New therapies for tinnitus treatment

Our modern life is always noisy. From the dizzying sound of the alarm clock to the sound every day of idle trucks, the deafening whistle, the sound of television, the ping ping from the computer, the phone ringing, the sound of a refrigerator or air conditioner. But for the 12 million Americans suffering from tinnitus, the sounds like ghosts in their heads are noisier than any other.

Tinnitus is often caused by sudden or prolonged exposure to loud noise. More and more people suffer from this disease, especially soldiers returning from battle, followers of portable music players or those of the Baby boomer generation associated with rock 'n' roll (born in the period 1946 - 1964). It can also be caused by stress, certain types of chemotherapy, head and neck injuries, sinus infections or multiple sclerosis.

Although there is no cure yet, researchers say they have no detailed knowledge of the physiological or psychological mechanisms of tinnitus. The survey results show that some of the treatments currently being used in hopes of helping patients control ring ringing, ping ping or real head whistles make patients more confused.

(Photo: William Duke)

Experts say the most promising therapy is based on findings from five years ago about the brain activity of tinnitus patients. Thanks to the brain scanning device with functional magnetic resonance images, US and European researchers independently discovered that brain areas are responsible for 'reading' sounds and creating emotions. causing fear to be more powerful than normal in patients with tinnitus.

Thomas J. Brozoski, a tinnitus researcher at the Illinois Southern Medical University in Springfield, said: 'We found that tinnitus actually originated in the brain . ' The disease is sometimes serious in people who are deaf or in people whose auditory nerve has been completely inactive. Without conventional auditory stimuli, our brains are like a driver trying to tune radio waves to a radio station beyond reach. When there is a signal, it is only the sound that is disturbed by the god. Richard Salvi - director of the New York University's Hearing and Hearing Center at Buffalo - said it could be 'brain sound' - a squeaky sound like the power of nerves. Or it could be the remaining sound memories.

Adam Edwards, 34, is the owner of a wheel repair shop in Dallas. He said he had tinnitus four years ago after practicing shooting at the stele with a pistol. He said: 'My life has all the risk factors. I grew up from hunting, I used to play drums for a band. I often go to concerts. My working environment is always noisy. I live with everything except being near the missile launch area. ' He always hears the bip of the computer in his ear. The disease was so severe and persistent that he had to use tranquilizers to sleep.

A device invented by an Australian audiologist calmed the noise in Edwards's ears. That device was widely sold in the United States last year. Get the company Neuromonics Inc. of Bethlehem, Pa. produced, it looks like an MP3 player that distributes the maximum sound sequence associated with soothing music.

Photo: Dangerous Decibel Project (The New York Times)
Volume levels of common sound: The volume of some common sounds
In decibels: dB
Eardrum rupture: Perforation of the eardrum
Jet takeoff: Airplane takeoff (from a height of 80 feet)
Fireworks, gunshot: Fireworks, gunfire
Painful: Causing pain
Ambulance: Ambulance
Rock concert, chainsaw: rock performances, chain saws
Possible hearing damage: Can be harmful to hearing
Motorcycle, lawn mower: Motorbike , lawn mower
Busy street, truck traffice: East street, truck
Freight train: Cargo ship
Annoying: Annoying
Vacuum cleaner: Vacuum cleaner
Typical speech: Typical speech
Quiet: Quiet
Railfall: The sound of rain
Library: Library
Very quiet: Very quiet
Whisper, rustling leaves: Whispers, rustling leaves
Breathing: Breathing sound
Softest audible sound: The smallest sound can be heard

Similar to white noise, wide band audio that is suitable for each patient's hearing ability can reduce tinnitus. Music used with the purpose of relieving anxiety is often accompanied by disorder. Patients must wear equipment that costs $ 5,000 not covered by health insurance for at least 2 hours a day for 6 consecutive weeks. After completing last year's treatment regimen, Edwards said: 'you will hear the buzzing if you think about it, otherwise you will not be able to recognize it'.

A study on the Ear & Hearing, published in April 2007 by a company, showed that the Neuromonics method could reduce tinnitus by 90%. A larger-scale study is underway to find out the long-term effectiveness of this approach.

With Anne Howell, an audiologist at the Callier Communication Disorders Research Center at the University of Texas (Dallas), the Neuromonics device is a major improvement over previous audio therapies that require wearing a device. like hearing aids continuously for 18 to 24 months. She said: 'Time alone has discouraged many patients. Many of them told me that wearing a hearing aid-like device was very troublesome while working. '

Other measures that are also promising include electro-implant surgery or magnet stimulation applications to remove or reset false brain signals that cause tinnitus. By using functional MRI to guide, neurosurgeons in Belgium performed implants on some patients last year and completely eliminated tinnitus.

But this treatment is controversial. Jennifer R. Melcher - assistant professor of ear and vocal medicine at Harvard Medical School - said: 'It is just an extreme and never certified' method.

For magnet therapy similar to treatments for depression or chronic pain, the patient will have to keep an 8-shaped magnet stick around his head. Doctors use MR I function to regulate magnetic lines towards the brain areas responsible for 'reading' sounds. The patient receives a magnetic line every second for 20 minutes. Anthony Cacace - professor of communicative science and neurological disorders at Wayne State University (Detroit) - said: 'This method works for some people but not all. Because tinnitus has many causes, the current challenge is to find which group of patients is suitable for this treatment. '

Brazil researchers have recently published a study about a method called the sacral stimulation of the skull. It can alleviate tinnitus in some patients with neck damage in the head by releasing nerve tightening muscles and hearing lines.

A number of drugs used to treat alcoholism, epilepsy or Alzheimer's collapse, changes in the rate of different neurotransmitters in the brain (including serotonin, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric) are also available. The effect of reducing the phenomenon of tinnitus in animals and humans is presented in some published studies.

Dr Salvi of SUNY Buffalo said: 'We have never been so optimistic during the course of finding ways to treat hearing disorders that pursue patients every step they take.'