FOR those of us who do not suffer from tinnitus it is hard to imagine just how intrusive the condition can be for those who are affected.

Most of us will have experienced a ringing in the ears, probably as the result of abusing them at a loud concert or by standing too near the speakers in a nightclub, but the noise usually subsides in a matter of hours.

Imagine then what life is like for the unlucky ten per cent of people in the UK who suffer with tinnitus and for who, with no recognised cure, the ringing does not stop.

At the start of Tinnitus Awareness Week today, we spoke to two York mothers, who are both learning to live with tinnitus but who developed the condition under very different circumstances.

Becky Watson, 31, from Foxwood, said her tinnitus came on gradually after years of working in pubs and clubs in York.

“I was about 18 and, of course, going out to nightclubs and standing near the speakers. I first noticed something when I was about 22. I had a sort of ringing in my ears.

“It was really quiet and I wasn’t even sure if it was in my ears or something outside which I was picking up. It got a bit louder over the years but it’s still relatively quiet.

“If I’m keeping busy or there’s stuff going on I just don’t notice it. But if there’s silence I obviously notice it more.”

Becky, a mother-of-one, admits that while working in bars she was offered the use of ear plugs but paid no heed to the danger.

Now, however, she is determined to ensure she does nothing to aggravate the condition or make it worse.

“With having it for ten years you get used to it but it can be annoying. You can be laid in bed and getting comfy but then you will notice it in your head.

“I know there’s no cure for it so I keep away from situations which I know could make it worse such as being near loud music in pubs.”

Becky said her mother, Pam Dance, also has the condition, but believes it is not hereditary. “She used to work in pubs and bars too. She used to work in a factory too, so she had all the machines going on around her.”

While it is agreed that loud noises can be to blame for the condition, another North Yorkshire mum, 31-year-old Aisha Hepton from Easingwold, found she had developed tinnitus after a surgical procedure.

After suffering a severe ear infection, some of the tiny bones which make up the delicate structure of the inner-ear never recovered from the surgery she underwent.

A mother to two young boys, she said the symptoms included a constant whistling, which she describes as “pretty loud” and an occasional “gushing water” noise.

“It’s worse in silence,” she said. “I haven’t found anything that helps. On a scale of one to ten, when it comes to irritation I would say it’s about a six or seven.

“I went to one appointment at the tinnitus clinic at York Hospital and was told there was no cure and it is a case of learning to deal with it. I was given relaxation techniques and suggestions of listening to music, or should I say funny sound tracks, to get to sleep.

“As this was all to do with dealing with it, I figured at 31 I should just try to get on with it, which is what I have done.

“As a mother with two young boys aged nine and six it is harder when they are at home, I can’t cope with lots of noises at once, so the TV, a DS going in the background and chatter is not great.”

The aim of Tinnitus Awareness Week is to help people like Becky and Aisha get more understanding about their condition from GPs and the general public.

According to the British Tinnitus Association (BTA), a recent study into the practice of care for the condition among family doctors in England found many GPs have an unmet need for specific training on tinnitus management.

The BTA says this situation is leading to inconsistent and inadequate advice being given to tinnitus patients throughout the country.

David Stockdale, chief executive of the British Tinnitus Association, said: “Thousands of tinnitus patients are being short-changed by their GPs.

“They are being either completely dismissed, told to ‘learn to live with’ the condition and are being given inaccurate information, or are not being referred to tinnitus clinics for specialist care.

“Tinnitus is poorly understood among many primary care practitioners, and we aim to readdress this problem during our Tinnitus Awareness Week campaign so that more tinnitus patients are given accurate advice and are referred to authoritative information widely available via the BTA, the NHS and other sources.”

For more information on the condition and help available, go to tinnitus.org.uk

Some key facts about coping with effects of tinnitus

What is tinnitus?

Not an illness or disease, tinnitus is a term that describes the perception of sound in the absence of any corresponding external noise. The noise may be continuous or it may come and go.

How many people experience tinnitus?

Tinnitus is one of the most common health problems facing the UK today. Mild tinnitus is common, about ten per cent of the population have it all the time and, about half of patients find it moderately or severely distressing.

What does tinnitus sound like?

The sound of tinnitus varies from one person to another. The noises are usually described as ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming, which can manifest themselves at a range of volumes from a low, ambient noise to a level that can seem overwhelming. Some people hear the noise as a low frequency; others find it either medium or high-pitched.

Who does it affect?

Various studies have shown that it can occur at any age, even in quite young children. People who are hard of hearing can also experience tinnitus.

What causes tinnitus?

The precise cause of tinnitus is still not fully understood. Experiences of tinnitus are very common in all age groups, especially following exposure to loud noise. Frequent and/or prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage the auditory system and increase the risk of getting tinnitus or potentially make an existing condition worse. Many other factors can increase the risk of experiencing tinnitus, such as hearing loss, depression and anxiety, high blood pressure and post-traumatic stress disorder. Its onset can be sudden or become more apparent over time.

Is there a cure for tinnitus?

At present there is no cure for tinnitus, but the BTA is dedicated to helping find one and funds and helps to advance clinical research. The BTA also provides information about self-help techniques that can be useful.

What to do if you think you have tinnitus?

Tinnitus is rarely an indication of a serious disorder, but it is wise to see a GP if tinnitus is suspected. The GP may make a referral to an ear nose and throat or audiology department.