Dear
Friends and Colleagues,
It is with great pleasure that I
would like to announce a new society devoted specifically to our field, The International Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Society (ITHS).
The ultimate goal of ITHS is to work toward helping people around the
world afflicted with tinnitus, by promoting basic and clinical research, by an
exchange of information amongst its members, and by education of both
professionals as well the lay public.
ITHS is not promoting any specific tinnitus model or treatment, and all
the information distributed will reflect a general consensus or opinion,
always presented with proper justification.
While the idea of such a society has been in discussion for some time, only now, because of the number of people working in the field, and the substantial number of publications and grants, has it been possible to take this crucial step. Of particular significance is the rapidly increasing number of new researchers and clinicians starting work on tinnitus. Financial support is on the increase all around the world. The National Institute of Health in the USA issued a request for applications for grants specifically on tinnitus, and the Deafness Research Foundation has encouraged application for work on tinnitus. Private anonymous donors have also committed significant funds for research on tinnitus.
In the field there has been a growing interest in a number of countries which were less active in past – particularly, Argentina, Brazil, Korea, Singapore, Poland, Slovakia and Spain. It became apparent that the exchange of information happening mainly during the International Tinnitus Seminars, which are held every three years, and this is now insufficient to satisfy the demand for progress. The need for stronger interaction has become obvious, and many professionals have expressed interest in more frequent contact, more efficient promotion of clinical and basic science research, and rapid exchange of information.
During the last ARO meeting in Florida, USA, in February 1999, a group of professionals, for a long time involved in the field of tinnitus, decided to establish a new International Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Society which would be available to everyone interested in the tinnitus and hyperacusis field. Recently, this society has been formally established. I have an honour of being voted as the first president, and Dr. Hazell has been elected Executive Secretary/Treasurer. At the present moment a committee is finalizing the bylaws, which are pending the approval of all the founding members.
The rules governing membership are still under discussion. In addition to various levels for professionals working in research or clinical fields, the Society offers an affiliate membership to everyone interested in learning more about tinnitus and hyperacusis, including those who are patients with these conditions.
We strongly believe that ITHS will
facilitate exchange of information among its members, and providing the most
up-to-date and critically assessed information about tinnitus and hyperacusis to
generalists and non-specialists. This will speed up the progress of
understanding the mechanisms of tinnitus and hyperacusis and help in refining
existing treatments as well as discovering new techniques. We want to directly
help patients and avoid the unnecessary aggravation and suffering frequently
resulting from misconceptions and misinformation about tinnitus and hyperacusis.
I would like to extend my personal
invitation to all colleagues working in the field, to patients, and people who
would like to know about research
and clinical developments, to join ITHS. Working
together we can achieve much more in shorter time!
President
International Tinnitus &
Hyperacusis Society