A new support group for people with Tinnitus is to start from 27th April 2021. The group is being organised by Forth Valley Sensory Centre and supported by the British Tinnitus Association.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions the first meeting is online via Zoom and will take place at 12pm. The group is open to anyone in Forth Valley (Falkirk, Stirling or Clackmannanshire) who has to manage tinnitus on a daily basis.
Groups and Activities Coordinator at Forth Valley Sensory Centre, Linsey Stocks commented: “Tinnitus is a big issue for many people. The Centre supports people with all kinds of hearing impairment as well as blind and partially sighted people too.
“A number of medical conditions can affect sight and also hearing, with tinnitus being a common problem. We are delighted to be able to set up this new group to support those of all ages trying to cope with this particular issue. Thanks to British Tinnitus Association for their support in getting this off the ground. We hope it will be a great resource for the community.”
Colette Bunker, BTA Head of Services comments: “Being among people who have tinnitus, listening to their experiences and how they manage it, can be a tremendous help. I witness this first hand when attending group meetings. It is amazing seeing the difference it makes to people, especially those who have recently been diagnosed.”
Tinnitus is defined as the experience of sounds with no external source, most commonly ringing or buzzing, but sometimes experienced as whooshing, clicking or even music. Many people aren’t troubled by sounds they hear, but for around 10%, the condition has a significant impact on their quality of life, often linked to stress, anxiety or sometimes depression.
Colette adds: “Tinnitus can be an isolating condition, with friends and family struggling to understand how it feels to adapt to the presence of loud or persistent noises. Some people choose to bring a partner or family member to the meetings, which can often help both parties understand more about the condition and the experiences or behaviours it can bring.”
If you would like to find out more, please contact Linsey Stocks by emailing linseystocks@forthvalleysensorycentre.org. You can also follow Forth Valley Sensory Centre on Facebook and Twitter.
I was just wondering if the Tinnitus Support Group is still on at the Sensory Centre? I could really use talking to others who suffer from this. Also do you have the phone number for Linsey Stocks who was running the group? Many thanks
Hello Elizabeth, Unfortunately not at the moment as there wasn’t a lot of interest after Covid. Hopefully it will be back in the future as I know this is something Linsey is looking into. Linsey is on annual leave at the moment but you can contact her by email on linseystocks@forthvalleysensorycentre.org and she will get back to you on her return.