Services — Tinnitus Support
BID Services and the Birmingham and District Tinnitus Group (B&DTG) are pleased to announce that they have merged their activities from 1st July 2009. The merger gives BDTG access to bid services’ resources which will allow it develop significantly over the coming months and years. From BID Services’ perspective, it adds another level of expertise to its growing skill and knowledge base.
In some way the merger is a homecoming as Robin Caley, a former chief executive, was instrumental in the founding of the group in 1981. The group has always met at BID Services’ premises and been supported by BID Services.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the name given to any kind of noise heard in the ears or head. The noise heard by an individual is different from person to person and the impact on an individual varies also. How and why people suffer with tinnitus is not known but it is thought that nearly always it is related to damage to an individuals hearing whether this is by exposure to loud noise, infections, genetic disorders or just general wear and tear. At the moment there is no medical cure so it has to be managed from a therapeutic angle.
Why was the Birmingham & District Group formed?
Due to the nature of tinnitus the best help is information, advice and support from people who have experience of tinnitus and its impact. It is due to this that the Birmingham and District Tinnitus group formed. The aims of the group are as follows;
• To give all tinnitus sufferers in Birmingham and the surrounding areas access to up to date information through meetings, newsletters and support literature.
• To offer anyone troubled by tinnitus the chance to meet other sufferers in a supportive environment.
• To provide opportunities for members to share ideas about coping with tinnitus.
• To support tinnitus research and work towards improvement of services available to tinnitus sufferers.
It was with this in mind that the group was set up in 1981.
Achievements
Since forming, the group has become well established and now provides six newsletters a year to its members, as well as monthly informal drop in sessions at a local venue. These sessions can be a valuable lifeline for people suffering tinnitus as they can meet fellow sufferers in an informal setting and discuss any issues that may be bothering them.
As well as the drop in sessions confidential telephone support is provided by key members of the group, this gives people another avenue for confidential mutual support.
All the above activity is provided by trained volunteers who all have experience of tinnitus.
Below is the detailed poster of the Tinnitus meetings and the leaflet of the Tinnitus group, please click on it to read more or print it off.
The third attachment below is the details for the Tinnitus Awareness Week which start on 8th February, please click on it to read more.
Attachments
Tinnitus Awareness Week
Tinnitus Awareness Week takes place 4th - 11 February 2011
Posters on this event can be found at the bottom of this page.
Daytime Support Sessions
We understand the difficulties that some people have in travelling to evening venues especially in winter. With this in mind we run monthly support sessions on a Tuesday morning at Carrs Lane Church Centre in the centre of Birmingham (opposite the back entrance of Marks & Spencers).
However, from Tuesday 12th April 2011, these will be held at the officers of IRWIN MITCHELL (Solicitors), Imperial House, 31 Temple Street, Birmingham, B2 5DB.
These are small informal sessions when two of our members will be on hand to offer support, information and advice to anyone with tinnitus. Family and friends are welcome. They are held on:
The second Tuesday of each month from 10.30 until 12 noon.
Tinnitus website
If you are interested to read more there is more inforamtion available on Birmingham & District Tinnitus Group website: www.tinnitusbham.org.uk