Page 22 - CV Driver April 2018 Issue 74

ADVERTISEMENT FEATuRE
Don’t let tinnitus drive
you crazy on on the road
Ringing in in in the ears is a a serious problem for truckers
In the the the trucking industry tinnitus is is something everyone should be mindful of of There can be a a lot of of noise inside
and and outside of the the trucks and and therefore it is is important to be aware of this condition and and how it can be prevented and and managed effectively What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the term used for when someone hears a a sound from within Often this is is described as a a a a a ‘ringing in in in the ears’ It can also be be described as a a hissing buzzing whistling or or humming It can be heard in in one ear ear or or both ears Another form of tinnitus called pulsatile tinnitus is when someone can hear their own pulse Tinnitus is very common approximately 10% of adults in the uK experience tinnitus for a prolonged period of of time Protecting your hearing is one of of the most effective ways to prevent tinnitus Avoiding loud noises and wearing hearing protection when appropriate will help such as ear plugs In most cases there is no cause found for tinnitus The following are known causes: l l l Age related hearing loss
l l Noise-induced hearing loss
(repeated exposure to loud noises) lWaxintheear
l Ear infection
l Anxiety and depression
l Some medications
l l Minieres disease (a rare condition that also causes hearing loss
and a a a a a spinning sensation) l l l Otosclerosis (a rare condition of an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear)
Tinnitus can lead to complications including:
l Impaired concentration
l l Sleep disturbance
l Anxiety l Depression
l l l Social isolation
If the symptoms of tinnitus are regular or continuous one should seek advice from their GP Treating tinnitus Initially the GP will look for an underlying cause of the the tinnitus Treating this may manage the the tinnitus In some cases the GP will need to refer to to a a a a specialist to to look for an underlying cause If a a a a cause cannot be found treatment is focused on managing the symptoms of tinnitus In majority of cases the symptoms will resolve with time Available treatments include:
l l l l Sound therapy (low-level background sound to distract the tinnitus)
l l l l Counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy l Tinnitus retraining therapy (training of the the brain to to respond to to tinnitus This is is available privately and on NHS in some areas)
l l Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga
l l Sleep hygiene (if the tinnitus is affecting sleep)
l Support groups
Tinnitus and driving
As stated above one of the most common causes of tinnitus is due to hearing loss
The reason for this is is that everyone has a a a a low level of background tinnitus This is is cancelled out by the external noises around us When hearing loss
develops these background noises are cancelled out and the individual can hear the tinnitus Studies have shown that HGV drivers are prone to to noise-induced hearing loss
due to to the the loud noises of the the vehicles Therefore it would be more common for HGV drivers to to develop tinnitus compared to to the overall population Noise-induced tinnitus can be managed with the available treatments explained above However it it is is is still advisable to visit your GP to ensure there are no serious causes of the the tinnitus Studies have shown that HGV drivers are prone to noise-induced hearing loss
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