Tinnitus, a condition whereby people hear noises which do not originate from an external source - often called ringing in the ears - has no known cure, but it can be alleviated. The Irish Tinnitus Association has invited Prof Frank D'Arcy, an audiological physician and ENT consultant who specialises in the condition and its management, to speak about its medical aspects at its autumn meeting. Admission is £5 and all are welcome to Wynn's Hotel, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin on Saturday at 1.30 p.m. AIM Family Services is seeking volunteers to commit themselves to one morning or more each week to staff its telephone counselling service. The service involves giving familylaw information, for which training will be given: basic counselling skills would be an advantage. Application forms should be requested before November 21st from Mary Malone at AIM, 6, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2, telephone (01) 6708365. [SBX]
Psychologist Criona Garvey will give a talk on "Managing Challenging Children" at the a.g.m. of the Irish Association for Gifted Children on Saturday. The association is a support group composed mainly of the parents of gifted/highly able children. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and runs monthly coffee evenings, regular talks and Easter holiday breaks. The meeting starts at 3.30 p.m. in Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 and there is a £3 charge for nonmembers.
A marriage and relationship maintenance course will take place over the next four Saturdays at the Writer's Museum, Dublin, starting on November 8th. Costing £130 per couple, it is run by Marriage and Relationship Counselling Services and is aimed at couples who have been together for at least five years. They will have the opportunity to reflect on their relationships, value what is good and recognise what should be focused on to keep it in working order. Among the topics which will be covered are balancing traditional roles and co-operative partnerships; communication difficulties with the gender differences in language; and the concept of investment and return.
Phone (01) 6710902 for more details
The Irish Cancer Society and Pretty Polly have joined forces in an effort to increase awareness of women's cancers. Ireland has the highest incidence of cancer in Europe with one in every 13 women developing breast cancer and a further one in 22 being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Pretty Polly's Can-Can campaign hopes to raise £30,000 towards a nationwide series of information seminars; to this end, they have packaged some of their bestselling brands in a stylish silver can, pictured above, and will make a donation from the sale of each can to the Irish Cancer Society.
"The Older Consumer: A Challenge for the Health Services", a conference organised by the Eastern Health Board, Age and Opportunity, the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the Office for Health Gain, takes place at the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co Dublin on November 13th and 14th. Themes will include health services and the older person, consultation and examples of best practice, dialogue, wellbeing and patient empowerment. The conference is aimed at health-care providers, health professionals working in the field of ageing, organisations with a stake in the health of older people, and older people's groups and organisations. A fee of £50 covers both days. Further information can be had from Patricia Tierney in Age and Opportunity on 018370570. There will be a meeting of the Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) Foundation in Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin on Tuesday November 11th at XX. The group is a voluntary organisation which offers support, information and friendship to sufferers of this liver disease.
Like most thyroid diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and some forms of diabetes, PBC occurs mostly in women, is more common as they become older and has something to do with a defect in the body's immune defense mechanisms. The condition has no known cause and as yet no cure; it is not infectious or associated with alcohol and is not a malignant condition. Further information from Alice Murphy on 01-4541553.