On Wednesday’s episode of *Good Morning Britain*, Susanna Reid opened up about her long-standing struggle with tinnitus, an incurable condition she has been managing since 2004. Reid, 43, revealed during a discussion with co-host Richard Madeley and guest Jamie Laing, that she has lived with tinnitus for nearly two decades. Jamie Laing, who is also currently experiencing this condition, joined the conversation to shed light on their shared experience.
Tinnitus, often described as a persistent ringing in the ears, is characterized by hearing sounds in the absence of external noise. The exact causes of tinnitus are not fully understood but it is frequently linked to exposure to loud noises, hearing loss, and certain medications.
During the show, Richard Madeley, 67, addressed Susanna, asking, “You’ve had tinnitus for a very long time, haven’t you?” Susanna confirmed, saying, “Yes, almost 20 years.” She explained that she experiences the condition continuously, having been diagnosed in 2004 following the birth of her second son, Finn.
Susanna and Jamie discussed how tinnitus can manifest as a constant or intermittent ringing or buzzing in one or both ears, and in some cases, it can affect the head as well. Despite the challenging nature of the condition, Susanna highlighted that there are ways to manage symptoms. She encouraged viewers to seek medical advice, stating, “If this is something you are experiencing, don’t think there’s no point in seeing a doctor. You can definitely consult specialists who can assess your hearing and offer support and therapies that might alleviate the problem.”
Jamie Laing agreed, emphasizing the importance of seeking help, and shared that practices like meditation and exercise can be beneficial. “When it starts, it can be very scary,” he noted. “But meditation helps, exercise helps. All these things can make it more manageable, and over time, you get used to it.”
Susanna first publicly discussed her battle with tinnitus in 2018 on Twitter, describing the sound as being akin to the noise that was heard when TV programming ended for the day. She admitted that the condition caused her significant distress, especially during labor, leading her to fear she would never experience silence again. In a previous *Good Morning Britain* segment, she shared, “When I first started hearing it, which was probably about ten years ago, I became quite distressed that I would never hear silence again.”
Susanna’s openness about her health struggle provides valuable insight into the experiences of those living with tinnitus and underscores the importance of seeking support and effective management strategies.
