Tinnitus Advert in the UK

My mom just rang to say there's a tinnitus advert currently running in the UK. I haven't seen it myself but I'm guessing from her description and the fact they say "text 'cure' to get a free guide" made me believe it must be this:

https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/donate/we-are-taking-on-tinnitus-together.aspx/

Time to get donating.

 

"Before 2000, very little was known about which parts of the hearing system were involved in tinnitus. Today, the picture is very different – we know more than ever before and a cure really is within our grasp. Right now, there are over 15 medications to treat tinnitus and hearing loss with in clinical trials"

Huh? Really? The only one I know that is in clinical trials is AM-101. And as far as I know, AM-101 and AUT00063 (which was aborted) are the only medications EVER to be developed primarily for T. So what are those other 14 medications for T that are in clinical trials?

EDIT: Oh, and OTO-311 too which is in phase 1. But that still leaves 13 "unknown" medications for T.

 

Sounds good, especially coming from such a major organisation. And at the same time I'm with @lapidus on this: I'd like to know what they're basing this on.

"Today [...] we know more than ever before and a cure really is within our grasp."

How close are they and why?

 

I will add that this is on TV; just incase anyone missed the video. I think they could have added some warnings to help the prevention of tinnitus, but it's still a positive step to see some mainstream TV activity going on.

 

I'm not sure what 15 they are referring to, but there is SciFluor SF0034 you can add to the list as well as certain brain therapies such as TMS. There is also a vagus nerve stimulating device that can be implanted.

 

Its a great effort to obtain funding for research! Thanks for sharing @Ed209

 

Scifluor isn't in clinical trials yet and it's not primarily for T. It's for epilepsy first and foremost. TMS isn't a medication and neither is Vagus Nerve Stimulation.

 

I know, but loosely speaking any approach towards a solution is all that's needed. Either there are 15 medications, they are lying, or they just used a misleading word. Maybe 'treatments' is more what they were inferring.

In either case, I'm far more interested in the fact that they are actually trying to get some funding, and as a side effect of this more awareness of the condition is being raised. This can only be a positive thing surely? It's certainly not a bad thing.

 

Yeah it's a positive thing, absolutely. I just hope they are saying what it looks like they are saying.

 

Yes it's probably a good thing. But I'm not sure about the ROI on this (it costs a lot of money to run an ad on TV).
I really think Tinnitus Research & Awareness needs a jolt. I don't mean to minimize the current efforts (including this TV ad), but I'm thinking more in terms of big splash, like a telethon.

 

He was talking about Sodium and Potassium channel opener. They are listed in here.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/attachments/kaltenbach_final-pdf.9814/

 

As long as this gets people's attention, I'm OK with a little white lie.

 

@Ed209 . You say it's on a TV ad . Haven't seen it yet .

 

This was in July and it was a daytime tv ad. Not sure if it's still running as I don't watch daytime tv and not sure if it ran in the evenings or not.

 

Instead, I would opt for something like the ALS "Ice Bucket Challenge", but then of course modified with a more appropriate challenge for something regarding Tinnitus/Hyperacusis. I imagine this costs far less than organising a telethon, as anyone with a potato in his pocket can record a movie with a person doing some challenge. You only need a big party with lots of connections to make it go viral though...

For ALS this was quite a successful endeavour, raising both awareness and funds for research.

 

Most probably broadcast time during the day is cheaper than during "prime-time" in the evening hours. This might say something about the available budget for the ad. During the day most people are at work and hence the exposure is unfortunately low. Aside from that, a lot happens over the internet today, so I guess thats where one can make the big whammies nowadays.

 

reaching out to rock/pop stars to donate some of their album proceeds, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber...?

 

The advert is still running as I caught it on tv yesterday. I never watch daytime tv so I'm assuming it's been a regular thing the last few months. They are appealing for £15 donations to aid research stating there is a lack of funding.

 

Once you get it, you might greedily want them to just figure out a straight cure for it instead of focusing on preventative measures.

But I totally agree with you, people need to be warned about this. Just like everyone tells you not to stare into the sun or else you'll go blind, don't listen to loud music if you enjoy silence!