by Brent Curtis,
Editor, Quiet Times

Taking inventory is part of any successful business. Having an accurate product inventory is necessary to ensure products are available to those who want them; this much is obvious. However, from time to time, a business should take other kinds of inventories as well.

We wanted to learn more about our customers: what type of tinnitus they have; medical help they have sought; basic demographics such as age and duration of their tinnitus; how they experience their tinnitus, and so on. We also wanted to learn how effectively our products were working for them.

Earlier in 2006, we randomly selected 3500 customers from our database who had active email addresses and asked them to take an extensive on-line survey to respond to these questions. National marketing statistics show that a 3% response rate is considered excellent for this type of survey. We were therefore very gratified that over 10% of those asked took the time to respond.

How did you hear about Arches Tinnitus Formulas?
(Figure 1)

The majority of our customers (68.1%) heard about us through a referral from an Otolaryngologist, a.k.a. Ear, Nose & Throat physician (ENT), or via an Internet search engine.

Over 35% of customers who responded told us their ENT recommended Arches Tinnitus Formulas. Nationally, we know that over 50 million Americans have tinnitus and approximately 12 to 15 million of those seek medical attention for the condition. Our customers appear to conform to these percentages.

Internet search engines were the method that over 32% got their information on tinnitus. Our website statistics show that Google is the number one choice, followed by Yahoo and MSN.

Which formula did you take and how many bottles of Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® did you use?
(Figures 2 – 3)

The majority of our customers (81%) use Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® (TRF) either alone or as part of the Combo Pack and nearly 70% used at least the recommended four bottles of Arches TRF. This is the product and the prescribed three-month treatment (four bottles) recommended by Michael Seidman, MD and over 1,200 ENT physicians in the United States and Canada.

Unfortunately, a startling 32% of customers did not bother to take the recommended minimum of four bottles of Arches TRF. This vital necessity can be found throughout our website and in all of our literature.

The truth is that tinnitus is a very stubborn condition and it takes time to effect relief. There is no “cure” or magic pill but clinically, we know that the ingredients found in Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® are effective for reducing tinnitus for many people if used continuously for at least four bottles (100 days).

What were the results of those who used Arches TRF properly?
(Figure 4)

Seventy percent of those who used Arches TRF properly and for the required four-bottle minimum showed a reduction of tinnitus and indicated their tinnitus improved. Thirty percent did not improve.

How much was tinnitus reduced using Arches TRF?
(Figure 5)

It is significant to note that half our customers who reported improvement said their tinnitus was reduced between 21 and 60%.

Before and After
(Figures 6 – 7)

Before using Arches Tinnitus Formulas a whopping 66% of respondents described their tinnitus as bad or very bad.

After taking the formulas that figure dropped 25 points to 41%. In those who had rated their tinnitus levels as mild or very mild (1 – 3), the percentage jumped from 34% before to 59% after for a positive increase of 25 points.

Demographic Breakdown of Arches Customers

Ages
(Figure 8)

National averages indicate that people 55 years and older make up the majority of tinnitus sufferers. In the general population, 12% of those 55 years or older have tinnitus versus lower incidence rates in younger people. The US Department of Health and Human Services say that from 1971 to 1990 hearing problems among those aged 45 to 64 increased 26%.

Following these national statistics, almost 40% of our respondents are between the ages of 51 and 60 and 30% are over age 61. A growing number of younger people are now getting tinnitus, often from loud music and the use of portable digital audio players such as IPods.

Causes
(Figure 9)

Nationally, exposure to loud noise is the major cause of tinnitus (70%) and 90% of those people have hearing loss as well. So we were surprised to learn that over half of our respondents did not know what caused their tinnitus.

Where tinnitus is heard.
(Figure 10)

Twenty nine percent of people hear tinnitus in one ear, 52% hear it in both ears and 19% hear it inside the head. For some individuals expressed that lived with all three.

What do you hear?
(Figure 11)

It’s called “ringing in the ears” for a reason and almost 40% indicated that was the sound they heard. However, many hear other sounds, whistling sited as the second most heard. In the “Other” category, one person reported hearing “musical tinnitus”.

What is the worst aspect of your tinnitus?
(Figure 12)

Tinnitus affects us all in many negative ways, Stress, anxiety and inability to concentrate made up half the responses. Clinical studies indicate that when the body is under stress it uses up inordinate amounts of B vitamins. Arches Tinnitus Stress and B-12 Formulas can be very helpful here.

Editor’s note: Our Tinnitus Information Center has numerous articles on relaxation techniques, dealing with moodiness and depression, and getting a good night’s sleep.

What medical help has been sought?
(Figure 13)

Only 6% of respondents have not sought medical attention for their tinnitus. Many tried the services of more than one medical profession. However, the great majority, nearly 90%, asked an ENT physician for help.

Other treatments you've tried.
(Figure 14)

No one treatment will work for everyone with tinnitus. In many cases, a combination of therapies will be more effective than any single therapy. The majority (54%) prefer to take some kind of oral treatment (pills), whether it is a prescription medication or dietary supplement. We understand this. Taking a pill is the easiest form of treatment, if it works.

Treatments that required a serious commitment time and effort such as Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) had a low response. TRT is also expensive which could account for it's low numbers.