Developing effective treatments for tinnitus

[NicTinnitus]

"To truly understand tinnitus, you need to understand perception – which means getting to grips with a range of some of the most fascinating aspects of neuroscience."

One of our Professional Advisers, Dr Will Sedley, discusses his research into tinnitus and developing effective treatments - it's a really interesting read. The good news is that he thinks there will be a cure (although he can't say when).

openaccessgovernment.org/ti...

Nic (BTA Communications Manager)

[Angela-H]

Thanks Nic. I have habituated so my life is ok again “nearly normal”, but I truly hope the cure is near as I worry so much for young people. The continual wearing of earphones will bring about more sufferers.

Angela xx

[BlueSky70]

I do hate when these articles start off with such a horrible negative image with someone holding their head 😔

[NicTinnitus in reply to BlueSky70]

So do we! It's a real bugbear of ours. Sometimes, even when we've provided pictures, they don't use them and go for the stereotypical image they've used here!

Nic (BTA Communications Manager)

[Ruud1boy in reply to BlueSky70]

Why??!? People should realise that tinnitus can destroy lives! Why should Joe Public give a stuff about finding effective treatments for tinnitus if the accompanying imagery depicts smiling, happy, healthy people enjoying their lives?

Use a picture of me trying to hide the tears from my kids!

[NicTinnitus in reply to Ruud1boy]

Well, a photo of you looking upset but trying to hide it would make more sense than you have red heat radiating from your ears, or blue lights around your head, which a lot of the stock images seem to be. And of course, people with tinnitus know that putting their hands over their ears doesn't help at all!

Nic

[BlueSky70 in reply to Ruud1boy]

You don't see articles about heart disease with pictures of folk clutching their heart about to collapse.

Professor David Baguley, the President of the BTA, made this same point recently, so that's good enough for me.

[Michael8272]

Atleast there's hope 🙏

[Ingrid-p]

Hi Nic, nice to see a post about research. Can’t believe in this day and age that more can’t be done. All we seemed to be offered is hearing aids, maskers, TRT etc none of which provide not much hope for the future.

I know habituation is possible, been there and done that, several times, I would truly love to wake up one day and hear nothing.

I agree with Angela, there’s going to be an epidemic soon of people with this debilitating illness. Youngsters need to be made more aware of the permanent damage they can do to their ears and the years of suffering they’ll be left with.

Millions worldwide have this, but research seems to be very sparse. There must be a lot of money to be made from positive drug treatment. Why isn’t more being done?

Ingrid xx

[NicTinnitus in reply to Ingrid-p]

Hi Ingrid - my next post lined up was going to cover this - can you wait a day or so? I want to spread out the good stuff!

Best wishes

Nic

[Angela-H in reply to NicTinnitus]

Hi Nic, nice to have your lovely self back more often on the forum! You are so valued by us “old timers “ 🤗

Angela xx

[Ingrid-p in reply to NicTinnitus]

Hi Nic

Glad you’re back.

I’m looking forward to your next post. I’m intrigued 🙃

Ingrid xx

[Ingrid-p in reply to NicTinnitus]

Hi Nic

Any more news about the good stuff that you’ve got lined up?

There’s lots of people on here that need some positive news at the moment.

Thanks ingrid

[Ruud1boy in reply to NicTinnitus]

Any sign of your 'good stuff' yet Nic? The suspense is killing me, along with the T.

[Ingrid-p in reply to Ruud1boy]

I can’t wait, hopefully it’s going to be good news for us all!

[Angela-H]

Hi Ivan,

My journey to habituation began with Mirtazapine anti anxiety pills 30mg and a hearing aid and masker (which I have featured in an earlier post). I also bought a sound oasis machine from the BTA which I have on rainfall every night. I also need background noise - not loud - to help mask the T. The first 6 months were hell but when the Mirtazapine took effect I began to calm down and my T and head pain also calmed down. I was weaned off the Mirtazapine over 12 months.

It took a full 2 years, I would guess, for me to start feeling normal and not being consumed by the noises in my ears and head. I stopped using the masker but need the hearing aid to quieten the T.

It is now 4 years. I wake up every day with my pulsing ear/temple but after putting on my hearing aid and getting on with my day it begins to fade.

Sometimes it spikes but I have to be confident that it will quieten. I hate the condition and hope that one day I have utter silence.

I hope that this helps and wish you well

Angela xx

[IvanMilliau in reply to Angela-H]

Thanks Angela - yes!

I was on clonazepam for 6 months prescribed by the ENT. GP did not want to subscribe Mirtazipine. I don’t have earing aids. I use the sound relief app on my smartphone 24/7. I go see my audiologist and chech for some ear aides. Thanks for your message. Ivan xx

[Angela-H in reply to IvanMilliau]

My tinnitus appears when I take out my hearing aid, generally speaking, so I can recommend having your hearing checked. xx

[IvanMilliau in reply to Angela-H]

I have a big drop as of 4000 hz / at 8000 hz , it goes all the way down. I also asked for a sound machine during the night; they had nothing to offer over here; I might have to go over to London I guess and see a Tinnitus hospital over there. Xx

[Angela-H in reply to IvanMilliau]

Hi Ivan,

I have an App “Tinnitus Therapy Lite” on my iPhone5S which I use when I am away from home. It was free of charge.

Angela xx

[Angela-H in reply to Angela-H]

Ps Ivan, the BTA sell many products to help - have a look at their website

Xx

[jbradford42]

Great news, I did read his article on the net somewhere. It can’t come soon enough for me I’m suffering like hell my T is mega loud and it has been for weeks now. There’s no chance of doing anything to lower the high pitched scream in my head. I’ve tried but the noise is just to loud how I’m staying sain is beyond me. Like I’ve said before my doctor hasn’t got a clue and the local hospital is exactly the same. So all I can do now is pray

[Triciatextiles]

Nic

Whilst this article offers some good news the research appears to cover tinnitus related to hearing loss only which doesn’t apply to mine. Whilst i am in the early stages of diagnosis I believe that mine is vascular, i have very loud dronning noise which is like being next to a helicopter 24 hours a day. My Gp said that tinnitus can be a ‘but annoying ‘ which is an understatement to say the least he then diagnosed me with exhaustion tube disfunction without any test at all. I had to pay to see a private ent consultant who confimed it wasnt this and suggested referal to my local ent clinic for further investigation and an MRI. The point i am making is that GPs need training and education on how debilitating this condition is otherwise people will not have access to onward referral to get help.

Tricia