If anybody knows how to get disabillity for this illness PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! LET ME KNOW. I heard that you couldn't get disability if you have T b/c it not considered a disability.I was a barber and i had to quit working due to the loud noise in the shop kids screaming,blow dyers,TV or radio on too loud.They would also have those air hoses to blow off the hair. very loud.I have been unemployed for 9 months and i hate it. i have worked since i was little and im not use too not working.I beleive a loud enviroment can increase your T.If you work at a prison you must work for the state is there somewhere that you can transfer that won't be so noisey.Read the Past Post and you will find alot of good information.If anybody has any info on disablilty PLEASE POST IT.

jobo8080, I have custom fitted ear plugs that allow for "good noise" in and are suppose to block harmful noise. They help somewhat. I have recently ordered protective headphones because I work in a loud laboratory. Your saftey office at the prison should be aware of protective devices for your ears and they should provide them. I would call the saftey office and ask them what kind of protective ear equipment they can offer you. Earitated.

Unfortunately I work for the County Prison not the state whereby we do not have the same type of resources that the state may have. We do not have a safety committee that would supply us with anything. I don't think they would permit earplugs because we need to hear our radios.

I took off work for 3 months trying to cope but its been over a year later and I still can't cope, it is very hard for me to concentrate on anything to be able to work. I have worked a total of 30 yrs in my lifetime and I hate not working because we needed the money now my Husband has to work so much that I hardly see him. My last Job I had been working for 16 1/2 years and when this happened to me they didnt care (I worked for the City and I could have retired in 4 yrs) I have heard that our Soldier's get disability for having Tinnitus and i know they deserve it but we suffer the same disabilty and they dont take us seriously.

Do you think ur work environment may have caused your T? if so, purchase a decibal meter, one that can record and date the readings,see if u can get it into work somehow, and record the noise level, and see if ur work conditions are often in a dangerous decibal level..then you may possibly have a law suit,especially if they deny you proper safety protection in regards to hearing! That is alot to jump thru, but damn it, if people and policy are a contributing factor in this illness,than the squeeky wheel should get the oil! and be compensated. And maybe it will also CHANGE things for others in the future!!

Here's my state...existing with severe T...things I didn't like to do I find it now extremely difficult to do...things I moderately liked to do I find it now difficult but not impossible to do...things I liked to do I still do with a degree of less intensity but hardly noticable to others. If I am discouraged I hope I am not being discouraging.

I wear ear protection in loud situations.

Should I be disabled...?
I could convince others, but I can't convince myself I'm disabled. I'm diminished, but not disabled. I can't speak for others here, but this is my condition.

I'm not alright, but I'm okay.

Disability is hard to prove in general because its not obviouse. YOu may look OK but you dont feel OK. The effect on a person varies and it can be very debilitating. Even when you are tested for disability, you might pass because it time dependent. For some of us tinnitus can get worst from working physically or mentally. Since work is 40 hours a week, the deterioration over weeks and month can lead you to be inefficient and really disable to do anything after. This depends again on the person and what other types of associated symptoms are involved. For myself, i stopped working for along time hoping the overall health will improved and so will tinnitus endurance. IT was a gamble. The act of claiming for insurance is exausting and you have to find dedicated doctors, ENT and pycholgist to support your claim. I was not able to do that. Often doctors, ENT that i have come across were all too readily dismiss the effect of the symptoms. Tinnitus sufferer just dont suffer from the noise, some of us have other symptoms associated with it like neck problems, dizziness, feeling weak. After all its not illogical that something in the brain may not be functioning properly and it will create an imbalance to your whole body. The act of going thru that process of fighting would have likely worsen my Tinnitus (meniers) and without dedicated support from MD it would have been a too much so i elected to rest and recuperate and trained myself. My symtoms are better after several years, my stamina have increased however its still limited. However, I believed and i think im right, that the insurance companies will make your life very stressful and miserable when you try to get dissability. Even if you get insurance you have to look behind your back to make sure they are not spying on you and they will always try to push and dictate your recovery. I like deciding for myself the pace of my recovery so I did not claimed but it does leave an bad taste. Especially when you know you getting cheated. Unfortunately, for those that cannot afford to take a few years off without a salary, you have no choice. But again,if you going to claim you need documentation. For tinnitus sufferer, it will be the psychologist that will be assessing your abilities. Of course, the insurance will hire many psychologist to counter your pyschologist or psychiatrist claims. If you are currently still working.

Good Luck

I can work OK, but it is really tough some days. I am getting deafer as well and I know I right now need a hearing aid. I am in the process of getting on. My insurance won't pay, so it is going to cost a lot.