Help Musicians UK (HMUK) has announced their partnership with the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) to undertake pioneering research into the effects, management, and prevention of tinnitus experienced by people working in the music industry.
The in-depth study is designed to create a strong evidence base that HMUK can use to support musicians and music professionals suffering with the condition, and will run alongside their Hearing Health scheme, which is available for the prevention and management of tinnitus.
The announcement comes during national tinnitus week with the BTA currently running the world’s only tinnitus helpline.
A HMUK survey conducted in 2015 found that 58 percent of respondents reported living with the condition.
Joe Hastings, head of health and welfare, Help Musicians UK, says: ‘HMUK wants a world where musicians thrive, and we are especially excited to be announcing our partnership with the British Tinnitus Association during Tinnitus Week, while there’s a real focus on the condition and the serious effects it can have on the lives and careers of those who work in music. Musicians are at increased risk of hearing damage, and while our Hearing Health Scheme helped 5,076 musicians to protect their hearing last year, this research partnership will allow us to study the impact of tinnitus on professional musicians working in the UK and shape our offer and advocacy in the medium to long term.’
David Stockdale, chief executive, British Tinnitus Association, added: ‘We’re delighted to be working with Help Musicians UK to deliver new research into the as yet unchartered territory of tinnitus and its impact on musicians. BTA researchers will have access to a pool of HMUK-supported musicians and use a mixture of quantitative and qualitive methods to collect information, allowing for more in-depth insights than have ever been captured before. Considering everything from genre and frequency of performance, to instrument and the position it’s played in, the findings will pave the way for the broadest understanding of the effects of tinnitus within the UK music sector yet and open doors for effective, targeted support.’
The in-depth study is designed to create a strong evidence base that HMUK can use to support musicians and music professionals suffering with the condition, and will run alongside their Hearing Health scheme, which is available for the prevention and management of tinnitus.
The announcement comes during national tinnitus week with the BTA currently running the world’s only tinnitus helpline.
A HMUK survey conducted in 2015 found that 58 percent of respondents reported living with the condition.
Joe Hastings, head of health and welfare, Help Musicians UK, says: ‘HMUK wants a world where musicians thrive, and we are especially excited to be announcing our partnership with the British Tinnitus Association during Tinnitus Week, while there’s a real focus on the condition and the serious effects it can have on the lives and careers of those who work in music. Musicians are at increased risk of hearing damage, and while our Hearing Health Scheme helped 5,076 musicians to protect their hearing last year, this research partnership will allow us to study the impact of tinnitus on professional musicians working in the UK and shape our offer and advocacy in the medium to long term.’
David Stockdale, chief executive, British Tinnitus Association, added: ‘We’re delighted to be working with Help Musicians UK to deliver new research into the as yet unchartered territory of tinnitus and its impact on musicians. BTA researchers will have access to a pool of HMUK-supported musicians and use a mixture of quantitative and qualitive methods to collect information, allowing for more in-depth insights than have ever been captured before. Considering everything from genre and frequency of performance, to instrument and the position it’s played in, the findings will pave the way for the broadest understanding of the effects of tinnitus within the UK music sector yet and open doors for effective, targeted support.’
