Hi Claire

I attended a study day a few years ago on acoustic trauma and there was an ENT specialist/audiologist and psychologist pumping the use of CBT via an audiology department to assist sufferers with this i have sent a link which advises on courses to audiologist and the tinnitus society would help.  If she is not hooked up via audiology then she would need a referral for this.  The ENT specialist was about to get some research printed in the ENT European journal - he suggests tinnitus should be managed using Biopsychosocial model and specific CBT input from audiology.  

I would also do a risk assessment of her office environment to see if noise could be reduced further at source e.g is there carpeting, partitions and undertake audiogram screening to assess her current level of hearing and look into at noise reduction headset to help with auditory biofeedback loop 

steph
---- Clare McArdell <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> Carr
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks, yes we explored all other issues, it is really just the upset she
> feels when her colleagues complain about her shouting down the phone which
> disturbs them having conversations either within the room or with their own
> clients. She plays music to go to sleep and her family are buying her a
> wireless headset so she can watch the telly at the volume she needs (it's a
> tad loud). It's the work issue that is causing her the problems. I think the
> headset may be the compromise, that may help, but we just have to make sure
> it's an appropriate headset for her usage.
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks to all those who replied
> 
>  
> 
> Clare
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Carr Barnes
> Sent: 24 February 2010 13:42
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Tinnitus at work
> 
>  
> 
> Hi Claire
> 
>  
> 
> I have had a similar sitution and the problem with tinnitus is the effect
> can be cumulative and very distressing. Imagine trying to have a
> conversation with a distracting noise constantly buzzing beside you?
> Although a separate room may help the other colleagues it may not actually
> help the actual issue of "hearing loss". Quite often sufferers report
> headaches, cumulative tiredness, anxiety, decreased concentration etc. so
> you may also have to suggest that performance targets may also be affected.
> Might be worth exploring is there any other stress (apart from the obvious
> current stress that she is disturbing colleagues and struggling herself)
> that might be making symptoms escalate - she may then need to access support
> for that. Also does the tinnitus disturb sleep etc at home? Always have to
> consider mental health in such cases.
> 
>  
> 
> As Allison says the tinnitus association is a great resource but in some
> cases telephony work is just incompatible.
> 
> Good luck
> Carr
> 
> On 24 February 2010 13:23, Clare McArdell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> I have a lady who suffers with what she describes as servere tinnitus has
> tried all 'treatments' to eleviate symptoms, to no avail, she has got what
> she described as coping mechanisms most of the time (When not reminded about
> it), but her biggest problem is when she is on the phone and can't hear the
> person at the other end properly - she asks them to speak up (also turns her
> volume control up) and then shouts when she replies which is causing issues
> for other staff in the office, this then makes the tinnitus worse because
> she is made aware of it. I think she may have some underlying hearing loss
> as well, and she can lip read very well, I spoke quite quietly to her
> without any probelms.
> 
> She doesn't use a headset when on the phone at present (she is going to try
> a standard headset as a first line measure), and is refusing to have hearing
> aids which is what her audiologist suggested, has anyone come across this in
> a call entre environment and what would they suggest?
> 
> I have a couple of ideas one being having her own room - not unfortunately
> very practical in her work environment as she needs to liaise with
> colleagues sometimes whilst talking with a client. (She jokingly suggested a
> padded call!)
> 
> Any advice would be appreciated
> 
> Clare
> 
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