|
| ||
|
|
||
Chronic Tinnitus (chronic + tinnitus)
Selected AbstractsPrimary afferent dendrite degeneration as a cause of tinnitusJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2007Carol A. Bauer Abstract Chronic tinnitus affects millions of people, but the mechanisms responsible for the development of this abnormal sensory state remain poorly understood. This study examined the type and extent of cochlear damage that occurs after acoustic trauma sufficient to induce chronic tinnitus in rats. Tinnitus was evaluated by using a conditioned suppression method of behavioral testing. Cochlear damage was assessed 6 months after acoustic trauma. There was minimal loss of inner and outer hair cells in the exposed cochleas of subjects demonstrating evidence of tinnitus. However, a significant loss of large-diameter fibers in the osseous spiral lamina of exposed cochleas of trauma subjects was observed. The significance of this finding in the context of a model of tinnitus is discussed. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improve tinnitus in normal hearing patients: a double-blind controlled, clinical and neuroimaging outcome studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 1 2010R. A. Marcondes Background and purpose:, Tinnitus is a frequent disorder which is very difficult to treat and there is compelling evidence that tinnitus is associated with functional alterations in the central nervous system. Targeted modulation of tinnitus-related cortical activity has been proposed as a promising new treatment approach. We aimed to investigate both immediate and long-term effects of low frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with tinnitus and normal hearing. Methods:, Using a parallel design, 20 patients were randomized to receive either active or placebo stimulation over the left temporoparietal cortex for five consecutive days. Treatment results were assessed by using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Ethyl cysteinate dimmer-single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed before and 14 days after rTMS. Results:, After active rTMS there was significant improvement of the tinnitus score as compared to sham rTMS for up to 6 months after stimulation. SPECT measurements demonstrated a reduction of metabolic activity in the inferior left temporal lobe after active rTMS. Conclusion:, These results support the potential of rTMS as a new therapeutic tool for the treatment of chronic tinnitus, by demonstrating a significant reduction of tinnitus complaints over a period of at least 6 months and significant reduction of neural activity in the inferior temporal cortex, despite the stimulation applied on the superior temporal cortex. [source] One-year follow up of patients with chronic tinnitus treated with left temporoparietal rTMSEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2009E. M. Khedr Background and purpose: Although there are a number of positive reports on the therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treatment of tinnitus, there are few details about the duration of treatment effects or the relative efficiency of different rTMS protocols. Methods: Sixty six patients with chronic tinnitus were divided into four groups, receiving sham rTMS, 1, 10 and 25 Hz rTMS applied each day for 10 days over left temporoparietal cortex. They were followed up at 4 months and 1 year using the tinnitus questionnaire [Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI)] and self ratings of annoyance as well as measures of residual inhibition. Results: A two factor anova revealed a significant ,rTMS' × ,time' interaction indicating that real and sham rTMS had different effects on the THI scale and annoyance of tinnitus (P = 0.026 and 0.046 respectively). After 1 year, the tinnitus was absent in one or both ears of 10 patients who had received real rTMS: one of these was in the 1 Hz group, four patients were in the 10 Hz group and five patients were in the 25 Hz group. Conclusion: Some patients show a lasting benefit at 1 year after 10 days of rTMS treatment. It appears that treatment at 10 or 25 Hz may be more beneficial than at 1 Hz, although more work is necessary to validate this conclusion. [source] Review paper: more than ringing in the ears: a review of tinnitus and its psychosocial impactJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 21 2009Susan Holmes Aim and objectives., To provide an overview of tinnitus, current management and its psychosocial impact offering strategies for managing acute and chronic tinnitus in practice. Background., Tinnitus, characterised by the perception of sound in the absence of external stimuli, is experienced by about 10% of the population at some time in their lives. It may be temporary/longstanding; approximately 5% adults experience severe, persistent tinnitus affecting their lifestyle. Although many adjust successfully, others are disabled by the condition. Though often unrecognised, tinnitus affects many patients regardless of their presenting illness. Design., A literature review including descriptive, theoretical and empirical material. Databases were searched using the keyword ,tinnitus' providing diverse information which was used to address the research questions. Results., Tinnitus represents more than ,simple' ringing in the ears and may be accompanied by many distressing changes. It may be acute or chronic. It is difficult to treat, care may be directed towards management rather than cure. Many patients are, however, told that ,nothing can be done'. Relevance to clinical practice., Despite the high prevalence of tinnitus, there is a paucity of relevant nursing literature suggesting that there is an information deficit amongst nurses. The information provided shows that understanding the full impact of the condition and identification of patients' needs are essential to effective care. Strategies to help affected patients are given. Conclusions., Tinnitus, a widespread, often intractable condition, affects millions of people; there is considerable debate about its causes. Tinnitus is distressing and may be severe enough to affect lifestyle and quality of life. Affected patients need considerable support and advice on healthcare options, encouragement to try different treatments and recognition that help and hope are available. Though patients may have to learn to live with tinnitus, the most important thing is that they recognise that help is available. [source] Primary afferent dendrite degeneration as a cause of tinnitusJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2007Carol A. Bauer Abstract Chronic tinnitus affects millions of people, but the mechanisms responsible for the development of this abnormal sensory state remain poorly understood. This study examined the type and extent of cochlear damage that occurs after acoustic trauma sufficient to induce chronic tinnitus in rats. Tinnitus was evaluated by using a conditioned suppression method of behavioral testing. Cochlear damage was assessed 6 months after acoustic trauma. There was minimal loss of inner and outer hair cells in the exposed cochleas of subjects demonstrating evidence of tinnitus. However, a significant loss of large-diameter fibers in the osseous spiral lamina of exposed cochleas of trauma subjects was observed. The significance of this finding in the context of a model of tinnitus is discussed. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of Gabapentin on the Sensation and Impact of Tinnitus,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 5 2006Carol A. Bauer MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: This study evaluated the effectiveness of gabapentin in treating chronic tinnitus in two populations: participants with tinnitus with associated acoustic trauma and participants with tinnitus without associated acoustic trauma. The hypothesis was that gabapentin would decrease both subjective and objective features of tinnitus in the trauma group but would be less effective in the nontrauma group. Study Design: Prospective, placebo-controlled, single-blind clinical trial. Methods: Pure-tone audiograms and personal histories were used to categorize tinnitus etiology as either secondary to acoustic trauma or not associated with acoustic trauma. Participants were restricted to those with moderate to severe tinnitus for at least 1 year. All participants received gabapentin in a graduated ascending-descending dose series extending over 20 weeks (peak dose of 2,400 mg/d). Results: There was a significant improvement in tinnitus annoyance for the trauma group (P = .05). Other subjective aspects of tinnitus were not significantly affected in either group. Between-subject variability of therapeutic response was considerable. Nevertheless, in consideration of subjective loudness ratings, 4 of 19 nontrauma participants and 6 of 20 trauma participants showed an improvement of 20% or better. In consideration of psychoacoustic loudness estimates, 3 of 19 nontrauma and 6 of 20 trauma participants showed an improvement of 20 dB HL or greater. Evenly dividing each group into high and low responders revealed significant improvement in loudness at 1,800 and 2,400 mg/day for the trauma high-response subgroup (P = .007). No significant improvement was obtained for other subgroups. Conclusion: Gabapentin is effective in reducing subjective and objective aspects of tinnitus in some individuals, with the best therapeutic response obtained in individuals with associated acoustic trauma. [source] | ||||||||||