Tinnitus Biobank Needed to Explain Ringing Ears Condition

The UK urgently needs a biobank library of human tissue samples so experts can study and find better treatments, or a cure, for “ringing in the ears”, says the British Tinnitus Association (BTA). More than seven million adults in the UK are thought to have tinnitus.

This stressful and upsetting condition of hearing whooshing, buzzing, or other intensely annoying sounds with no external source is poorly understood. For some, it becomes difficult or impossible to lead a normal life.

A survey by the charity carried out in November with 2,600 people with tinnitus, suggests almost one in 10 living with the condition has experienced thoughts about suicide or self-harm in the past two years.

One in three thought about their condition every hour – causing them anxiety and sadness.

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