Veteran gets in tune with ipod help

A former Royal Marine injured in a blast in Afghanistan has become the first UK veteran to benefit from ipod-based treatment for debilitating tinnitus.

Harris Tatakis, 39, was blown up in April 2007 when his Land Rover drove over an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast shattered his left leg, broke his right foot, ruptured both of his eardrums and left him paralysed for two days.

He suffered constant tinnitus, likened to a fog horn going off in his head, and was left so hard of hearing he had to learn to lip read. After ten years of suffering, a Google Alert for tinnitus brought up the Levo system, which delivers treatment through an ipod while a person sleeps.

Mr Tatakis, of Cornwall, successfully applied for a Royal British Legion grant to cover the cost of his treatment and started in January.