William Shatner, who is best known as Captain Kirk from Star Trek, has disclosed he's been living with persistent tinnitus since his early 30s.
The condition started from an explosion on the set while filming the Star Trek episode "Arena" back in 1966. Now at 94 years old, Shatner said he can still hear constant ringing in his ears, which he compared to the noise of living next to an airport.
He discussed his experiences with the condition in a recent video for the nonprofit Tinnitus Quest, which supports global awareness and research funding for tinnitus. While Shatner was formally diagnosed in the 1990s, he shared he had been managing the symptoms for decades.
Speaking on the experiences, he said that there were, "a lot of ups and downs, but that the majority of the time it disrupts every part of your life."
Tinnitus impacts millions of people across the globe. For many, the impact is mild but for some, like Shatner, forms of tinnitus can be so severe that there is not a known cure. Through his story, he wants to draw more attention to the serious nature of tinnitus especially for those who feel unseen or misunderstood.
Shatner Calls for More Research and Support for Tinnitus
In the message, Shatner encouraged audiences to consider helping out organizations like Tinnitus Quest that provide research funding and funding for medical studies and treatments.
He brought up that 1% or 2% of people suffer from significant tinnitus; they struggle with sleepless nights, pain, anxiety, and a sense of loss of quality of life. However, he experiences that tinnitus does not receive the attention or funding compared to other conditions that affect health.
Shatner implored that anyone suffering with tinnitus not to feel alone. He said the promotion of public awareness is on the rise, but there is still much more work to be done, and for the countless numbers that continue to seek relief.
He hopes that by using his own voice and story, he can help promote donations, drive scientific advances, and improve the care for those who are acting like they are not, but continue to suffer quietly.
While he continues to live with the condition, Shatner learned to manage his tinnitus through life style changes and coping techniques.
Though he lives with this condition, he is still active and engaging with people in public life, through touring, entertaining, and ultimately using his voice to speak for the millions that experience struggles that are invisible to the world.
