VOl-UME 9, NUMBER 1, MAY 1984

THE AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSQCIATION

TINNITUS CLINIC DIRECTOR INTERVIEWED
Gloria Reich, Executive Director, ATA
Jack Vernon, Director, Tinnitus Clinic
Kresge Hearing Research Laboratory
Recently , tne Kresge ijearjng Research
Laboratory, wllere the first Tinnttus Clime was set up
and where tinnitus masking was or iginally developed,
was visited by ATA's Gloria Reich. Mrs. Reich set out
with the aims of finding out (1) wha t res e arch is
currently being done at the Kresge Lab, ( 2) how
vigorous is the state of tinni tus research nationally, and
(3) what is new or on the horizon for tinnitus research
in the near future. Dr . Jack Vernon, the director of
the Lab, spent an hour discussing these topics with Mrs.
Reich and this is what was said:
G. Retch: As yo11 know, the ATA represents a large
number of people with t.Jnn(tus and they would be
interested in hearing what you are all doing at the
Kresge Lab these days. Is the Tinnitus Clinic (or
e.ram,Ple still going strong? Are you seeing as many
patients as ever? Have things changed much in recent
times in regard to tinnitus treatment?
J. Vernon: \\ell, first of ell, Gloria, the Tinnitus Clinic
LS pretty much u:, you ecall it when you were a
patient there, let's see, was that about 5 years ago?
We have gotten better at providing effective masking
for .more people, probably because the equipment keeps
get t tng better and Mainly though we're still
doing the same things in regard to testing and fitting
of maskers, although there is considerably more
emphasis now than there was at first on use of
"ti nnitus instruments", that is, the combination units
that contain both a masker and a hearing aid in the
same case.
G. Reich: Do you find that your patient population has
changed at all over time?
J. Vernon : That's interesting--- it has a little, in that
we started ou t with a more equal representation of
women (it was about 50-50 to begin with) but now we
seem to see about twice as many men as women . I
know why that is except that l can guess that it
migi:Jt have something to do with noise exposure---a lot
more of the men have histories of exposure to excessive
noise, such as gunfire or industrial workplace
noise---and people have become more aware that
tinnitus is a very common side-effect of noise exposure.
G. R elcn: DQ you find that the women's tinnitus is in
any way from the men' s, if the men are the
only ones that are getting noise-induced tinnitus?
J. Vernon: Well, we don't really know the answer to
that yet . I'm glad that you brought that question up
because it gives me the chance to tell you about our
Tinnitus Information Bank. We have started {>utting all
the information we obtain about each patient's tinnitus
into a computer date bank, with the idea that it will
help us answer precisely the type of question you just
raised. Now I guess a little on this question also
and my guess would be that the noise-induced tinnitus
will turn out to be, most often, a high-pitched ringing
or hissing tha t is perhaps a bit easier to mask than
tinnitus induced by, say, head injury.
INTERVIEW continued
G. Reich: Do you see many people with tinnitus induced
by head injury?
J, Vernon: Surprisingly, there may be quite a
few-about a fourth of our patients report having had
a significant head injury at some time although it would
be difficult to be sure that was what caused their
tinnitus. Not only ao we have a lot of trouble
masking head trauma induced tinnitus but also there is
a lot about it we don't undel'stand. For example, in
some cases of unilateral tinnitus we can only mask it
with masking. One study, done elsewhere, says
that you can produce beats with the patient's tinnitus
and we
1
v e b e en una bJ e to do that. If we had this
specific kind of information we might better predict
patient outcomes.
G. Reich: What sort of tinnitus might a head in1ury
induce?
J. Vernon : Well there again we have to wait for the
more de ail.-d results ou of the computer but at this
point I ' d nnture that head-injury causes tinnitus that is
more Vl!rir.l>le, per)1aps harder to localize, and I think
more to I have a distinct impression
that a number of (latients in this category do not
experience that up" of the tinnitus by masking
that we so often see in others---they are likely to
comment that my testing just "pushed the tinnitus
around to another place" in their head!
G. Reich: Do you have anything new to offer patients
for whom masking doesn't work?
;J. Vernon: Gloria, you have a way of asking the
64-dollar questions! We may be getting closet' to having
something on that. remember we have tried, and a
number of other clinics have tried, various types of
drug treatments for tinnitus, and unfortunately so far
there doesn't seem to be much to offer in the way of
drug treatment. Recently however we have gotten
interested in electrical stimulation for tinnitus relief .
This is a procedure that is also being in a number
of places, and each one does it a little
differently. We are working with a local Portland
electronics specialist to develop a small pocket-sized
stimulator that the patient could cat'ty around, in a
shirt pocket for example, that would allow him to "turn
on" the electrical stimulation whenever it was needed.
At this stage we're trying different types q( electrodes
(they're presently made of carbon-impregnated rubber
and are about an inch square- the way you use them Is
to press one against the skin in front of the ear and
the second electrode behind the ear) and we're also
experimenting with different current waveforms and
frequencies, that sort of thing. We have a project
going right now to try the electrical stimulation in 50
patients who nave volunteered to come back in to the
Clinic. Would you like to hear how it's going so far?
G. Reich: ..1ll of us would like that!
J. Vernon : \Vell, it's like many things in science, it's
highly variable. Some people experience a very
satisfactory suppression of their tinnitus, and others
show no effect at all. In some people there is a
part ial suppression. I don't know whether that's
because of difterences in the tinnitus or whether we
just haven't learned the right ways to do it yet. Just
this morning we had a man call in, about an hour after
he left the Clinic, to say his tinnitus was just then
returning after the electrical suppression made it go
away , So in his case the electrical stimulation made
tinnitus disappear completely and for over an hour.
By contrast, yesterday we saw two different patients
who experienced no change at all in their tinnitus with
stimulation. At this point we have no idea what
accounts for those differences.
G. Reich: Would you recommend that tinnttuS sufferers
start coming in for electrical suppression treatments?
J. Vernon: No, it's much too early for that as yet. We
need to do a lot more work to determine what is the
best way, wnat is safest, what will require the least
amou nt of electrical cu;rent and st i ll do the job, and
so on. But it certainly is a very promising technique,
and if I were someone with very severe tinnitus that
could not be masked I'd be v-ery much encouraged by
this development.
a. Reich : What can you tell us about the state of
tinnitus research in general these days? Are you happy
about the current level of interest in tinnitus? Do you
think the country at large is growing more aware o{
tinnitus as a problem?
J. Vernon: Well, Gloria, tf\is is one of tnose. situations
where "there's good news and there's b!l<l news." Yes,
I think there's no dou-b"t the gerreral public is--growi-ng
more aware of tinnitus, and also has been a
significant inc.rease in the amount of tinnitus research
done, both !\ere in the U.S. and also in England,
Germany, France, Scandinavia, and other places.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as th ough there is
sufficient interest in the type of research that will
directly benefit patients. The electrical
work is a case in point--
G. Retch: But I thought you said there were a
of places working on that?
J. Vernon: ThRt's right, but none of that work lS bemg
Federally supported. Much of the worl< is going on
outside the U.S., which is fine, bur it seems too bad
fhat for such an important potential treatment for
tinnitus, it's very difficult to convince the powers that
be in the U. S. that they should support that type of
effort.
G. Reich: What would you like to see happen, if you
could write your own scenario for tinnitus research tn
the U. s.?
J . Vernon: 1 we need Clinical Research Centers
for Tinnitus. These would be places where tinnitus
pat i ents from a large geographi:! area woulCl be seen
and would receive the most up-to-date treatment,
whatever that hapQened to be. The treatments could be
evaluated scientifically and the results and conclusions
would provide information that would be madE' evailable
to all .
These would also be places where research is
conducted and in a variety of disciplines. To
adequately investigate tinnitus one must have the
participation of physiologists, otologists, neurologists,
au diolog is ts, pharmacologists; one must have people who
are trained in hearing; in sleep research; in
in pain and its alleviation; one needs
developed in psychology, such as biofeedback, and in
bioelectronics, such as are used in our electrical
stimulation work. The kind of place where all tl}ese
different types of workers would come together would
be a Research Center of a very special sort, wnere
tf\ere was constantly the opportunity to work with
patients or with tinnitus volunteers, as well as plenty
of opportunity to involve back-up medical specialties
such as thyroid or diabetes experts, atthritis
specialiasts and others in internal medicine; in short,
any of the medical disciplines that may have importance
for tinnitus.
INTERVIEW continued
C.. Retch: That sounds ltke a tall ord er---do you
actually think all those different types of workers
cound interact with each other and with patients in an
effective and productive manner? ls there that kind of
interest, in your e:rperience1
J. Vernon: It is a tall order but so was gomg to the
moon. We as a nation have demonstrated eno r mous
technical capability and if such effort we re to be
devoted to tinnitus imagine what would happe n. We
have found that, without exception, everyone and
anyone who gets involved in wo r king on tinni tu s
becomes fascinated by the challenge. We have had
really excellent cooperation from our o wn medi c al
school divisions such as Rheumatology , I nfec tious
Dise11se, Allergy, and so fo r th. These pe ople be come
very excited when t hey discove r we can off e r them
techniques Cor studyi ng tinnitus, which so ma ny of their
patients complain of .
The most frustrating need t houg h and pe rhaps
the most tmportant of all (or getting to underst and t he
problem of tinnitus, is the need for de vel oping a n
"animal model" for tinnitus. That is whe re we need t o
involve the physiologists, pharmacologists, psyc hologists
and so on-the basic researchers who know ho w t o tes t
and study .hearing and its problems in animals. If we
combtne a human-oriented clinical prog ra m with a
bas.tc program involving experimental a nimals, I
belteve 1t would soon be possible to dete r mine what
causc:s It would also be a much more
effecttve and raptd way to evaluate tinnitus t reatments.
G. Jack, please e:rplain for our r eaders why
putttng together clinical work in humans and basic
research tn animals would offer a great advantage.
J . Vernon: TIHre are so many reasons, Gloria, it would
take me far longer than this hour to get through them
all. But let me just end by mentioning a few. For one
thing, we know that aspirin can induce tinnitus in
people, and that happens quite commonly in the
Rheumatology Clinic where the people with severe
arthritis often have to take a lot of aspirin daily. We
should be studying .w..tU aspirin causes tinnitus, in
animals, where we can take as many blood samples as
we need, where we can study the auditory nerve or the
auditory portions of the brain, and find out what goes
on in the nervous system when there's a lot of aspirin
on board. Now think how helpful it would be to be
able to compare all the animal results with observe tions
from the human Rheumatology Clinic, where we also
know exactly how much aspirin was given and we can
test the human to find out what the tinnitus sounds
like!
To take another example, again with reference
to electrical suppression of tinnitus, we need to have a
great deal of work done on the safety of electrical
stimulation for tinnitus. We need to determine ho w
much of different types of currents can be used, what
the early warning signs are if damage should start to
occur, and so on . It's much like the situation with a
new drug where animal testing needs to be done before
the drug can be declared safe for widespread or
prolonged use in people. One unfortunate result of the
lack of government support for this type of applied,
clinically important work is that there is presently no
work at all being done on the question of longterm
safety of electrical stimulation for tinnitus---but there
should be'
G. Retch: Thank you, Jack, {or being so informative and
{or sharing your concern$ wtth us. 1 know our AT A
constituency will gain from this opportunity to hear
your thinking on the status of tinnitus research today.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TELL A FRIEND
Many people find that their tinnitus is an overwhelming
stress in their lives. Some of these people have real
problems in carrying out the tasks o their everyday lives.
Tinnitus can make it hard to concentrate and it can make
social interactions very difficul t. However, gett ing
together with other people to discuss coping strategies, to
talk about how it happened, can help. It is important to be
able to let off some of the frustrations of a chronically
stressful condition such as tinnitus and it is for this
reason that the self-help group can be so useful. The
people who you will meet at a tinnitus self-help group
understand because they have been there. These groups are
not places to expect professional group therapy - if your
problems are that severe then you should be consulting with
a professional counseler.
groups are locat.ed in all parts of the country. If you would
like to JOlil one or help to start one lil your area you may obtain information and
guidelines fran the ATA office. Write to A'm-Slli, ro Box 5, Portland, OR 97207.
Sanetimes because of personal considerations i t is not possi ble to participate 1n a
group. Another way that you can help yoursel f and others is to become part of the
ATA network of people who are willing to talk with others suffering from tinnitus.
If you would be willing to have people i n your locality contact you for further
information about tinnitus please let us know and we will give your name as a
resource to local health information referral centers. You don't have to be a
tinnitus expert to do this for often your task would simpl y entail giving the caller
our address where they could write for fur ther i nformation. As many of you can
attest, much canfort is received merely by speaking t o saneone who can say, ' Yes, r
know how you feel. I have it too.'
"Th1s isn't some-
thing that Is
readily explain-
able to a third
party. Try to tell
someone about
the ringing in your
ears and he is apt
to think it really is
all in your head."
TIC .urollCAH 'I'IN\Il'l'U$ ASSQCIA'!'tON
PoJ'lh.nd Orttgon
Notee to Ffnanela.l S'atj!mente
October ll l9B)
Note 1. Sisnitiunt A.ceountlM Pohc:tu
James A. Elliott, Certified Public Accountant
7030SE
1
Milwaukte Avenue 2
Porllana. Oregon 97202
Telephone (5{)3)231-5115
Janua-ry 25, 1.9!lll

an f'innllua u.ocl &tion ue,u thl 'but- ot
.a.ccou.nttn.g &nd ploY Qnitoi'S StWid.&rde or Ac:c:ou.nUf'l8
e.nd. flna.nc:hl rt.portih,g tor V'olunt.ary He&Hh 6t\d Ve1fare
Or*l'\h&tiona.
fixed .uu\a and Depreci ation:
fi:xd uuta uoe etaUd at. eon an4 .dapteehUon 11
udt14 t.OCtbnhd aathoda o!' deprec:1aUon.
lncoaa
'l"he -iae-qca.rr 'tinnU\ll .Auoc:i,&tlon h.u obt&.Ined lt_. tatut
u a Section 50l(C){)) o rpnh.aU.on rroe the l:nhma.l Revenue
San-1ea &nd. 11 therefore C-ro incoee t.u.tt.
The Tinnitus Association
Portland, Oregon No,. z. .Ma.rlc.et-able s.euJ"itUU
I have examined the balance sheet of The American Tinnitus Association
as of 31, 1983, and the rexated statements of support, revenue
and expenses and changes in fund balances and of functional. expenditures
for the year then ended. My was made with
generally .accepted audit.ing standards and, accomngly, J. ncluded such
tests of the accounting recorda and such other auditing procedures as
I considered necessary in the circumstances.
In my opinxon, the flnancial stat ements present fairly
the position of The American Tinnitus Association at 31,
1983, anJ the results of ita operations and changes in fund balances for
he year then in conformity with generally accepted account ing
applLed on a basis consistent that of the preceding year .
<or the Comoined Federal Campaign, I certify that the American Tinnitus
has adopted and has prepared its financial statements for
October 31, 1983 and the >year then ended in accordance with the Standards
of Accountin and Financial Re orti for Volunta Health and Welfare
Organi zations 1974 E4ition prepared and published by the National Healtt
Council, lnc ., the National Assembly of National Health and
.Jelfare Organizations, Inc. and the United Way of America.
raJ; TINNITUS lt.SSOCU.TIOh
Portland. Oregon
o! Support. Revenue and Erpeneu
and Chan,gea 11'\ FUnd Balance
Por the Yur EIWed October )l. l98J

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Portle.nd., Oregon
Statement. of F1nanci al.
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End ol

RESEARCH FUNDING IS NOT CHEAP
little bird knows that and so do we. We are especlally
grateful to those members who have made their annual contributions so
pranptly. Research projects are already underway with these funds. for
those of you who have forgotten to send in your contribution, please do
it nCM.
Regular rnanbers are those who donate $15 or more annually.
Sustaining members donate S25 or more annually.
Professional manbers donate $100 or more annually.
Benefactors donate $500 or more annually.
TRIBUTES
The ATA fund is designated 100% for
research. Than you to all those people listed
below for sharing your memorable occasions in this
helpful way. Contributions to the tribute fund are
tax deductible and will be promptly acknowledged
with an appropriate card for the occasion.
LN MEMQRY OF
Doug Allard
Douglas Allard
Norman Broads
CONTRIBUTOR
Bob Hocks
Norman Broads
Norman Broads
NoLman Br oads
Josephine Fricano
Mrs. Visceglia
Joseph pox
w. Ben Miller
w. Miller
George Voss
Mr. H. J . Kr1,1Se
Robert E.
R. G. Bland
Frederick J. Binda
Mary Kisloff
our [)arents
Robert Boling
Robert G. Klag
Raymond f . McKenna
Jeny
lda Lazarus
Gerda Envall
Duke Lewton
susan Fanning
Loretta Ludvico
Loretta Ludvico
Margaret
winifred Gibbs
Ernest wehling
Marie L. Heinrich
Martha Roderick
Daniel Bruner , Sr .
Gay1e 1-Giezle Mann
Sid Gundy
Mr. Balch
Louis ):la.l,perin
Julia Tully
Etta Hayman
C. Keefer
Bonnie Gutfleisch
Betty VanWallendael
Thelma Masters
M/M Raymond Foster
Aunt Anne Grodsky
Lillian C. Johnson
Joyce K. Bloch
Lynn & Jean Radcliffe
Jerry R. Hughes , M. D.
June M. Stockdale
Charrneon Voss
M/M Wm. P. Jeske
M/M Jim Muzzi
M/M Jim Muzzi
Eugenia M. Jacoby
Martin Kisloff
Jack & Ida Blevinsky
Bob & Dorothy Waiste
Brendan & Dorothy Greene
Brendan & Dorothy Greene
M/M Efrom Abramson
M/M Efrom Abramson
M/M R. H. Hinchey
MIM R. H. Hinchey
Florence Fox
Rocco D. Ludvico
R. D. Ludvico
Larry & Dotty Maher
Larry & Dotty Maher
Lyon 's Hist. Society
Grace H. Briscoe
Wanda & Dick Strom
Bob Hocks
Mrs. Anne Story
Jean & Joe Wolfson
Henry & Doris Adams
Rose Schielman
'.P. Drucker & J . Alam
Burtin Zitkin
Norma Mae Keefer
SPECIAL BENEFACTOR QQNTEIBUTQE
ATA Research Harry s. Truman Masonic Lodge
IN HONQR OF mNTR.l.6.U.T.OR
Sandy Schleter John H.
sandy Schleter John & Faye
M/M Robert Ahrens Bergen Group
M. R. Musser w. E. warnstedt
Jo N. Alexander David M.
sylvia Brown Mike M. Mills
Ruth Kramer Mike M. Mills
Dr.S.C.Shah Bergen Co.Tinnitus Group
Dr. R. A. Gardner J.Alam & T.Drucker
Alvin D. Seaton Nora c. Seaton
Leon B. Habecker,Esq. Thomas B. Habecker
ATA research Harriet M. Doerrie
ATA research Terry & Jim Hess
ATA research Frances J. Smith
ATA Long Island Self-Help
ATA Bergen Self-Help Group
ATA Bergen Self-Help Group
ATA Bergen Self-Help Group
ATA Bergen Self-Help Group
Mary Tully(Retirernent) J.Alam & T. Drucker
Dr.Sandy Cassel(Graduation> Alam & Drucker
Joseph Freeman, M. D.{recovery> Regina Wolfson
Sam Weisbora(Promotion) Jean & Joe Wolfson
Lee Stevens(Presidency> Jean & Joe Wolfson
Dr . R. M. Smart (GoodLuck} J . & J. Wolfson
St.Valentine ' s Day J . G. Alam
Seasons Greetings J. G. Alarn
BIR'ffiDAY
Jacqueline Doyle
Nina Ruth Novich
Dr. Max Novich
Trudy DrucKer
Trudy Drucker
Trudy Drucker
Trudy Drucker
Trudy Drucker
Eve Shaw
Arlene Levy
Dr. Harry Diener
Katie Sa dock
Carolyn Traver
Jessica Stone
Charles K.Good,M.D.
James Baxter Brem
David Evan Cohen
MARRIAGE
Nina Ruth Novich
Teri Felkoff & Dr.
Herman Arnar
Danielle Smith and
Nathaniel Mathis
CONTEIBUTQR
J.Alam & T.Drucker
J.Alam & T.Drucker
J . Alam & T.Drucker
Eve Shaw
A. B. Alam
J. G. Alam
Mabel L. Hopper
Mary & Pat Tully
J . Alam & T.Drucker
J . Alam & T.Drucker
J.Alam & T.Drucker
J . Alarn & T.Drucker
J.Alam & T.Drucker
J.Alam & T. Drucker
Jean & Joe Wolfson
Benjamin Brem
M/M Donald Krohn
CQNTRIBUTQR
J.Alam & T. Drucker
M/M Joe Wolfson
T.Drucker & J . Alam
FOR YOUR BOOKSHELF
GRIN AND 'BEAR' IT
special thanks to Betty Mathis who drew the cartoons for
this issue of the ATA Newsletter. Ber animal paintings have
been in galleries throughout the Northwest and she has
appeared on both of the local television talk shows with
them.
For nearly ten years Betty has been a faithful volunteer for
ATA, coming to help out on a wide variety of projects. She
often brings her husband and friends to help too. Betty has
observed that when she is busy with her painting she doesn't
have time to think about the tinnitus. Her advice to all of
us is to have hobbies. We're grateful for hers.
We had hoped to offer you the printed transactions from the
Second International Tinnitus Seminar but have just been informed that
it will be several months before these are available. ATA will be
distributing these books in the u.s. and Canada for the British
Journal of Laryngology and Otology who are the publishers. We hope to
provide you with ordering information in the next Newsletter.
1
rn the meantime, in response to numerous requests for this
information here is what we know about ordering copies of the Ciba
Foundation Tinnitus Symposium, and the National Research Council's
report on tinnitus.
llNNliUS- (CIBA FOUNDATION SYMPQSIUM:BSl. 1981
ISBN 0 272 79639 5 325 PAGES, 52 FIGURES, 36 TABLES
!Please contact distributor for current price, was $35.00 in
1981}
This book may be ordered from:
Ciba Pharmaceuticals Medical Education Division
Post Office Box Rl340, Newark, New Jersey 07101
For availability outside the United States write to:
Pitman Medical Limited
39 Parker Street
London, WC 2B 5PB
BNGLAND
TINNITUS: FACTS. THEORIES AND TREATMENTS. 1982
ISBN 0 309 03328 150 PAGES Sll.25 (U. S. funds)
Prepaid orders for this book may be sent to:
National Academy Press
2101 Constitutional Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20418
NOTICE FOR SELF-HELP GROUP FACILITATORS
You ' ve probably noticed that Tinnitus Tidings hasn't come to you since
January. Our workload here has become so great that we are at present
unable to devote the time to getting out a regular gangletter. We
will continue to publish Tinnitus Tidings from time to time as
material is received from you to share with fellow qroup
facilitators. Some of you, we know, are not very active but do let
us hear you about what you are doing. Please let your community
know that there is someone who can be contacted for information about
tinnitus. Sometimes people are shy about writing to an unknown
address far from home. Please give them the opportunity to contact
you. You then can advise them to write to us or you can ask us to
send them appropriate information. Every community has some kind of
human services resource directory. Lets see to it that ATA is jn
every one of them so people who suffer from tinnitus will not be
alone.
WOT'S NEW? I'M ALl! EARS.
rhis may not be news to some of you but we have been
asked repeatedly for apout cla1ms by
veterans seeking compensation for tinnitus. The fo1lowing
information was provided by the officer of the
American Legion, Department of Oregon.
The veteran seeking compensation must prove three
things:
1) That the current condition (tinnitus) exists. This
can be done by a certified audiologist using a tinnitus
synthesizer or an audiometer.
2) That is has been constant and continuous from the
time of active duty. Your medical records would be helpful
here.
3) Some record of complaint while in the service. Your
military records from the time of the incident provoking the
tinnitus can provide this account.
If any of these three items is the claim can
be denied.
Compensation for tinnitus, if granted, is 10%. It is
possible to claim and receive 10% for tinnitus 10% for
hearing loss.
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yuu aJt.e a F.ed.eJta.[ wuJtk.eJt, d.e.o,(gn.at..e ATA t.u Jt.ec.e,(v.e a.[.[ OJt paJtt. ot,
yuuJt y.eaJt.[y chaJt,(t.all.[.e cont.Jt,(llut.,(un. If, you aJt.e acqua,(n.t.ed w,(t.h
a F.ed.eJta.[ woJtk.eJt you can h.e.[p ATA lly Jt.em,(n.d.<.n.g t.h.em that w.e
qua.[,(f,y t,oJt paJtt.ic,(pat.<.on ,(n. t.h.e,(Jt annua.[ campa.<.gn.
* * * *' *
NOTICE
* * * * *
This is a plea foi information about your experiences concerning third party payment
for tinnitus maskers and tinnitus instruments.
As many of you know some prosthetic devices such as hearing aids are not covered by
many health insurance companies. On the other hand, established therapeutic devices are
covered, and you should know that tinnitus maskers and tinnitus instruments are classified
as therapeutic devices. Thus they should qualify for coverage consideration. The problem
that these devices are unknown to many health insurance companies. We could help
establish a precedent for coverage of these devices if we could present a list of health
insurance companies that have provided such coverage.
If you have received complete or partial payment for the purchase of a tinnitus
mas\ er or a tinnitus instrument would you please fill out the following form and send it
to us?
NAME OF INSURANCE COMPANY
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PAYMENT
PERCENTAGE OF COST COVERAGE
STATE IN WHIOI TRANSACTION OCCURRED
OTHER COMMENTS
YOUR NAME (optional, in case we need to ask further questions)
INFORMATION FROM NINCDS
We want' to shar9 with Out thE: follow111g wformat1or. received earlier this month
from the Office of Scient1fic and Health Reports of the National Institute of Neurological
and Communicative Disorders and Stroke. What follows is a listing of the presently funded
tinnitus research projects. None of these projects are clinical which, from the patient'e
point of view, means that any knowledge obtained from the studies will take some time
before it is actually useful for treatment .
Location Time Period
Neuromagnetic & Psychological
Study of Tinnitus
Measurements of Subjective &
Objective Tinnitus
A Model for Tinnitus
Tinnitus in Patients With
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Psychoacoustic Studies of
Subjective Tinnitus
New York University
Purdue University
Yal c University
University of Maryland
Univers1ty of Illinois
3 Years
2 Year.s
1 Year
2 Years
2 Years
The total amount of all of these grants is $365,031. Breaking down the amounts so
that they are expressed yearly, we find that the NINCDS is spending $193,639.00 per year
for basic research about tinnitus and zero dollars for clinical research. Using
census data developed by the Feder al Government we can conservatively estimate the number
suffering from seve r e tinnitus at 10 million persons. Doing our sums then, we find that
our Federal Government is spending less than 2 cents per patient per year to conquer
tinnitus.
Are you satisfied wi.th this amount? Now do you understand why it is so important for
us to tinnitus and for all of us to become actively involved. There are
several things we must do besides seeking help for our own affliction.
1) We must personally support research by giving to the best of our ability.
2) We must help ourselves and others to cope with the affliction until research comes
up with a cure.
3} we must ask others to help. Write to your congressman. Write to the President;
he has acknowledged his hearing problem.
4l Seek support manufacturers and businesses for the clinical research that is
so needed.
5) Use your own good judgement. Don't jump at every treatment thqt comes down the
pike. Remember that warrantable research projects do need subjects and we as a
certainly qualify for that role. Do not, however, be talked into participating in any
project if you don't want to. There is always an element of the unknown and you must be
aware of that. If someone wants you to pay money to participate in a research project,
investigate! Don't allow yourself to be fleeced because of your desperate need for help.
by the
AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCI ATION
A corporation
under the laws of Oregon
SCIENTIFIC
ADVISORY BOARD
Jack D. Cremis. M.D.
Chicago, Illinois
David D. DeWeese;. M,D.
Porttand.
John R. Emmett. M.D.
Memphis. Tennessee
Chris B. Foster. M D.
San Diego. California
Howard P. House. M.D.
Los Angeles. Californ1a
Robert M. Johnson, Ph.D.
Portland, Oregoh
Merle t.awr:ence, Ph.D.
Ann Arbor. MJchigan
Jerry Northern, Ph.D.
Denver. Colorado
George F. Reed. M.D.
Syracuse. New York
Robert E. Sandlm. Ph D.
San Doego. Caloforma
Abraham Shulman, M.D.
New York, New York
Francos Sooy. M.D.
San Francisco, Californoa
Harold G. Tabb, M.D.
New Orleans. Louisoana
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Robert Hocks, Chaarman
Portland. Oregon
Thomas Wissbaum, C.P.A.
Portland, Oregon
Gtona E. Reoch, M.S_
Poo il.,nd. Oreson
Executove Director, Editor
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Det Clawson. House of Rep Ret.
Downey, Calofornia
The Honorable Mark Hatfield
Unoted States Senate
LEGAL COUNSEL
Henry C. Breotnaupt
Stoel, Roves, Boley, Fraser & Wyse
The American Tinnitus Association
Post Office Box 5
Portland. Oregon 97207
(503) 2489985
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED