Editor's notes

The following text was written in 1997.

In order to prevent identification of the patients, they are called "cases". For us they were and remain people whom we know and love)

However: Some of our ex-patients are wishing to share openly their experience with other Tinnitus sufferers. You may visit the website created by Ray Ennis, and contact him by email.

On January 2001,Tim Donohue , a musician from San Clemente, California, asked us to post his page on our website.

We hope more ex-patients will open their websites to tell their stories. Of course, HADASSAH cannot be responsible for these materials.

Case 1: Mr. S. S. a 65 years old widower and father of two. Works in a government office. 28 years before coming to our clinic, in the course of military training, a cannon shell fell near him. He developed bi-lateral tinnitus and a feeling of unsteadiness with a dominant component of recurrent vertiginous attacks. His physicians gave him repeated doses of diazepam (valium) to calm him, but he continued to suffer for 28 years. An important regrettable consequence for him was the loss of self confidence.

Today, 5 years after coming to our clinic, and 4 years after completing the treatment, he is symptom free, his self esteem has improved and he no longer uses diazepam.

Case 2: Mrs. M. Y. is 50 years old, and a mother of 3. She studied History in the University, and now works in a senior administrative job. Since childhood she suffered from repeated ear infections, and as a result, underwent recurrent surgical procedures in the ear.

After one year of tinnitus and dizziness she was referred to our clinic. She was treated for one year and during the next, gradually discontinued all her medications. Today she has been symptom-free for 3 years.

Case 3: Mr. M. R. 48 years old, married and a father of 4. He is a school janitor and was referred to our clinic for vertigo, dizziness and tinnitus associated with a growth in the base of his skull (area of "foramen magnum"). Repeated brain imaging (MRI) showed that the mass of the growth remained the same. Surgical procedure was not recommended for him, although he continued to suffer.

After 6 months of treatment, the attacks of unsteadiness (vertigo and dizziness) disappeared completely. Today, 2 years after disappearance of the symptomatology, he is still symptom-free.

Case 4: Mr. J. Y. 59 years old construction worker, married and a father of 4. Came to our clinic after 3 years of having annoying tinnitus in both ears. He had a medical history of recurrent episodes of noise exposure at work for 23 years.

After 2 years of treatment all the symptoms disappeared. Now, 3 years after termination of treatment he feels good, does not have tinnitus, and does not use medications.

Case 5: Mrs. R. R. 53 years old teacher for adults, married and a mother of 3. She came to our clinic 4 years after ear surgery in which the stapes were replaced by prosthesis (stapedectomy), improving her ability to hear. The annoying tinnitus that followed the surgical procedure was an unpleasant and unexpected complication, for both patient and physician. Four years after the operation she began treatment in our clinic . At first, she was very angry at her surgeon.

Under our treatment her condition improved gradually, during 14 months, and no additional surgery was necessary. She now feels healthy and happy. She thanks the surgeon for improving her hearing, and Dr. Shemesh for the relief in the tinnitus.

Case 6: Mrs. E . N. 55 years old dedicated housewife, married and a mother of 4. One year before coming for treatment, her beloved brother died of cancer. During the period of his struggle with the disease Mrs. N. invested a great deal of emotional energy. She was trying to encourage her brother to be optimistic and at the same time, did her best to hide the truth from her parents. The non-verbal message that she gave to her family was that she is strong enough to withstand all the difficulties by herself. After her brother’s funeral she felt exhausted, unable to function at home, and unhappy. One month later, during severe grief reaction, she developed a bi-lateral tinnitus. After intensive ENT evaluation she was told that the origin of her condition is not known.

One year later she came to our clinic because she did not know how to "live with it". Today Mrs. N. says that she came back to herself. The tinnitus disappeared and she returned to normal functioning and the ability to enjoy her family.