Key Takeaways
- Millions of people across the planet suffer from Tinnitus.
- William Shatner endorsed Tinnitus Quest, a nonprofit seeking to promote new treatments and a cure for the condition.
- People with Tinnitus face limited treatment options.
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William Shatner Endorses Tinnitus Quest
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The actor suffers from the ear condition after an accident on set during the filming of Star Trek.
William Shatner via Tinnitus Quest
While actors generally only pretend to be in dangerous situations, that doesn’t mean that there are risks to the job.
While filming an episode of the classic television series Star Trek, actor William Shatner accidentally found himself standing too close to a special effects explosion.1 As a result, he suffered permanent damage to his hearing and has been living with a persistent ringing. This is a condition known as tinnitus, which impact over 750 million people globally.
How many people are impacted by Tinnitus each year?
Shatner recently endorsed Tinnitus Quest, a non-profited focused on finding a way to cure tinnitus. According to the group, the condition is one of the most underfunded health conditions across the planet. Despite impacting such a high number of people across the planet, it is not recognized as serious problem by world governments.
Yet, anyone living with tinnitus can explain just how much of an impact the persistent ringing can have on them.
In a video, Shatner addressed his condition and support of the nonprofit, explaining, “Over the years I've had many ups and downs with my tinnitus. It's a diverse condition that comes in different degrees of severity. About 1–2% of the population suffer from a chronic, debilitating form of tinnitus. There are no effective treatments––and that's why we need more research."
He continued, “The more money we can raise for Tinnitus Quest, the quicker we can find a solution to help the millions of people suffering."
In a press release, Tinnitus Quest founder Sven Kollmann said, “William Shatner's voice lends tremendous credibility to our cause. His willingness to share his personal struggle helps destigmatize tinnitus and highlights the urgent need for research funding. When someone of his stature speaks about living with this condition for decades, people listen."
Tinnitus Quest is also supported y Grammy-winning producer Tchad Blake, musician Carl Graig, and author Michael Faber.
The nonprofit launched in September, 2024.2 According to a press release issued at the time, people suffering from tinnitus are not presented treatment options and are generally told to just learn to live with the ringing. The symptom, however, can come in varying waves of severity, and people struggling with it have suffered from mental health issues, despair, and even suicide.
In the same press release, Kollmann explained, “Tinnitus Quest believes this status quo is unacceptable. We are committed to changing the narrative by funding agile research, investigating new research questions that have not been asked before, aimed at silencing tinnitus once and for all."
The group’s co-founder Hazel Goedhard added, “We invite everyone affected by tinnitus, as well as those passionate about medical research and advocacy, to join us in this crucial mission. You can be part of the solution."
According to the Cleveland Clinic,3 tinnitus often presents as a ringing sound but can also be a clicking, pulse, or hum. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, including a physical injury or even earwax buildup.
Treating the condition depends on the cause. In many cases, however, there is no cure. A common way to combat the symptom is to use a white noise machine, which helps block out the ringing. The condition can be temporary (such as what many people experience after leaving a loud event like a concert or show), or it can be permanent. The symptoms can vary in severity and may not consistent in how they present.
Sources
- Legendary Actor William Shatner Backs Tinnitus Quest. Tinnitus Quest. June 25, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legendary-actor-william-shatner-backs-tinnitus-quest-302490972.html
- Tinnitus Quest Launches to Find a Cure for Hearing Disorder Affecting Millions. Tinnitus Quest. September 11, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tinnitus-quest-launches-to-find-a-cure-for-hearing-disorder-affecting-millions-302245121.html
- Tinnitus. The Cleveland Clinic. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/14164-tinnitus
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