Tinnitus: Stimulation of the auditory nerve producing a “ringing” in the ear without an external source.
50 million people suffer from Tinnitus in the US
At least 2 million do not respond to conventional treatment
The US Veterans Administration alone spends $1 billion yearly for treatment of tinnitus
Tinnitus can cause sleeplessness, irritability, loss off personal and professional relationships, depression
Term coined in first century AD (tinnire) but has been historically recorded for 4-5 millennia
Methods of Treatment (Past) Oils, saps, honey,
vinegar, earth worms, opiates
Methods of Treatment (Current) Overpower or mask
tinnitus sensation New treatments exist to
retrain the auditory cortex through neural stimulation
Patient receives VNS implant
Treatment begins by pairing tonal arrangements with nerve stimulation
VNS causes the release of neuromodulators Retrain the brain to
strengthen recognition of sounds
Shrink the recognition of tinnitus tone
Advantages Long term relief without medication and side
effects in most cases Time between treatments allows patients to live a
more normal lifestyle Disadvantages
Takes a month to see results if any Problems associated with implantation Cost for treatment exceeds $20,000
Future Smaller semiconductor electrodes External power source (RF, NIR)
"Brain Stimulation Therapies." National Institute of Mental Health. National Institute of Mental Health, 17 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml>.
[2] Wikipedia: Tinnitus <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tinnitus>.
[3] "A Brief History of Neuromodulation." International Neuromodulation Society. International Neuromodulation Society, 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.neuromodulation.com/about-neuromodulation>.
[4] Lozano, Andres M. "Harnessing Plasticity to Reset Dysfunctional Neurons." The New England Journal of Medicine 364.17 (2011): 1367-368. Print.
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