Cork events to mark tinnitus awareness week

Events will be taking place across Cork as part of the Cork Deaf Association’s (CDA’s) marking of International Tinnitus Awareness Week, which takes place this week.

Cork events will take place from tomorrow and continue to Friday and include outreach stands in Bandon and Wilton, and a coffee morning with a hearing clinic in the city centre.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound — such as ringing, buzzing, whistling, or hissing — when no external source is present. About 10% of the population is affected by persistent tinnitus.

Some people experience it temporarily, due to factors such as earwax build-up or exposure to loud noise, while others develop persistent tinnitus due to causes such as hearing loss, noise exposure, infections, or emotional trauma. In some cases, no clear cause can be identified.

Maurice Laide, aged 69, who has had tinnitus for 10 years, said:

“Acceptance was key. Following on from that, I’m very proactive about finding helpful tools and strategies.

“I also attend peer support groups and talks in Cork Deaf Association. The free mindfulness course I attended before Christmas was particularly beneficial. I walk a lot too and that helps my overall well-being.”

Sarah Good, co-ordinator of the Tinnitus Support Service at the Cork Deaf Association, said: “So many people are told they have to just ‘live with it’ without being given any useful information or support about how they do that. There are so many tools and strategies that can help to reduce the impact of tinnitus in your daily life. Please reach out to us. We can work with you to improve and maintain your quality of life”.

A full schedule of events is available at www.corkdeaf.ie.