Paired VNS Tone Therapy in patients with tinnitus. For this study, the therapy sessions lasted two and a half hours daily for a month. During the study, patients sat in a comfortable chair and wore headphones, listening to tones while receiving small bursts of neurostimulation which activated the vagus nerve (illustrated Page 28).
Weekly assessments were made using standard tinnitus questionnaires and a measure called the minimum masking level (MML). The MML indicates how loud of a sound is needed to mask a patient’s tinnitus, and over the course of time it demonstrates whether or not the patient’s tinnitus was getting quieter. Average MML improvement was 11 decibels (dB) and six of the 10 patients had greater than a 10 dB improvement (avg. 22 dB). Using tinnitus questionnaires, it was noted that several patients reported that their tinnitus improved after just one month of treatment. Moreover, the improvement lasted at least two months and up to a year for other patients. It’s important to note that some patients did not experience a reduction in their perceived tinnitus.
MicroTransponder’s researchers are encouraged by these early human test results, which indicate that
further human trials should be conducted. We pre- sented this data at the Sixth International Tinnitus Research Initiative conference in June. The company is planning additional clinical trials in both the EU and U.S. and is currently seeking additional invest- ments from both institutions and individuals to fund these studies. A recent government grant is enabling MicroTransponder to begin a U.S. tinnitus clinical trial with 30 patients at three sites that will begin in 2013**.
The tinnitus community was instrumental in helping MicroTransponder achieve additional grants as we had many members of ATA participate in our tinnitus therapy survey, which was recently published in the “Journal of Neuromodulation”. The data from the survey helped to highlight the prevalence and seriousness of this devastating disorder and will support efforts to obtain funding for further research. Continued advocacy efforts are important for the tinnitus community to support in order for groups like us to be able to bring viable therapies to the market.
*Investigational device. Limited by United States law to investigational use.
**Further details and updates can be found at
Microtransponder.com Advertisement — ATA does not endorse or recommend any tinnitus products or treatments.
Standard Pricing: $148.88
Summer 2012 | Tinnitus Today
29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32