Support group helps to hear beyond the ringing

By Monica GuthrieJanuary 28, 2016

Sound advice
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla., Jan. 28, 2016 -- Staff Sgt. James Smogonovich came to the tinnitus support group against his own will. At the time he was struggling through post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and to top it off, he had a constant ringing in his ears. His wife, Randi, saw a flyer for the tinnitus group in an elevator at Reynolds Army Community Hospital and, as Smogonovich says, dragged him to the meeting.

"I was at a point where I was, for lack of better words, pissed off 24/7 and my wife finally just had enough of it," said Smogonovich. "I sat back there and (the group leader) said what she had to say and I thought, 'what am I supposed to do?' I didn't know which one to tackle first."

Bonnie Pendleton, an audiologist at RACH, organizes the monthly tinnitus support group. In the meeting she explains what tinnitus is, how it differs from hearing loss and what steps to take to being managing tinnitus.

"Tinnitus is not a disease but it's a symptom of something else," said Pendleton. "It can come from damage to the inner ear by hearing a loud noise but it can also be a symptom of hypertension, type II diabetes, ear wax, a sinus infection or a tumor so it's a good idea to have an evaluation done. Rarely is it because of a tumor but it needs to be ruled out."

She said between 40 million and 50 million people in America (about 1 in 10 Americans) suffer from it. She said it is the number one disability noted by Veterans Affairs with number two being hearing loss. There are many ways to handle tinnitus from ear pieces to applications on your cell phone. While none of these methods can "cure" tinnitus, it can mask it.

"Imagine you're in a dark room holding a brightly-lit candle," said Pendleton. "All your focus is on the candle. Now turn on the lights. That candle is still brightly lit but you don't notice it as much because the whole room is bright. That's how masking works."

Smogonovich attended the first group meeting in September and by the January class, he was a different man. With the aid of a hearing device designed to blend the sounds created by tinnitus, Smogonovich now focused on tackling his TBI and PTSD and even convinced three other Soldiers to attend the January meeting with him.

"I tell everyone about it," said Smogonovich. "I'll be standing in line and hear someone say something about 'that ringing in their ears' and I'll pull them aside and talk to them."

Smogonovich said he wants to help others suffering from tinnitus (also pronounced tin-eye-tus) because of how the hearing aid helped him deal with other areas of his life. He said many people don't know ways to manage tinnitus.

"When we got back from Iraq, they said, 'oh you have tinnitus, well there's nothing you can do,' but now there's new technology," he said. "But how will they find out? I found out from a flyer my wife saw in an elevator. Now that I've had it and it works for me I want to tell people. Some people ask me, 'what's tinnitus,' and I tell them, 'it's that stupid ringing in your ears that won't go away. Come with me to this tinnitus group if for no other reason but to learn, and to learn how to cope.'"

The group meets each month at RACH's audiology clinic. The next class will be Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. For more information call 580-558-2235.