Tinnitus (Ringing of the ears)
Health Monday, October 5th, 2009Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.
It is not a disease but a symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes that can include ear infections, foreign objects or wax in the ear, nose allergies that prevent (or induce) fluid drain and cause wax build-up, and injury from loud noises. Tinnitus is also a side-effect of some medications. Some cases of tinnitus are medically unexplained.
Tinnitus is a common symptom and about one in five people aging from 55 to 65 year old report Tinnitus on a general health questionnaire, while 11.8% on more detailed Tinnitus-specific questionnaires.
Types of Tinnitus:
According to the period of the perception of Tinnitus, it is distinguished into three phases:
Acute Tinnitus (up to 3 months)
Sub-acute Tinnitus (up to 6 months)
Chronic Tinnitus (more than 6 months)
In the acute and sub-acute phase it comes relatively often to a spontaneous healing or improvement of the symptoms. The longer the Tinnitus exists, the higher the likelihood that it continues permanently.
As tinnitus is often defined as a subjective phenomenon, it is difficult to measure using objective tests, such as by comparison with noise of known frequency and intensity, as in an audiometric test. The condition is often rated clinically on a simple scale from “slight” to “catastrophic” according to the practical difficulties it imposes, such as interference with sleep, quiet activities such as reading, writing etc., and with normal daily activities.
Known Therapies
Different treatments of the “Tinnitus aurium” are applied; however, scientific effectiveness could not be proven with any of the therapies up to now. The beginning of a therapy mostly is a drug treatment (i.e. Vitamin E, magnesium, anaesthetics as well as blood circulation-supporting active substances) but none of them having the scientific prove to be effective against placebo (dummy medicine). Physicians criticise in particular long-term application of blood circulation-supporting medication
Current research examines whether the transcranial magnet stimulation (TMS) is suitable to the alleviation of the Tinnitus. The effectiveness of the soft laser therapy with which the ear is radiated with a soft energy laser could not yet be proven in clinical studies also. The Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) could also not prove up to now pioneering results in the Tinnitus therapy. Nevertheless, relaxation exercises like autogenous training (relaxation technique) or progressive muscle relaxation can improve the chance of relief.
Breakthrough Technology “Tinnitus Neurostimulator”
The “ANM Acoustic Neurostimulator” is currently in the development phase. The first clinical pilot applications were carried out very successfully using prototypes. The ANM Auditory Neurostimulation Technique is based on the method of “Coordinated Reset”. CR is a patented technique which alters the abnormal neuronal firing pattern so that the neurons come back to their normal state.
In order to get maximum therapeutic results from this therapy, proper patient selection by a trained ENT specialist and exact measurement of the Tinnitus frequency and loudness of the treated patient is necessary. The tinnitus frequency and loudness can be measured by a special device developed for it by ANM GmbH called the “Tinnitus Adjustment Device”.
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Tinnitus Adjustment Device to determine the loudness and frequency of the Tinnitus
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ANM Neurostimulator
The Acoustic Neurostimulator is programmed with an auditory pattern specific for each patient. The patient needs to hear the acoustic stimulation signal several hours a day until the symptoms completely disappear or are greatly minimized.
The therapy method is currently in the clinical testing phase. The first experiences with chronic Tinnitus are very positive. The first clinical results will be published shortly. First results of the study are expected in the fourth quarter of 2009. ANM GmbH is planning to start marketing in the first quarter of 2010. Other details to the product, clinical results as well as to the availability can be addressed to the author of this article.
Munir Afzal Bhatti
M.Sc Biomedical Engineering
Research and Development Engineer
ANM GmbH
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on Oct 5 2009. Filed under