Scientists around the world are studying tinnitus, to better understand the condi- tion, and to find new treatments and cures. Below is a summary of just some of the research that has been published over the last few months.
Original abstracts for all research papers are available at
PubMed.gov, an online service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health.
Research Review Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus Pitch and Minimum Masking Levels in Different Etiologies International Journal of Audiology (March 2014) O. Zagolski, P. Strek
Researchers sought to determine whether certain catalysts of tinnitus (example: noise exposure, head trauma, stroke, etc.) result in unique tinnitus pitches and volume levels. In a study of 509 ears, they found that tinnitus pitch was generally highest in patients who had acute acoustic trauma and lowest in cases caused by use of estrogen and progesterone. Minimum masking levels were lowest in cases of acute acoustic trauma. The researchers conclude that pitch and minimum masking levels are depen- dent on tinnitus etiology. This is important because it may lead to unique treatment options depending on the specific catalyst of tinnitus.
A Prospective Study of Caffeine Intake and Risk of Incident Tinnitus
American Journal of Medicine (March 2014) J.T. Clicksman, S.G. Curhan, G.C. Curhan
Data for this research was gathered through the Nurse’s Health Study, a 23-year longitudinal survey of 65,085 women, which explored a wide array of behaviors and health issues. The purpose of the study was to find interesting correlations and identify preventable risk factors for a variety of health condi- tions. The data suggests that women who regularly consume higher levels of caffeine are less likely to develop tinnitus later in life. The reason for this correlation is unclear. The research does not suggest that coffee will reduce or eliminate tinnitus for people who already have the condition.
Diagnostic Yield of a Routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Tinnitus and Clinical Relevance of the Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Loops
HOW TO READ THESE RESEARCH SUMMARIES:
Article Title Journal Publication (Date of Publication) Author(s) Summary
Remember: Every research study is a small snapshot of information, based on specific study groups and methodologies. No single study is “definitive” and research must always be evaluated collectively.
Otology & Neurotology (March 2014) C.E. Hoekstra, V.F. Prijs, G.A. van Zanten
The purpose of this study was to determine whether magenetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool for diagnosing or managing tinnitus. The researchers studied MRIs from 321 patients with chronic tinnitus. While the scans routinely detected brain abnormali- ties in the cerebral hearing process, only seven cases (2.2% of the total) involved an abnormality related to tinnitus. This led the researchers to conclude that rou- tine MRIs are rarely of value to tinnitus patients and should only be used when clinical evaluation suggests specific tinnitus etiologies.
Summer 2014 | Tinnitus Today 27
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
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