent damage. There is no equivalent of our product."
Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, Tinnitus in Soldiers
Antioxidants, dietary supplements and
brain imaging are among some of the novel strategies that may help
detect, treat and even prevent noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus
among American troops, according
to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.
Novel
Combination Therapy Being Tested at University of Auckland
Researchers from the Centre for Brain
Research at the University of Auckland are studying a novel combination
therapy involving
visual touch and feedback. "We're trying to provide the means for
the auditory system to ignore tinnitus," explains lead researcher Grant
Searchfield, Ph.D., Head of Audiology. "When people experience tinnitus
they become attuned to hearing it in preference to other auditory
stimuli - it's a magnet for attention. To break the cycle they need to
be
trained to attend to other things."
TMS Being
Studied for Tinnitus and Depression
A team at Loyola University Medical
Center is evaluating the effectiveness of
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on patients who suffer with
tinnitus and depression. TMS has been approved since 2009 for patients
who have major depression and have failed at least one antidepressant. The
study will enroll 10 to 15 patients. Each patient will receive five
treatments a week for four to six weeks, for a total of 20 to 30
treatments, and will be evaluated by a physician three times during the
treatment course.
SIU Medical
School receives $942,493 to Study Tinnitus
Research Scientists at Southern Illinois
University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, have been
awarded a three-year, federal grant to study a brain chemical and its
receptor that could provide
a new drug for the treatment of tinnitus, school officials said.
Veterans
Affairs Department Awards Contract for SoundCure Serenade™to Treat Tinnitus
American
Soldiers returning from service abroad and other veterans who suffer
from debilitating tinnitus now
have access to advanced treatment covered by the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs. "We are very pleased to make this valuable
treatment available to our nation's troops serving us in so many ways,"
stated Bill Perry, CEO of SoundCure.
** For all your
“Tinnitus in the News” information, visit ATA.org/news. **
| ATA Support Network Updates |
Since June 2012, five new support contacts have been added to ATA's
Support Network. Thank you to the
individuals who are lending their time to help other tinnitus sufferers!
Audrey Darling -
Charlestown, MA help network volunteer
Stelios Dokianakis - Holland, MI support group
S. George Ghorpade, Ph.D., and Cristi Moore, Au.D., FAAA - Tucson, AZ
support group
Jackie Gutstein - Miami, FL help network volunteer
Steven Kopischke* - Tampa, FL help network volunteer
* Steven is
also trying to get the Tampa Support Group going again. More
information on this will be shared when available.
To view ATA’s
full Support Network listing, and obtain the
contact information for these groups and volunteers visit ATA.org/support.
Check ATA's online calendar
for upcoming support group meetings.
If you are interested in becoming a support group leader or help
network volunteer, please contact Katie Fuller at katie@ata.org.
| The Lighter Side of Tinnitus |
Thanks for reading the October 2012 ATA
Electronic Newsletter!
We welcome
ideas and contributions
from our supporters. Please send to editor@ata.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Privacy
Policy