New Tinnitus Treatment: A Review

Studies every now and then are being conducted to make new tinnitus treatment. The condition commonly referred to as ringing ears upsets millions of people around the world, distracting them from getting through their daily life comfortably. Currently, there is no known cure that eliminates it completely. People can benefit from medications to cope with the anxiety induced by the condition. To relieve the perception of abnormal sounds patients suffer from, doctors prescribe devices called ear maskers that release “white noise” covering the unpleasant sounds. Patients have also been compelled to try alternative treatments that include herbal medicines and homeopathic remedies to cure their ringing ears. However, there is no one cure that eliminates every kind of tinnitus.

Studies in the field of neurobiology are still conducted in the hope to come up with a real cure. This supposedly new tinnitus treatment comes through Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and is being tried to patients. According to experts in neurobiology, one hears ringing inside his or her ears because of heightened neural activity in the brain. Bringing this brain activity to a minimum is believed to lower the loudness of ringing inside the head and improves symptoms. This involves sessions of repeated exposure to low-frequency waves in the head.

The procedure involves the positioning of a coil apparatus on the scalp. The apparatus creates a magnetic field that penetrates up to about an inch into the brain. The magnetic field produces an electric current that either intensifies or slows down neural activity. This procedure aims to reduce too much unnecessary brain activity, which scientists believe to cause tinnitus. To determine whether there is an increased brain activity, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan is ordered. PET scan may reveal an increase flow of blood in the temporal lobe – the area of the brain that receives auditory impulses and is found in the lateral area near the ears. Such rise in blood flow may hint too much brain activity in the area. Low-frequency TMS is then directed at the area to slow down activity in that part of the brain and thereby lessening tinnitus noise.

Other experts are dubious about the effectiveness of this procedure. Although patients tested confirmed no side effects, the positive results were more or less case to case basis. This research remains a matter of theoretical investigation in neurobiology and has not yet completely proven itself. The fact that there is still no exact cure for tinnitus remains. The discussed new tinnitus treatment may sound promising, but more studies should be conducted.