Deafness and Hearing Disorders

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Hearing Disorders
Medline NLM definition of Meniere's disease: A disease of the inner ear characterized by vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss often accompanied by fullness in the affected ear. ENDOLYMPHATIC HYDROPS (swelling of the endolymph-containing structures) is the main pathologic finding.
Medline NLM definition of tinnitus: Sounds that are perceived in the absence of any external noise source which may take the form of buzzing, ringing, clicking, pulsations, and other noises. Objective tinnitus refers to noises generated from within the ear or adjacent structures that can be heard by other individuals. The term subjective tinnitus is used when the sound is audible only to the affected individual. Tinnitus may occur as a manifestation of COCHLEAR DISEASES; VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE DISEASES; INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION; CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA; and other conditions.
 
Meniere's disease:  Patient UK
Tinnitus:  Patient UK

PubMed Medline search on Meniere's disease
PubMed Medline search on Tinnitus
 Support Groups

Royal National Institute for Deaf People
(see website for contact details)
RNID Tinnitus Information and Resources
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) is the largest charity representing the 8.7 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. As a membership charity, they aim to achieve a radically better quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing people. They do this in the following ways: campaigning and lobbying;  providing information and raising awareness of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus;  training courses and consultancy on deafness and disability;  training of interpreters, lipspeakers and speech-to-text operators; communication services including sign language interpreters;  employment programmes to help deaf people into work; residential and community services for deaf people with special needs; equipment and products for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Sign Community (British Deaf Association)
(Check website for regional contact addresses)
A national organisation run by Deaf people, for Deaf people. They represent the Deaf community, a community united by shared experiences, history and, above all, by a common language: British Sign Language

Meniere's Society
(see website for contact details)
The Ménière's Society (UK) can help you with information and support. Join the Society and receive a comprehensive information pack, a quarterly magazine, SPIN and a contact list.

British Tinnitus Association
(see website for contact details)
Supports a nationwide network of local self-help groups; sponsors tinnitus research projects; promotes education and awareness campaigns; produces a quarterly magazine for member

Menieres.org  (US site)
Menieres.org was founded to provide a "home" of support for those who are suffering from Meniere's Disease. Their primary goal is to provide a warm home on the web for you to lean a shoulder on, share your tips and experiences with other sufferers.

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