Tinnitus E-Programme
News and Views
Have you visited the Tinnitus E-Programme Blog yet? It's been pretty quiet up to now, but recently Sue (one of our Support Forum moderators) kindly wrote an interesting article for the Blog. So that no one misses out, I am including it here in the main website.
If you have an interesting piece of news that you think others may be interested in, visit the Blog and write it up. Once you click "submit", your article will soon be there for all to share.
You can also register to become a "Follower" of the Blog - we look forward to seeing you there whether you are a User of the E-Programme (or have been) or you are a professional working in the field.
The address of the Blog is http://tinnituseprogramme.blogspot.com and here's a link that will take you straight to it opening in a new window on your screen:
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Date of publication on the Blog: 24th January 2010
Holistic Tinnitus Clinic in France
Sent in by Sue Falkingham
For my first post I thought I would introduce an international flavour.
My travels and reading have a flavour of the European this week. I work
part time in Denmark and was on the bus there last week when I noticed
an advert for accupuncture treatment for tinnitus patients. I think I
am right in saying this treatment has not shown any improvement in
actual tinnitus awareness but has improved peoples general health and
well being so improving the perception of tinnitus. I then read an
article about a clinic in France specialising in tinnitus and decided
it was time I contributed here so let me tell you about that article
and that clinic.
What makes the Imerta Clinic in Marseille
unique is that it is run as a true multi- diciplinary clinic and set up
and run after a chance meeting of two doctors interested in tinnitus
and an Italian businessman who had tinnitus. The business man offered
to lend his skills to co-ordinating tinnitus researchers across the
continent and set up and runs an organisation called the Tinnitus
Research Initiative. The physical location of the clinic was chosen
with a private hospital group called Clairval and a team was chosen to
bring people specialising in tinnitus together.
That team is
extensive and includes: Otoneurology, ENT, cardiology, neurosurgery,
psychiatry, osteopathy, stomatology, neuroradiology, radiology,
biology, hearing aids and reserach. 20 professionals are involved in
this holistic process working in unison. As a health professional
fighting for every onward referral I would love to make in the U.K.
this whole idea sounds like bliss!
So far since it's establishment
in 2007 this clinic has seen more than 3,000 patients. In more than 54
% of cases the tinnitus has improved. They use the same outcome
measures Debbie would like to see completed for the e-programme -
namely the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Their THI results are
impressive showing that in these 54% of cases the THI scores reduced
25-30%.
An initial appointment is coordinated by a specialist in
oto-neurological investigations and is tailored to the complexity of
the patient. If at the end of the consultation a cause of the tinnitus
is not established a wider series of investigations is undertaken as an
in patient for a half day and the rest of the team is called upon to
contribute but all in the same place at the same time, it may be a
little overwhelming when first discussed to have all the team around
you but imagine walking away after only 2 visits with a clear diagnosis
and treatment schedule!!
So what treatments are offered, again an
extensive list suggests the possibility of: medical or surgical
treatment of an otological pathology, sound therapy, relaxation
techniques, osteopathy for those found to have tempro-mandibular joint
disorder, hearing aids, sound therapy, behavioural and cognitive
therapy are all part of the treatment arsenal.
Are any of these
treatments ground breaking or unknown in the U.K.? No, absolutely not
but to be able to access them as required, under the same roof and as
part of a holistic approach I say to you again BLISS!!!!
Well I know how fantastic that clinic would be for me as a professional what do you as tinnitus patients think of the idea?
