Strictly Come Dancing star Jamie Laing recently appeared on This Morning to open up about his experience with tinnitus.
He recounted that nine years ago he was hit with an unnerving ringing in his ears when he woke up, which led to his diagnosis.
The show’s host Ben Shephard shared with viewers the unfortunate fact that there is no known cure for tinnitus, affecting millions across the UK.
During the segment, co-host Cat Deeley played a high-pitched noise in the studio to illustrate the condition. Expressing her realization of its potential impact, she said: “It’s only when you hear that Jamie that you realise just how debilitating it must be.”
Jamie responded: “It is pretty debilitating. My story is that nine years ago, I woke up one morning and could hear this ringing. I searched the whole house to find this noise.”
“Then I realised it was in my head, which is quite a scary thing. Really frightening, and the upsetting thing is that it affects one in seven people.”
The reality TV star stressed the importance of discussing the condition to raise awareness and to reassure those affected that there are ways to manage it, despite feeling isolated because of it, reports the Express.
Jamie added: “The hard thing about it is no one can see it or feel it. So, it’s a very solo problem. You’re very stuck in your own body with it.”
Cat, intrigued by his experience, asked Jamie to describe the sound and whether it worsens. The 36-year-old detailed it as a high ringing whooshing noise and admitted that the focus on it can make it more pronounced.
Jamie shared his personal strategies for dealing with tinnitus, likening it to an annoying friend. He elaborated: “People with tinnitus are so scared of it, so scared it’s there the whole time. But now, I treat it as that really annoying friend.
“If its really loud, I go, ‘Ok, what are you trying to tell me? ‘ I’m either anxious. I’m either stressed, I’m either overworked or overtired. If you do that with it, it kind of helps it a little bit.”
When asked if this approach lessens the noise, Jamie confirmed it does. He advised Ben and Cat that acceptance is key for those living with tinnitus.
Jamie continued: “If you think about the noise, you can hear it. If you’re not thinking about it, you block it out. So, you treat it like that.”
Recalling his diagnosis years ago, Jamie admitted it was distressing to learn the condition is incurable.
Offering reassurance to others currently struggling with tinnitus, Jamie said: “I promise you, you become accustomed to it, and you get used to it.”
This Morning continues weekdays on ITV from 10am.