WHEN Kelly Watson started hearing a strange high-pitched hissing sound in her ears one evening last November, she had no idea what the noise was.

Over the next few weeks, the noise got louder and louder and became horrendous to live with.

After initially encountering a dismissive attitude from some members of the medical profession, she was eventually diagnosed with tinnitus.

She was later referred to a very helpful tinnitus nurse and now has an understanding GP.

But, since developing the condition, the 30-year-old from Kidderminster has sometimes been driven to the brink of despair by the excruciating noises she can't escape.

"It really is horrible and makes you wonder how you're going to live with it for the rest of your life," she says.

"It can drive you insane and some days are worse than others. I try to look ahead if I'm having a particularly bad day but it's very hard at times."

Her social life has been hit because visits to bars, clubs or the cinema are no longer enjoyable.

Even everyday sounds, such as air-conditioning units, can exacerbate her symptoms and make dealing with normal' situations a real struggle.

White noise generators have helped Kelly to some extent and she often switches on the TV or radio to provide a distraction at quiet times. She has also experimented with her diet in the hope of seeing an improvement, visited a chiropractor and explored alternative therapies - but so far without success.

While trying to cope day by day, Kelly says she has been shocked at the lack of awareness, support and treatment for sufferers and believes there is a desperate shortage of funding for research.

Despite being a busy mum with a demanding job as a medical secretary, she is doing what she can to highlight the devastating effects of tinnitus.

Kelly is particularly frustrated about the slow progress of medical science.

"When you visit an ENT department and find that the same treatments are being offered that were around 10 years ago, it makes you feel like a second-class citizen," she says.

"Money seems to pour in for other long-term conditions but not for tinnitus. It might not be life-threatening but it's extremely debilitating and can make people suicidal.

"I think it would help if more sufferers took action and started protesting, even if only by writing letters."

The UK-based charity Action for Tinnitus Research focuses on funding medical and scientific research in pursuit of a cure and raising awareness is a key part of its work.

For details, log on to the website at www.tinnitus-research.org.

TINNITUS - THE FACTS

Tinnitus is the sensation of a sound in the ear or head not produced by an external source. The sound can be of any pitch or type, continuous or intermittent.

Tinnitus sounds can take a variety of forms such as buzzing, ringing, whistling, hissing or a range of other sounds. For some people it can even sound like music or singing. Sometimes people only notice these sounds when it is very quiet, such as at night. Other people find that they are much louder and can intrude on everyday life. Sometimes tinnitus noise beats in time with your pulse - this is known as pulsatile tinnitus.At present neither drugs nor surgery can cure or reduce tinnitus. Unending loud noise in the head is often listed as the third worst of non-lethal medical conditions, after severe pain and total paralysis. Its common effects include insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression.

There are many different causes of tinnitus. Tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. Tinnitus can be linked to exposure to loud noise, hearing loss, ear or head injuries, some diseases of the ear, ear infections or stress.

It is occasionally possible to treat the underlying condition that may be causing tinnitus. For example, if a sufferer has an ear infection, antibiotics may help clear this up, which may in turn also improve the condition.