THE HYPERACUSIS AND I

The Precuneus as a Sound-Suppressing Agent in Tinnitus

2025-12-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

The precuneus is a region within the parietal lobe of the brain that plays an important role in how our mind functions, including how we become aware of different stimuli—even internal ones, such as tinnitus sounds. This brain region is connected to two neural networks that work in an inverse relationship: the dorsal attention network and the default mode network. When one is active, the other is switched off.

Dr. Fatima Husain, who has been studying tinnitus for many years, has proposed the theory that the perception of tinnitus is generated in the precuneus.

Based on her research, she discovered that in chronic tinnitus this region tends to connect more strongly with the attention network and less with the default mode network. This helps explain, among other things, why patients remain focused on their tinnitus more than necessary.

In her view, many of us—perhaps almost all of us—would perceive tinnitus sounds if it weren’t for the precuneus, which keeps that stimulus suppressed by staying connected primarily to the default mode network. According to Dr. Husain, this suppression can break down due to exposure to loud noise, infections, or other factors. This idea is similar to what another tinnitus specialist, Dr. Josef Rauschecker, proposes: that tinnitus emerges when an internal sound-suppression system fails. According to him, this system is formed by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens, and the anterior cingulate cortex. All this suggests that practically all of us have these internal tinnitus sounds, but the brain suppresses them—until, for some reason, that suppression stops working.

Below is the video of Dr. Husain’s recent lecture (April 1, 2025), presented as part of the seminar series organized by the Tinnitus Research Initiative (TRI), in which she discusses this topic and other important and interesting aspects of the current state of tinnitus research:

Maria Klecker: She Turned Her Tinnitus Into a Song

2025-12-07T15:10:00.000-08:00

I’d like to share the case of Maria Klecker, a French woman (according to the source), an older adult whose experience with tinnitus has been very similar to mine—not only in the type of sound she perceived, but also in the way she decided to deal with it. Here’s an excerpt from the source, where this unusual experience is described:

“In the form of a whistle or sometimes sounding like a melody, that’s what Maria Klecker from Eschau, France, hears in her ear every day…

She has tinnitus, yet it was never a reason for her to feel depressed. On the contrary, to distract herself from the sounds a little, she is almost always playing or singing. From this melody, she even ended up composing a song together with her granddaughter Helga…

‘I sat down and tried to write something that would fit the melody in my ear, and that’s what I’m always singing,’ says the 87-year-old retiree as she has coffee with her granddaughter Helga…

It is quite strange that Ria [as her family calls her] found her way back to music thanks to tinnitus [she always wanted to learn to play the piano, but as a child she could only take one lesson]. A condition that can be very hard for those who suffer from it. Even she doesn’t always have an easy time, but she tries to do the best she can [sic].”

Below I’m also sharing a video where you can see her and listen to the song she created based on the sound of her tinnitus (minute 0:57 in the video):

Source:

- https://www.infoacufenos.com/2017/12/04/abuela-hace-una-cancion-de-su-tinnitus/?fbclid=IwAR1pJRKJvff3CQJBMwB5tPTSY6rkOYR4rJ_4i9yuOFO4BFZQKbO-CqT6Ke4

Brain Mechanisms in Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, and Hyperacusis: Differences and Similarities

2025-11-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

Tinnitus, hyperacusis, and hearing loss are, in a way, interconnected or related—like in cases of recruitment, where all three conditions are present. This is what Beethoven, for example, is believed to have suffered.

All three conditions can be caused by the death or damage of certain hair cells. When the cells are damaged, they may remain alive but function abnormally. In hearing loss, this would mean that these cells are unable to send sound signals to the auditory nerve. If the damage is due to aging, it is usually the high frequencies that are most affected.

Own composition

These three auditory conditions can also be caused by damage to the auditory nerve—especially to the nerve fibers that process loud sounds. Damage to these fibers could also explain the presence of hidden hearing loss in some people with tinnitus, even when their audiograms show normal hearing (a loss that prevents them from understanding conversations in noisy environments). In general, these nerve fibers are more vulnerable to noise-induced damage than hair cells. They can even be damaged before the hair cells themselves.

It has been discovered that damaged hair cells can be reactivated to restore hearing. However, it also seems quite feasible—or even more attainable—that the nerve fiber could be repaired to resume sending sound signals to the brain, since the damage usually occurs only in part of the fiber and not in the entire nerve cell (which includes the cell body and the other section of the fiber—see image). In either case, both actions could restore normal hearing and, in the case of hearing loss, also reverse tinnitus, since the brain would no longer need to compensate for any missing signal (as one widely accepted theory suggests).

Source: NewScientist (https://archive.is/EFMSO)

Another possibility under study is that both hair cells and nerve fibers (and their synapses) could regrow through certain types of gene therapy.

Another approach is to increase inhibitory neuronal activity in both hyperacusis and hearing loss, in order to reduce the hyperactivity, hypersynchrony (responses to sounds that aren’t even audible in the environment), and/or hypersensitivity (to sounds that are not very intense) of the neural networks involved in sound processing. Research is exploring how this could be achieved through gene therapy and also through optogenetics, which has already produced remarkable results in mice.

When it comes to the brain areas involved in these auditory disorders, it is known that in the case of tinnitus, multiple regions are affected, forming a wide network across the brain. In contrast, hearing loss mainly involves localized damage in the cochlea and the auditory cortex.

On the other hand, tinnitus and hyperacusis differ from hearing loss because they are defined by what people cannot stop hearing, rather than what they cannot hear. This also makes a significant difference when trying to explain why tinnitus occurs alongside hearing loss—or alongside hyperacusis.

In the first case, the most widespread theory suggests that tinnitus appears because the brain attempts to compensate for the lack of sound signals caused by hearing loss. In the second case (that of hyperacusis), this theory would no longer apply, since tinnitus would appear despite the absence of hearing loss—and in fact, in the opposite situation: an over-sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis). Here, tinnitus occurs even though the brain does not need to compensate for any missing auditory signal.

There are several explanations for this, and most of them relate to changes in neural or brain plasticity. That is, one or several brain systems could start malfunctioning as a result of the auditory damage that gave rise to hyperacusis. One explanation suggests that the neural networks in the brain’s sound-processing centers become hyperactive, hypersynchronized in their firing patterns (responding to sounds that aren’t even audible in the environment), and hyperreactive (to sounds that aren’t very intense).

It’s worth mentioning that, with the discovery of cochlear synaptopathy in 2009, it was confirmed that in some patients with tinnitus, it is indeed possible for them to experience what is known as “hidden hearing loss” even when their audiograms appear normal—thus reinforcing the compensation theory mentioned earlier. However, if hearing loss were always the cause of tinnitus, how could we explain that many people with hearing loss do not experience tinnitus? According to some specialists (such as Dr. Fatima Husain), tinnitus should be considered independently from the impact of hearing loss. Her research indicates that around 90% of tinnitus patients have some degree of hearing loss, but roughly 50% of people with hearing loss never develop tinnitus.

Finally, another difference between tinnitus and hyperacusis compared with hearing loss is that, in the first two, there are still no direct objective tests to measure their presence in a patient.

Sources:

- https://archive.is/EFMSO#selection-723.0-1317.231

- https://www.hearingtracker.com/news/decoding-the-genetic-mysteries-of-tinnitus-unraveling-mysteries-and-charting-new-frontiers?fbclid=IwAR34yHN-07NcUXkSCASEPyK1ufQGMgyF1c83bscTqp2jcpzEVcZEA0gQi3s

- https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/putting-the-brakes-on-hyperactivity-in-the-brain

- https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/hidden-hearing-loss-spanish

- https://hyperacusiscentral.org/detecting-tinnitus-in-the-brain-an-interview-with-emilie-cardon-phd/?mibextid=I6gGtw

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=8hlUdIK69e0&sfnsn=wa&ab_channel=TRIAcademy

Treatments for Tinnitus 3/3: Alternative Therapies

2025-07-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

In this third post, I’ll describe the main alternative therapies currently available for treating (subjective and persistent) tinnitus.

Even though science has not yet been able to fully explain how most of these therapies work or what their therapeutic mechanism is, patients themselves frequently report that these approaches offer real benefits for managing tinnitus — either by relieving its discomfort or, in some specific cases, temporarily making it disappear.

Alternative Therapies

Beyond conventional (allopathic) medical approaches, there are also alternative methods rooted in holistic medicine, osteopathy, or homeopathy. These include the use of natural products and remedies, Eastern therapies, and various healing methods.

Different forms of acupuncture include Chinese acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and German acupuncture (also known as Neural Therapy).

Acupressure, according to some testimonials, can help reduce the frequency and intensity of tinnitus.

Auriculotherapy, developed as a medical discipline by Dr. Paul Nogier, involves the manipulation or stimulation (manual, electrical, or thermal) of specific points on the ear to restore balance in a particular area of the body that may be out of sync*. In the case of tinnitus, the issue would be abnormal neural activity producing excessive sound signals. This therapy is based on the connections between the auricle and the Central Nervous System. The folds and cartilage of the ear map to various organs in the body, forming a kind of somatotopic organization (a reflective map or control panel) that is more precise than those in the hands or feet — and, in the case of tinnitus, much more direct, since the ear is located right in the head.

Hand-healing methods include Reiki, Mahikari, Johrei, and others. Other forms of physical or spiritual healing include Bioneuroemotion (also called Biodecoding).

Sauna therapy may relieve tinnitus symptoms by promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels.

The “drumming” technique involves tapping the skull lightly with the index fingers. There’s also digitopressure, rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, which involves massaging behind the ears for 10 to 15 seconds.

Sulfur therapy involves using sulfur bars on the outer ear.

Muscle-joint stretching involves gentle, slow, and sustained movements to prepare muscles and joints for more effort or range of motion.

Voluntary physical exercise may, in some cases, help modulate tinnitus and lead to habituation or relief of symptoms — not to mention its general benefits for blood circulation and lowering blood pressure.

Archery has also been suggested as a way to manage tinnitus due to its stress-reducing benefits.

Herbal therapies rely on medicinal plants or their derivatives. Some commonly mentioned are: Ginkgo Biloba (which increases blood flow to the head), Actaea Racemosa (Black Cohosh), Ligustrum, Vinpocetine, Hidrastis (Goldenseal), Indian Ginseng, Kudzu root, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, ground ivy tea (made with flowers and leaves), and Chinese herbal medicine like Gushen Pian. A 2022 study found that a combination of Rosa Canina, Urtica Dioica, and Tanacetum Vulgare, along with counseling, reduced tinnitus symptoms and several related effects (comorbidities) after three months of use.

Other promising results have been observed after three months of taking Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements — a fatty acid and antioxidant found in potatoes (specifically in the peel) and some other foods. This compound may help regenerate hair cells and the middle ear in general.

Home remedies include things like the “garlic cure” (garlic is known to lower high blood pressure), or placing the heart of an onion in the ear as an anti-inflammatory.

There are also homeopathic remedies for tinnitus, such as TinnaRex.

Craniosacral therapy is a type of gentle manual therapy.

Diet-based therapies are also frequently recommended for tinnitus and may involve: increased intake of antioxidant-rich foods (or antioxidant supplements), foods high in healthy fats (e.g., fish), cereals, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and foods rich in omega-3s; exclusion/switching diets (to address intolerances like non-allergic food histaminosis – HANA), adenosine-promoting diets (to support circulation); and reducing intake of chocolate (especially milk chocolate), salt, saturated fats, artificial sweeteners, or certain chemicals like sodium chloride, glucose, and monosodium glutamate. Ketogenic diets (low-carb), general sugar reduction, and avoiding coffee, tea, alcohol, and cigarettes are also common suggestions.

Recommended vitamin supplements for tinnitus include: B vitamins (like thiamine, niacin, B6, and especially B12), vitamin E (e.g., E1000), vitamin A, and vitamin C, as well as the foods that contain them. Coenzyme Q10 is another supplement often used — it’s similar to vitamin E and may support auditory circulation. Recommended minerals include magnesium, zinc, and others, as well as foods that contain them. Oral neurotransmitter supplements used in tinnitus treatment include glycine and taurine.

Essential oil therapy using helichrysum or olive oil involves applying drops in the ear — often for inflammation-related tinnitus.

Ear candles are also known as ear cones.

Citrus extract-based therapies (bioflavonoids) are believed to help open cochlear pathways. Common sources include lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, and cranberry.

Bioenergetic and “sintergetic” therapies combine both conventional and alternative medical approaches (including Chinese and Indian traditional medicine), but from a more holistic perspective.

One form of physiotherapy applied to tinnitus is electrode-free magnetotherapy, which uses electromagnetic energy noninvasively through a small portable device. It aims to regenerate damaged tissue, improve cell metabolism, and enhance blood circulation in the ear.

Some people are also encouraged to explore spiritual philosophies or worldviews that promote positivity, deep inner listening, or balancing energy flows — for instance, through chakra alignment. The well-known author Louise L. Hay, for example, offers several such approaches in her books for dealing with tinnitus.

Another therapy sometimes offered involves the use of tuningforks calibrated to specific frequencies.

* Dr. Nogier originally used acupuncture needles for manual stimulation.

Tinnitus Treatments 2/3: Other Approaches

2025-07-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

In this three-part series, I describe the main treatments for constant (subjective) tinnitus, covering both conventional and alternative medicine approaches. As with the first post, most of these have had relative success—typically temporary and with results that vary widely.

Beyond Sound Therapies

There are additional treatment options within traditional medicine worth considering:

1. Low-Level Laser Therapy

This involves using soft lasers to stimulate functional circuits and regulatory systems, aiming to heal microstructures in the ear and strengthen cellular energy. Commercial devices include TINNImed, MedicLaser, and TinniTool ProfiLaser—each used for low-intensity laser therapy. A 2023 study found that these treatments are more effective for tinnitus than many current therapies (read more here).

2. Surgery

Typically used as a last resort in severe tinnitus cases:

Cochlear implants are sometimes recommended for those with both tinnitus and hearing loss. By restoring an electrical signal to the auditory nerve, they may help mask tinnitus while rewiring the brain’s circuits.
Auditory nerve sectioning is another option, though it doesn't always eliminate tinnitus.
Tumor or vascular malformation removal near the ear may also be required in certain conditions.

3. Biofeedback (Neurofeedback)

Biofeedback covers a wide range of methods aimed at controlling physiological functions. Neurofeedback focuses on monitoring and training brainwave activity so patients can learn to modify certain neural processes.

4. Antinitus Patch

Developed by Akloma BioScience, this is a daily patch placed behind the ear for three weeks.

5. Allergy Treatment

If tinnitus is linked to allergies, addressing them directly can help reduce symptoms.

6. Thermotherapy

Uses heat—via infrared radiation or paraffin—to relieve symptoms.

Psychology, Neurology & Psychiatry

When the limbic system (our emotional center) is involved, tinnitus can become a serious issue. Here are common professional interventions:

Stress, depression, and anxiety management, especially when these are underlying causes of tinnitus.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps correct unhelpful behaviors and irrational beliefs about tinnitus.

Third-generation CBT (also called contextual or "third-wave" therapies) places more focus on behavioral change processes.
Interoceptive exposure is a technique where patients intentionally focus on tinnitus sounds to change their emotional reaction and reduce negativity—promoting acceptance and habituation.
Mindfulness-based cognitive approaches. There is scientific evidence that mindfulness helps ease tinnitus symptoms.*

CBT is often the most beneficial treatment for many patients, helping them cope and built acceptance.

Mindfulness (also called full-consciousness or mental wellness) stems from Buddhist meditation practices.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) includes tools like "reframing," helping patients reinterpret their experiences.
Neurologic or psychiatric treatment is used when a specific underlying condition is identified.

* See here a video by Dr. Fatima Husain from the University of Illinois.

Pharmaceuticals

Tinnitus medications are varied, and effectiveness depends greatly on the individual.

They generally fall into categories like: antiarrhythmics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antiglutamatergics, dopaminergics, anti-inflammatories, anesthetics, antihistamines, benzodiazepines, diuretics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, anticholinergics, antibiotics, vasodilators, neuroprotectors, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, anti-vertigo agents, herbal products, vitamins, and mineral supplements.

Some common options:

Melatonin: a lab-synthesized hormone for sleep and depression regulation.
Vincamine: a plant-derived drug that promotes cerebral circulation and increases blood pressure.
Coenzyme Q10: supports auditory blood flow and has antioxidant benefits.
Rheologically active agents: sometimes useful after acoustic trauma.
Symptom-based medications: prescribed when tinnitus is a side effect of another neurological or psychiatric illness.

Treating emotional and psychological side effects is often a key reason for prescribing such drugs.

Important note: Medication use should be carefully evaluated and overseen by a specialist, as some drugs may worsen tinnitus or cause unwanted side effects.

General Support (Counseling)

A specialist-led counseling process can help patients manage stress, depression, and loss of focus caused by tinnitus. This support is less about curing tinnitus and more about helping the patient live with it successfully. CBT is frequently part of these sessions, aimed at correcting unhelpful behaviors and beliefs. Regardless of the tinnitus cause, it’s essential for patients to understand how and why it exists.

Tinnitus Treatments 1/3: Sound Therapies

2025-07-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

Since the causes of tinnitus are so diverse, treatments end up being just as varied. That’s why the success of any given treatment depends largely on how treatable the underlying cause of the tinnitus is.

In this series of three posts, I’ll describe the main treatments for (subjective) tinnitus currently available, both in conventional and alternative medicine. It could be said that most of them have had relative success—usually temporary and with very different results from person to person—which is why there’s still no definitive cure for tinnitus.

Sound Therapies

This approach—along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—is one of the most widely used tinnitus treatments today, offering positive results for many people. It involves a type of sensory (auditory) retraining therapy designed to help the ear ignore the presence of tinnitus, either through masking or habituation.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) was developed by neurophysiologist Pawel Jastreboff and is one of the best-known sound therapies. It uses white or pink noise, but without completely covering the tinnitus sound, with the goal of helping the patient gradually get used to it. TRT also includes counseling sessions, since its main objective is to influence the limbic system (which processes emotions) to promote beneficial neural plasticity and reverse the problem.

Sequential Sound Therapy (TSS), similar to TRT, also uses white noise but transitions gradually from masking to habituation.

Sound enrichment is a practice that involves surrounding oneself with ambient sounds—whether natural or electronic—over time. In cases of mild to moderate tinnitus, one way to mask it at night is by using bedside sound generators that play soothing environmental sounds.

Music-based sound therapy, on the other hand, uses specially filtered classical music.

There’s also a therapy that combines modified classical music (based on findings by Dr. Alfred Tomatis) with the use of antioxidant supplements for the ears such as ginkgo biloba, garlic, zinc, vitamins A, C and E, grape seed extract, pine bark extract, curcuminoids (from turmeric root), and more. These supplements help remove free radicals from auditory cells and nerves, which can interfere with their ability to recover important nutrients after noise overexposure.

Sound masking aims to cover the tinnitus sound using another sound—typically white noise.

The Neuronomics program uses a small device called Oasis, which plays relaxing music combined with a wide-band acoustic stimulus (similar to white noise). A variation of this program is a device called Tinnitus Terminator, developed by Timothy Seaton.

The SoundCure Serenade device was created from research at the University of California, Irvine. It uses what’s known as an S-Tone—a pleasant low-frequency tone played at a lower volume than the tinnitus. According to its distributors, this acoustic therapy can quickly and significantly reduce tinnitus perception in some patients.

Notched sound therapy (ambient, white noise, or music*) uses audio where the specific frequency that matches the patient’s tinnitus has been intentionally removed, in order to encourage habituation and possibly eliminate the perception of the sound altogether. This approach is based on psychoacoustic principles.

Another treatment involves targeted auditory stimulation using specific frequencies (often high frequencies) to increase inhibitory activity in certain groups of nerve cells, thereby suppressing some types of tinnitus.

Auditory Discrimination Therapy (ADT) also uses sound stimulation to enhance the cortical response to specific sound frequencies, especially those linked to cochlear damage that may have caused incorrect tonotopic representation in the brain. This therapy also aims to reduce the response in nearby brain areas that may have become overactive.

Some hearing aids have been designed to help people with both hearing loss and tinnitus by including a built-in masking sound (such as white noise). One such device is called Xino Tinnitus.

Widex Zen therapy uses a program of relaxing music (called Zen) based on unpredictable fractal tones. It’s designed for tinnitus patients who also have hearing loss.

MuteButton is a personal-use treatment device that combines sound therapy through headphones with mild electrical stimulation of the tongue using an intraoral device. It’s designed to treat tinnitus caused by hearing loss, whether age-related or noise-induced. A similar and more recent bimodal stimulation device is called Lenire. Another device, developed by a research team at the University of Michigan (USA) led by Dr. Susan Shore, sends electrical pulses to the neck or jaw using electrodes.

The Levo System is an iPad/iPod app developed by the company Otoharmonics. It uses the principle of habituation to reduce tinnitus perception. The app maps the specific sound the patient hears and creates a therapy based on that sound, which the patient then listens to overnight. Another recently developed app is the one used alongside the Duo device, which applies neuromodulation by stimulating the wrist. There’s also a publicly available, free-use app called Fudan Tinnitus Relieving System (FTRS), designed to help users manage their tinnitus and related symptoms.

Footnotes:

* In the case of music, this is known as Notched Music Therapy. Based on this method, in 2014 the German company Sonormed launched a web app called Tinnitracks, now also available on smartphones.

Ongoing Research on Treatments for Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, and Hyperacusis

2025-07-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

Below is a summary of some of the most important studies currently underway for the treatment of various auditory disorders. The vast majority of these studies aim to regenerate or even promote the creation of new auditory cells, with broad implications, as they could potentially reverse conditions such as hearing loss, hyperacusis, and tinnitus.

The studies are listed in chronological order, from the most recent to the oldest, based on the publication date (or the date it was mentioned) in the consulted source:

2025

July 2025 (Sweden/China). Researchers from the Karolinska Institute, in collaboration with hospitals and universities in China, successfully restored hearing in a group of children and adults (10 in total) suffering from congenital deafness or severe hearing loss caused by a mutation in the OTOF gene. Through a gene therapy approach, the defective gene was replaced with a healthy copy delivered directly into the inner ear. All participants experienced improved hearing, with noticeable results as early as one month after treatment, and even greater improvements observed after six months. The therapy was safe and well tolerated, with no serious adverse effects reported during the 6 to 12 months of follow-up. (Read more here).

July 2025 (Germany). A study conducted by Erlangen University Hospital and the Berlin-based drug developer AudioCure almost completely reversed tinnitus in an experimental group of people who had suffered an acoustic trauma, by administering the compound AC102 into the middle ear. Initially, this group showed signs of tinnitus, but the phenomenon disappeared after five weeks. The compound also helped restore or improve the damaged connections between the auditory nerve and the sensory cells of the inner ear, and has demonstrated the ability to almost completely reverse sudden hearing loss. Given these results—and considering that tinnitus often accompanies sudden hearing loss—AudioCure is currently investigating the potential effectiveness of AC102 against tinnitus in an ongoing study. (Read more here).

June – 2025 (USA). Drs. Eleftheria Slika and Megan Beers Wood are currently studying the potential of gene therapy to prevent noise-induced hearing loss by enhancing the ear’s natural acoustic reflex, which activates in response to loud sounds. To do this, they injected newborn mice with a mutated version of the nicotinic receptor —a protein that signals hair cells not to become overactive in the presence of strong sounds, thus preventing damage. After the trial, they found that this procedure can, to some extent, prevent permanent hearing damage caused by loud noises, reduce the degree of injury, and promote faster and greater recovery. It is believed that this approach could be useful for therapeutically addressing conditions such as hyperacusis, tinnitus, and hearing loss from other causes (such as aging). Read more here.

2024

2024 (USA). Dr. Daniel B. Polley, professor at Harvard University, along with his team, succeeded in stopping hyperacusis in laboratory experiments with mice and hopes to eventually replicate this in humans using a non-invasive method. (click here to read more)

2023

Aug 2023 (Argentina). A team of Argentine researchers led by Dr. María Eugenia Gomez-Casati from the Institute of Pharmacology (Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires) discovered a link between age-related hearing loss and a decrease in cholesterol levels in the inner ear. This reduction affects the outer hair cells, which play an essential role in amplifying sound. In experiments with mice, they found that over-the-counter phytosterol supplements (plant-based compounds) were effective in compensating for this cholesterol loss and maintaining outer hair cell function. This potential solution for hearing loss could also help resolve tinnitus in patients who experience it.

Jun 2023 (USA). A study led by researcher Jung-Bum Shin, PhD, revealed that auditory hair cells can self-repair damage caused by loud noises or other stressors, challenging previous beliefs about their irreversibility. The hair cells achieve this repair using a protein called XIRP2, which detects damage to structures known as stereocilia and restores them by replenishing new actin (the protein that forms the core of the cells). The National Institutes of Health awarded over $2.3 million to fund further research into this self-repair mechanism, which holds promise for future treatment strategies for hearing loss and related conditions.

2022

Nov-2022 (Mexico). Studies conducted in several countries (including Mexico) on Alpha Lipoic Acid, a fatty acid and antioxidant found in potatoes (specifically in the skin protein) and other foods (also naturally occurring in the body, but in low quantities), have shown positive results in reducing tinnitus intensity through the intake of this compound (one of its forms is a pill), over a three-month period. It is claimed that this protein has the ability to regenerate hair cells and the middle ear in general.

Mar-2022 (Iran). Researchers from various Iranian universities and institutions found that the herbal combination of Rosa Canina, Urtica Dioica, and Tanacetum Vulgare (marketed as Neurotec capsules), together with counseling, significantly reduced tinnitus symptoms and several of its comorbid effects after three months of use in the treated patients.

Apr-2022 (USA). Entrepreneur Elon Musk announced that his neuroprosthetic device, called Link—developed by his start-up Neuralink—will be able to cure tinnitus within five years (that is, by 2027). However, it still needs to be proven not only that it works, but also that it is safe for humans, since it is an invasive method (already tested in animals).

Jan-2022 (USA). After reviewing several cases, researchers Colby Skinner and Sanjeev Kumar from the University of Florida found that ultrasound-guided blockage of the greater occipital nerve helped reduce symptoms in patients with otalgia (ear pain) and associated tinnitus.

2018

Nov-2018 (USA). Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos and his research team at the University of Pittsburgh continued their investigations related to the drug Retigabine, now with a project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. They had previously redesigned the structure of this drug to target two potassium transport channels, KCNQ 2 and 3, enhancing activity in both (see also the study from Mar-2016/USA below). This redesigned compound, now called RL-81, will undergo new animal trials to improve its effectiveness in reducing tinnitus symptoms. In the second part of the project, the team will analyze and evaluate another ion channel, known as HCN, which has shown reduced activity in mice after exposure to loud noise. The hope is that a combined drug that increases the activity of potassium channels KCNQ 2 and 3 while reducing the activity of the HCN channel may prevent tinnitus in susceptible individuals.

Nov-2018 (USA). With funding from the organization Action on Hearing Loss, and under the direction of Drs. Mike Bowl and Ronna Hertzano, research has been ongoing into the gene Ikzf2, which encodes the Helios protein—a transcription factor that controls other genes. It has been found that Helios is actively involved in the formation and proper functioning of outer hair cells (which amplify sound signals), and that it also influences other genes within these cells. Additionally, mutations in this gene appear to alter the movement of these outer cells, affecting how they amplify sound and potentially leading to hearing loss. This discovery suggests that activating this gene correctly could regenerate outer hair cells, and thereby lead to the development of treatments to restore hearing—potentially eliminating certain types of tinnitus—via gene therapy, stem cell therapy, or pharmaceutical approaches.

October 2018 (USA). Researchers in the United States discovered that a group or family of proteins known as EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors), which is involved in the regeneration of cells in various organs, may also aid in the regeneration of hair cells in the ear. This protein family is known to play a role in the regeneration of avian hair cells by stimulating supporting or progenitor cells (see the MIT study from Feb-2017 below). In particular, the ERBB2 protein—part of the EGFR family and present in the vestibular system of the inner ear—has been identified as a promising target. The goal is to develop drugs that can act on these proteins to promote the regeneration of hair cells, thereby restoring hearing loss caused by damage to these cells. The study was conducted at the University of Rochester and led by Dr. Patricia White.

October 2018. Dr. Lawrence Lustig and his research team at Columbia University, supported by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and the American biotech firm GenVec, have been working on a gene therapy known as CGF166. The therapy’s key ingredient is the Atoh1 gene, which they are introducing into the ear to promote the transformation of supporting cells into hair cells, with the aim of restoring auditory function. See earlier studies listed under April 2017 (USA).

October 2018 (USA). A research team at the University of California, San Francisco, led by Dr. Elliott Sherr, discovered that the presence of the Tmtc4 gene in the brains of mouse embryos is crucial for the later development of hearing. A lack of this protein—potentially caused by exposure to loud noise—activates a cellular quality control system called UPR, which triggers the self-destruction of hair cells, leading to deafness. The goal was to find a way to block the UPR response and prevent the destruction of hair cells. Fortunately, as early as 2013, an experimental drug had been identified that could achieve this. When tested in mice exposed to loud noise, it prevented damage to their hair cells and the resulting hearing loss. It is hoped that this strategy can also be applied in humans to prevent various types of hearing loss.

September 2018 (Sweden). A team of scientists led by Dr. François Lallemend at the Karolinska Institutet, using a new single-cell RNA sequencing technique in mice, discovered that there are three distinct types of nerve cells—not just one—that transmit auditory signals to the brain. They also mapped which genes are active in each cell type. This discovery could lead to the development of new genetic tools, therapies, and drugs for treating auditory disorders such as tinnitus, hearing loss, and hyperacusis, as well as the creation of improved auditory devices like cochlear implants.

July 2018 (United Kingdom). A major study led by Dr. Liz Marks from the University of Bath and Dr. Laurence McKenna from the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), funded by the British Tinnitus Association, found that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is significantly more effective than traditional relaxation-based treatments in reducing tinnitus symptoms. The study showed that MBCT could make tinnitus less distressing and intrusive over a longer period of time. The approach encourages patients not to avoid the experience of tinnitus but to pay attention to it and accept it. While MBCT may not be suitable for everyone, the researchers believe it could become an increasingly viable option for patients who have not found relief through conventional treatments.

Mar 2018 (USA). The biopharmaceutical company Otonomy continues its work on the use of glacyclidine, an NMDA receptor antagonist (N-methyl-D-aspartate), to treat tinnitus via intratympanic injection. In its Phase I trial, this injection was named OTO-311, but it has since been improved and renamed OTO-313, with Phase 1/2 trials expected to begin in the first half of 2019. See earlier studies from Feb 2014, listed below.

Jan 2018 (USA/Canada). A study published in January 2018, led by researchers including Kendra L. Marks, Susan E. Shore, and Larry E. Roberts, once again demonstrated the benefits of bimodal stimulation: both auditory and somatosensory. Unlike other methods of stimulation (see below the vagus nerve stimulation work of Feb/Aug 2014 by Michael Kilgard and Sven Vanneste), this approach involves stimulating the dorsal cochlear nucleus (the first station where auditory signals from the ear arrive) using light pulses applied to the cheek or neck. The auditory stimulation consisted of brief sounds delivered through headphones. While only two participants reported complete elimination of their tinnitus, several indicated that their tinnitus felt less severe. One major advantage of this stimulation method is that it has no side effects and is non-invasive, unlike other techniques such as deep brain stimulation or vagus nerve stimulation.

2017

Aug 2017. A study led by Fatima Husain, professor at the University of Illinois, found that chronic tinnitus is localized in a region of the brain called the precuneus, which is connected to two inversely related brain networks: the dorsal attention network and the default mode network. When one is active, the other is suppressed. The study discovered that in cases of chronic tinnitus, the precuneus connects more to the first network and less to the second. This may explain, among other things, why patients remain more attentive to their tinnitus than necessary. These findings provide objective evidence to guide more precise and effective future treatments for tinnitus.

Jun 2017 (USA). Researchers at MIT developed a non-invasive method for carrying out deep brain stimulation. This new technique, called Temporal Interference, stimulates deep brain tissues externally without the need for surgery. Although other methods like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation already exist, these often activate both the targeted neurons and overlapping neurons, potentially causing unwanted effects. In contrast, Temporal Interference stimulates neurons more selectively. It uses frequencies above 1000 Hz, to which neurons don’t respond. When two close frequencies (e.g., 2000 and 2010 Hz) are applied, they create a field with a frequency equal to their difference (in this case, 10 Hz), which neurons can detect. This allows precise targeting of specific brain regions, while surrounding areas only receive the higher frequencies, which are outside the neuronal response range. This method, tested on mice, is already being trialed in humans and may help treat conditions like epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, depression, and tinnitus.

Jun 2017 (Poland). During the 12th International Tinnitus Seminar and 1st World Tinnitus Congress held in Warsaw, Poland, the COMIT’ID study initiative was presented. It aims to integrate and bring together tinnitus specialists from around the world to share their findings collaboratively, allowing for comparison, contrast, and synthesis of results, with patient voices also considered. Three key categories will be used to classify proposed outcomes and treatments: sound-based therapies, psychological therapies, and pharmacological treatments.

Apr 2017 (USA). Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital succeeded in regenerating immature hair cells in adult mice by manipulating two genes (the p21 and Atoh1 proteins), which are known to play a role in the regenerative process observed in fish and birds. This study, like other similar ones (see below), opens the door to the development of methods that could eventually be applied to humans, restoring hearing and potentially addressing one of its most common consequences: tinnitus.

Feb 2017 (USA). A team from MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Massachusetts Eye and Ear discovered a drug combination capable of regenerating hair cells in the inner ear. Through experiments on mice, they found that this combination expanded the population of progenitor cells (also known as supporting cells) and induced them to convert into hair cells. This finding presents a potential pathway to treat hearing loss—which, in many cases, is the root cause of tinnitus. (See also the Hearing Restoration Project, Mar 2014).

Feb 2017 (USA). A team from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School—who in 2015 had already achieved rudimentary hearing restoration in genetically deaf mice through gene therapy—managed this time to restore their hearing to a much higher level, enabling them to hear even a whisper. They used a new viral vector called Anc80L65 (a harmless virus) to deliver corrective genes into the cochlea’s hair cells. Whereas earlier efforts had only reached the inner hair cells, this new approach successfully targeted the harder-to-reach outer hair cells as well. While its effectiveness in humans remains to be seen, this technique holds promise for treating genetically-induced hearing loss, which could also relieve associated tinnitus.

2016

Aug 2016 (USA). Researchers Glen Watson, Pei-Ciao Tang, and Karen Smith from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette discovered that a protein found in the hair cells of sea anemone tentacles—used to repair damaged cells—showed promising results when applied to defective cells in mice. They also found that rodents naturally produce a protein very similar to the one found in sea anemones, which could potentially activate a similar repair mechanism in mammals, including humans. Although this study was not focused on tinnitus, any advancement in regenerating human hair cells could eventually lead to a treatment for it.

Mar 2016 (USA). Drs. Thanos Tzounopoulos and Peter Wipf from the University of Pittsburgh, along with a team of researchers, succeeded in redesigning several components of Retigabine (an epilepsy drug) to enhance its potency while reducing side effects. The new compound is called RL648_81 (“RL-18”), and it is hoped that this compound may one day be used to help treat tinnitus in humans. (See below for other related studies by Dr. Tzounopoulos).

2015

Dec 2015 (USA). Dr. Fatima Husain and a team of researchers at the University of Illinois found that the lesser degree of disturbance caused by tinnitus in some people is due to the fact that they use a different emotional processing pathway. Instead of using the amygdala, they rely more on the frontal lobe, a region critical for attention, planning, and impulse control. Based on this, the researchers suggested that increasing activation in this brain area could help reduce the distress caused by tinnitus—and one way to do so would be through physical activity.

Sep 2015 (United Kingdom). The company Autifony Therapeutics was conducting Phase 2 of a clinical trial named CLARITY-1 to test the drug AUT00063, which aims to regulate potassium channels. (See earlier studies by Dr. Tzounopoulos regarding Retigabine.)

Oct 2015 (USA-Germany). Neuroscientists from Georgetown University Medical Center (USA) and Technische Universität München (Germany) found that three brain areas are involved in the generation of tinnitus: the nucleus accumbens, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and the anterior cingulate cortex. These areas act as a central system that controls or limits perceptual sensations. They also found that this system relies on the transmission of serotonin and dopamine between neurons, which opens up a potential path to restore it using drugs that regulate these neurotransmitters. (See earlier studies by Dr. Josef P. Rauschecker, who was also involved in this research, regarding the connection between tinnitus and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.)

Jul 2015 (USA). Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and the VA Portland Medical Center found that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) significantly improved tinnitus symptoms in more than half of the participants in the largest clinical trial of its kind. The results showed sustained relief (at least six months) for those participants. These findings build on earlier studies exploring this type of stimulation (see below under Neuromodulation / 2012–2013).

Jun 2015 (Japan). Researchers at Kyoto University discovered that stem cell transplantation on the surface of the glial scar—characteristic of neural damage—has the potential to restore the damaged segment of the auditory nerve and thus restore hearing function, which could help reduce or even eliminate tinnitus symptoms. These findings may also offer a path to reduce hyperacusis symptoms. Dr. Marcelo Minolta (UK), with funding from Action on Hearing Loss, is also conducting research using stem cells to produce new hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (which connect hair cells to the brain), potentially reversing hearing loss.

Jun 2015 (USA). A new finding by Dr. Tzounopoulos and neurophysiologist Anastasios Tzingounis from the University of Connecticut was made public. It involved a drug named SF0034, which offered the same benefits as Retigabine but with significantly fewer side effects when tested in animals. Clinical trials are still needed to determine whether it is safe and effective in humans. (See earlier studies on Retigabine led by Dr. Tzounopoulos.)

2014

Oct/Nov 2014 (USA). A pilot study conducted in 2014 by Dr. Jay F. Piccirillo and his team at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (USA), which focused on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, found that a computerized cognitive training program (designed to improve sound processing, language, and memory) combined with the intake of the drug D-cycloserine (a dextrorotatory form of the antibiotic cycloserine*) may help reduce the distress caused by persistent tinnitus—not by eliminating its perception, but by enhancing the brain’s ability to ignore it. As the study involved a small sample of patients, a larger follow-up study is expected to confirm the efficacy of this new approach.

Sep 2014 (USA). A research team in Boston led by Professor Daniel Polley developed a sound-based game for use on a touchscreen tablet. The game involves assembling a puzzle using mostly auditory cues instead of visual ones, guiding users to find each piece. The ultimate goal is to reduce the volume of tinnitus by rebalancing the overactive neural activity patterns in the brain using sounds customized to the characteristics of each patient’s tinnitus.

Aug/Sep 2014 (Canada). Research led by Dr. Jordan Glicksman, a resident investigator at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (Ontario, Canada), has shown preliminary evidence that significant caffeine consumption in women may be associated with a reduced risk of developing tinnitus. Further studies are needed to confirm this relationship and determine whether it could potentially lead to a treatment.

Aug 2014 (Australia). After ten years of research at Monash University, the Australian company Small Technologies Cluster developed an iPod app called tinAway — a sound therapy that uses multiple sound parameters simultaneously to gradually reduce tinnitus intensity during daily sessions, with the goal of achieving total suppression after a few weeks. This therapy is based on the Auditory Scene Analysis model of chronic tinnitus. The company is currently finalizing the prototype and preparing for clinical trials and regulatory approval.

May 2014 (Argentina). A study led by Argentine researcher Dr. Ana Belén Elgoyhen aimed to identify which areas and functions of the body are targeted by drugs that produce tinnitus as a side effect — in other words, to determine what biological targets these medications act on, and which of them may be significant in tinnitus generation. The goal is to identify compounds that can interfere with these interactions and potentially serve as treatments.

May 2014 (Australia). Ongoing tinnitus research at the University of Western Australia, led by scientist Helmy Mulders (Wilhelmina H. A. M. Mulders), found that the drug Furosemide — a diuretic used to treat hypertension — was able to reduce neural hyperactivity in the auditory system in guinea pigs that had been induced to experience tinnitus. This suggests that the drug may suppress the tinnitus signal. The next step will be to conduct human trials to see whether the treatment can safely and effectively reduce spontaneous hyperactivity in the auditory nerve caused by cochlear damage, which is suspected to be a possible origin of tinnitus. If successful, this approach could eliminate the need for severing the auditory nerve in severe cases.

Mar 2014 (USA). The ongoing Hearing Restoration Project, led by the Hearing Health Foundation in the United States, aims to discover a method to stimulate regeneration of damaged inner ear cells in humans — just as birds (such as chickens) and reptiles can naturally do. The goal is to biologically restore hearing and potentially eliminate tinnitus. Related studies are also being conducted by Dr. Andrew Groves and his team at the House Ear Institute in California.

Mar 2014 (New Zealand). Researchers at the University of Auckland are studying the effects of MDMA (also known as ecstasy), a drug illegal in most countries, to see whether it can reduce tinnitus perception when administered in controlled doses.

February/August 2014 (USA–Belgium).

The study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas, including Dr. Michael Kilgard and Belgian researcher Dr. Sven Vanneste, showed promising results in significantly alleviating chronic tinnitus. The research involved a small group of tinnitus patients and used electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve while playing various sounds over a period of weeks. The system, called the Serenity System, includes a small device and terminals that must be implanted in the patient through a minor outpatient surgery, allowing for electrical stimulation from a small external wireless transmitter. If its effectiveness is confirmed in a larger sample, this could become a viable treatment option.

February 2014 (Switzerland).

The Swiss company Auris Medical initiated the clinical development of an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist to assess the effectiveness of delivering a small molecule version of this compound via intratympanic injection (AM-101). Dysregulation of this receptor in the cochlea is increasingly believed to play a key role in the development of tinnitus, particularly following excitotoxicity of auditory nerve fibers—an effect characterized by excessive synaptic release of glutamate, the main neurotransmitter in the auditory system. This excitotoxicity can be triggered by acoustic trauma, neuroinflammation, ototoxic drugs, or blood supply issues in the inner ear. The trials have already entered phase 3 and are aimed at treating acute peripheral tinnitus.

February 2014 (Sweden).

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden recently discovered the existence of a circadian biological clock in the ear. This finding serves as a starting point for investigating how to influence the production of a hormone that protects auditory nerve cells, whose levels fluctuate throughout the day under the influence of this internal clock.

2013

November 2013 (USA).

The research by neuro-otologist Dr. Steven W. Cheung at the University of California, San Francisco, has contributed significantly to the search for ways to modulate the basal ganglia in the brain. According to some experts, these structures function as a kind of “gatekeeper” that either allows or suppresses the perception of tinnitus-related sounds.

November 2013 (USA).

Meanwhile, Dr. Josef P. Rauschecker and his team at Georgetown University Medical Center discovered that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex contains a system for suppressing internal body sounds. In cases of tinnitus, this suppression system might be impaired or malfunctioning. Understanding the cause of this dysfunction could help develop methods to regulate the perceived loudness of tinnitus.

November 2013 (USA).

A research team led by Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos at the University of Pittsburgh found that tinnitus in mice is linked to hyperactivity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), caused by reduced activity in KCNQ potassium channels. They also discovered that Retigabine, a medication used to treat epilepsy, could prevent the onset of tinnitus by improving the activity of these potassium channels, which act as a brake to reduce neuronal activity in the DCN. This discovery opened the possibility of extending its application to humans.

Nov 2013 (USA). Another study focused on the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus (DCN), conducted by a research team at the University of Michigan Medical School and led by Dr. Susan Shore, confirmed (in animal experiments) that alterations in multisensory plasticity processes occurring in the DCN are associated with tinnitus. In other words, an imbalance between the information coming from the cochlea (in the ear) and that coming from the somatosensory nerves in the neck and face could be the cause of tinnitus. Based on these findings, Dr. Shore began developing a device that combines sound and electrical stimulation targeting both the face and neck, with the aim of restoring normal neuronal activity in the auditory pathways and thereby reducing tinnitus symptoms in humans.

Oct 2013 (Sweden). Researchers at the Karolinska Institute also discovered several years ago that with age, the hair cells in the ear lose their functionality, their electric charge decreases, and as a result, they become softer. The next step would be to investigate the proteins in these cells in order to find a way to restore their rigidity.

Sep 2013 (Belgium). Belgian researcher Dr. Dirk De Ridder has also suggested the possibility of finding a solution to tinnitus caused by hearing loss by replicating the mechanism that occurs during sleep, in which most patients no longer perceive their tinnitus. This mechanism may be related to memory processing.

2009–2013 (Belgium–USA). Neuromodulation is another research approach being explored. In general, it involves various brain stimulation methods, including both electrical and magnetic techniques. One of the leading researchers in this field is Dr. De Ridder, mentioned above.

2011

2011 (USA). In a study published in The Hearing Journal, it was reported that scientists at the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss (SICHL) are exploring multiple paths to regenerate the inner ear. One of the most promising lines of research involves reprogramming supporting cells to become new hair cells, by activating a gene called Atoh1. Since hair cell damage is one of the most common causes of hearing loss and tinnitus, these efforts could lead to treatments that restore hearing and potentially eliminate tinnitus.

2012

Oct 2012 (United Kingdom). A study by a team of scientists at Newcastle University, led by Professor Tim Griffiths, seeks to better understand the relationship between the auditory cortex, which processes sound, and the amygdala (and the limbic system in general), which is involved in emotional responses to unpleasant sounds.

2012 (Germany). Dr. Peter A. Tass, based on recent studies at the Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine – Neuromodulation INM-7 at the Jülich Research Center in Germany, proposed a technique called Coordinated Reset Acoustic Neuromodulation. Instead of using electrical stimulation, it uses sound stimulation via the emission of several tones of varying pitch. What remains to be seen is its effectiveness.

2008

May 2008 (USA). Since fish have two ears like humans and also rely on electrical activity for hearing, studies conducted over the past years on the zebrafish have revealed that these fish are capable of regenerating damaged or lost auditory cells — a process that appears to be promoted by the administration of certain drugs that help restore electrical activity. If similar results can be replicated in humans, this could offer hope for tinnitus patients. Audiologist and cellular biologist Ernest J. Moore from Northwestern University in Illinois initiated this line of research, and scientists at Washington University have also conducted experiments with zebrafish to better understand the mechanisms behind hearing loss.

Apr 2008 (UK, Brazil). Studies conducted by Brazilian scientists some years ago showed that sacrocranial trigger point therapy was effective in some patients with tinnitus resulting from head or neck trauma. Further investigation would be needed to assess its efficacy in a broader group of patients. On the other hand, British doctor and psychotherapist Julian Cowan has developed a craniosacral therapy specifically aimed at treating tinnitus.

To conclude this review of tinnitus-related research, it's worth mentioning that several researchers are currently exploring how to make use of the tonotopic map in the auditory cortex — a map in which neurons are organized according to the sound frequencies to which they respond. The goal is to better understand how this map is altered and to find a method to reset it, returning it to its normal state — something that could help reduce tinnitus associated with those tonotopic changes.

Footnotes:

* Cycloserine is an antibiotic that is sometimes considered an ototoxic substance that may cause tinnitus. However, in its D-form, it has been shown to enhance neuroplasticity and could therefore be beneficial in treating this auditory condition. In its D-form, has been explored for its effects on the NMDA receptor, which is implicated in neural plasticity and learning.

** Further developments in this line of research were carried out in 2014 by Bramhall NF et al. and Diensthuber M et al., and more recently (2015) by Stefan Heller and his team. Also noteworthy is the 2015 study by Charles Askew and colleagues on genetic therapies.

*** Some websites and internet forums suggest that Cannabis sativa (marijuana) might help alleviate tinnitus, though no reliable studies have confirmed this. While some individuals have reported relief, others have experienced worsening symptoms. MDMA has been under investigation for various therapeutic uses, including PTSD and anxiety. In this context, its potential to modulate perception may be relevant for tinnitus management.

**** Other drugs under investigation include D-methionine and OTO-311. In 2014, intratympanic injections of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone were also tested as potential treatments for idiopathic tinnitus (tinnitus of unknown origin). Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is a common mechanism in many neurological conditions and refers to nerve cell damage caused by overactivation of glutamate receptors.

Hidden Hearing Loss and Its Connection to Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

2025-06-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hidden hearing loss is different from typical hearing loss. It doesn’t show up on a standard audiogram, since that test only measures the softest sounds a person can hear — essentially how sensitive the cochlear hair cells are — but it doesn’t tell us much about how clearly we hear or how well we understand speech in complex environments.

This condition, which currently has no known cure, was first described in 2009 by Drs. Sharon Kujawa and Charles Liberman. Their research showed that some people had difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments — like parties or busy restaurants — even though their audiograms were normal. What they discovered was that the issue was not in the hair cells of the cochlea, but in the auditory nerve. Specifically, the synapses — the connections between the hair cells and the nerve — were damaged. This meant that although sound entered the ear, the information wasn’t being properly transmitted to the brain. This form of hearing damage was later called cochlear synaptopathy, and it’s often caused by exposure to loud sounds, as well as aging. Other potential causes include ototoxic medications or autoimmune conditions.

In 2015, a study led by Dr. Stéphane Maison also found that underuse of the ears — due to lack of sound exposure for any number of reasons — could also lead to cochlear synaptopathy.

The discovery of hidden hearing loss in people who have normal audiograms has given further weight to a popular theory: that when the brain doesn’t receive the expected amount of auditory input, it tries to compensate by creating a phantom sound — what we know as tinnitus. This might help explain cases where people have both tinnitus and hyperacusis, yet their hearing tests come back as normal (or even above average for their age). Still, it’s important to note that not all people with tinnitus or hyperacusis and normal hearing test results necessarily have hidden hearing loss.

One possible way to identify hidden hearing loss is by testing how well someone can understand speech in noisy environments. Researchers are working on developing better diagnostic tools for this purpose, including tests based on otoacoustic emissions. Interestingly, a recent study (2023) found that eye movement tracking could be another method for early detection. Reduced eye movement while trying to follow a conversation in a noisy setting may be a sign of hidden hearing loss and related auditory difficulties.

Sources:

- https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/tackling-hidden-hearing-loss

- https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/loss-of-auditory-nerve-fibers-uncovered-in-individuals-with-tinnitus

- https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/hidden-hearing-loss?_gl=1*1qkihqd*_gcl_au*MTg5NTg5Njk1My4xNzI1OTY4NTQ5*_ga*MzE5NDk1MzQyLjE3MjU5Njg1NDk.*_ga_H2Z5VSRBRR*MTczMjg4MTcwNC4yNy4xLjE3MzI4ODI1NDAuMzYuMC4w

- https://www.facebook.com/reel/709272184552817

What Is Reactive Tinnitus?

2025-06-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

As many of us know, there are many ways to classify tinnitus, depending on the criteria used:

By its presence over time:
constant / intermittent / pulsatile
By how it develops over time:
stable / changing (like a melody)
By the number of sounds:
single-frequency (just one sound) / multi-frequency
(several sounds)
By the type or quality of the sound:
single-timbre (one type of sound) / multi-timbre (several)
By primary or initial causes:
objective (mechanical causes) / subjective (more neurological in origin)
By general location:
central (in the brain) / peripheral (in the ear)
By whether the cause is known:
idiopathic (unknown cause) / non-idiopathic (known cause)

And to all these ways of classifying tinnitus, we can add one more:

Reactive / Non-reactive

Reactive tinnitus refers to tinnitus that reacts negatively to sound or noise — and not necessarily loud noise. This means that when someone is exposed to sounds (even moderate or normal levels), the tinnitus can become more intense or aggressive.

When tinnitus is non-reactive, sound doesn’t have a direct impact on its intensity. This type tends to be more stable overall.

Reactive tinnitus is often found in people who also suffer from hyperacusis.

My experience with Musical Tinnitus, shared by the HHF

2025-06-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

In 2022 the Hearing Health Foundation shared my story living with hyperacusis and tinnitus on its website. Here it is*:

“Notating Tinnitus

By Julio Flores-Alberca

I am a Peruvian musician. My main instrument is the guitar. I have studied jazz guitar for some years in Lima, Peru, and for some months also at Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1992. While I was in Boston I suffered an acoustic trauma at a friend’s home studio. I started suffering from hyperacusis, sensitivity to everyday sounds, and tinnitus, ringing in the ears. This prevented me from continuing my studies at Berklee, and I had to return to Peru.

Once home, my hyperacusis and tinnitus seemed to improve and were not a problem. I began to focus my interest on the traditional music of cultures from all around the world, especially Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. After some years of research, in 1996 I founded a band called Quarter Note, with the aim of promoting music from those regions. The band began its activities the next year.

The lyre is just one of the many

stringed instruments that

Julio Flores Alberca plays and teaches.

In 1999 I began working as a professor at the Center of Oriental Studies of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and in 2001 I also became a professor of electric guitar and composition there. I earned a scholarship for an intensive Korean language and culture program in Seoul for four months in 2004. All during this time my hyperacusis and tinnitus were both minimal. I felt I had recovered.

Acoustic Trauma

But all of this stopped abruptly in 2006, due to another involuntary loud noise exposure at work. It made my hearing condition very severe. Life became a living hell. In November of that year I started a long confinement at home, unable to tolerate even my own voice, and perceiving tinnitus as several intense sounds.

As the days passed, confined to my home, I could start to hear what I was hearing as tinnitus begin to change and diversify. I was perceiving more and more sounds each day (see the list I kept). It was a terrifying experience, not only because of the sounds themselves but also because I didn't know where they came from, and if they were real or a product of my imagination.

I had many days of despair and had even suicidal thoughts. It was not until several weeks later, thanks to some articles l found and read, that l realized that all those sounds l was hearing were common in tinnitus and so l was not crazy.

One aspect that l finally understood was that subjective tinnitus could be the result of neuronal activity of the brain, which for some reason certain people are able to perceive it with greater intensity. Thus tinnitus for some people may be considered as physiological sound originating in our own brain. I know that this differs from tinnitus that seems to have its origin when the brain tries to make up for missing sounds due to hearing loss. My hearing at that time, after I did an audiogram test, was compared to that a 5 year old, according to the audiologist.

Knowing this gave me some peace and serenity, despite it not meaning in any way that the disturbance from these sounds disappeared, and especially having read that there is no cure for this auditory phenomenon.

The Pitch Changes

After a few more weeks, around 2007, l began to realize also that the pitch of many of the sounds l heard changed constantly, like when one moves from one note to another on a musical instrument. This process, which I began in April of that year, gave me the idea of notating the sounds on a musical staff to see how they behaved and which patterns they followed. Realizing this led me to unravel the musicality in my tinnitus.

What followed was something completely opposite to everything l had imagined some months before. Instead of trying to forget the tinnitus sounds or make them disappear in some way by distraction or taking medication, what l did instead was to focus on the sounds. I began to listen to them at every available moment, to try to capture and notate every tiny detail and any new element that appeared, no matter what time of day, even overnight.

Much of what l heard and wrote down were sounds that resembled musical phrases. I noticed that even those sounds that were continuous acquired a musical function.

In the beginning, all the sounds l was notating had a markedly sad or gloomy character. They were quite strange and some were even sinister. But almost at the end of that same month of April something unexpected happened: l woke up one morning hearing a happy tune full of vitality and hope. I felt a great joy and an inexplicable happiness.

My desire to transcribe the tinnitus sounds into musical notation continued with more enthusiasm after this incident. Between April 2007 and May 2008 l completed more than 100 transcriptions. Here you can listen to a sound simulation of one of the early transcriptions. The volume is quite low and listening to it involves no risk for the listener. It is an arpeggiated sound resembling a bell that l heard in n my right ear.

By the end of these transcription exercises, I noticed that more of my tinnitus sounds were gradually disappearing, and that at the same time, l was experiencing some relief from the hyperacusis. Currently l am still making transcriptions, but less frequently than before—only when l notice a sound or pattern that is different from those heard previously.

Intrinsic to Me

Thanks to my very deliberate approach to the sounds of tinnitus, l came to see them as something personal and an intrinsic part of me. I got so used to the tinnitus that at night I enjoyed listening to it, trying to identify which number of the transcriptions it would be (e.g., Number 12, Number 6, etc.). Every time l heard a new sound l immediately wrote it down. After going to bed at night l frequently began tapping rhythms around the sounds of the tinnitus with my fingers, and sometimes l fell asleep listening to them.

At present, there are times when the tinnitus becomes very intense, usually after an exposure to loud noise, and then some sounds that already disappeared reappear. Most of the time I have to use earplugs to protect my ears, because Lima is a very noisy city.

Here you can listen to another sound simulation of the more complex tinnitus I commonly experienced. It has several melodies playing simultaneously. Most of these melodies are in my right ear—with sounds resembling organ, melodica, and cello. But there is also a constant sound resembling a plane engine during takeoff that is present in both ears, but more intensely and noticeably on my left ear.

Because the tinnitus intensity is most noticeable at night, I wait until that moment to concentrate on it and try to distinguish any new sounds. Then l allow myself to flow with it until l either fall asleep or my attention goes to something else.

Musical Tinnitus

As can be expected, living with this musical tinnitus soon led me to ask myself several questions. The discovery of the musical elements in tinnitus soon raised in me a strong desire to know why tinnitus contains musical features and wonder what their meaning could be.

When he travels by air, Julio uses earplugs

as well as earmuffs to protect his ears, because

the noise is too loud. 'If only I use earplugs,

I begin to feel pain in my ears,' he says.

l began a long process of research through different fields to look for answers and explanations. I felt l would have to look beyond the fields of medicine and music since this kind of tinnitus may involve elements that can be explained from other fields, such as physics, philosophy, and even mysticism.

It took me a long time to reach any clear conclusions, and only by mid-2013 was l able to develop an integrative interpretation of what I experienced with tinnitus.

l started working on a book to capture my experience with tinnitus, to share what l have found as a result of my research into other disciplines. Finally in 2016 I published my book on Amazon. I wrote the book in Spanish, with the title 'El Santo Zumbido (The Holy Hum).'

As is well known, music is both a means to communicate and be transformed. And so, if it is present in tinnitus, then this auditory phenomenon becomes a bearer of those two functions. With this in mind, I no longer feel that l am an unhappy person with limitations due to the presence of tinnitus, but rather l feel fortunate and privileged to be able to access this unique sound experience.

I realize that this idea might be far-fetched, laughable, or even offensive to those who suffer from tinnitus. But while it is my personal interpretation, it is precisely being able to view my tinnitus as a kind of music that has allowed me to habituate to it—my musical tinnitus—and it is also what has encouraged me to share it here in hopes that this approach can be useful to others.

In 2018 I returned to the the Center of Oriental Studies of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú as a professor, teaching a course on the therapeutic use of music in Eastern musical traditions. The same year I also began teaching guitar at the cultural centers of the Municipality of Surco in Lima. Currently I am still working as a professor at the same university.

While I have learned to live with my tinnitus, my hyperacusis is still at the moderate level. I’m not yet able to perform in public with a band again, but I hope I can do so in the near future.

And last month, in October 2022, I earned a master’s degree in musical research from the Universidad Europea de Madrid. My thesis title was 'El Tinnitus Musical Fisiológico (The Physiological Musical Tinnitus).'

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To read the original article, click here.

* This HHF article is shared here with the permission of the HHF editor.

Collaborating as a translator for the Hearing Health Foundation

2023-09-15T13:24:00.007-07:00

In the last weeks (today is sept. 15 2023), with the Hearing Health Foundation permission, I started translating into spanish several of their articles for sharing with speaking spanish people on FB and on my blog. Recently the HHF asked me to write a post about this collaboration, and now it is published on their site.

If you have a friend or relative who is spanish-speaking, please tell them about these translations. For reading the post in spanish click here.

Hyperacusis testimony: Raffaela Bicego from Italy

2022-06-21T17:40:00.016-07:00

Dear Friends, here’s a very Good video by Raffaela Bicego, where she talks about hyperacusis, her hearing condition. She has just created a YouTube Channel, and this is her first video.

Tinnitus and Synesthesia?

2018-03-22T07:36:00.001-07:00

At the end of 2017 Dr Lisa DeBruine, from the Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology at the University of Glasgow, shared the GIF below with her followers on Twiiter, and ask them to describe whether they experienced any auditory sensations while watching it.

Many answered to hear a sound accompanying the animation, and most of them said they could hear a thudding sound.

One person who suffers from tinnitus replied: "I hear a vibrating thudding sound, and it also cuts out my tinnitus during the camera shake."

Do you experience something like that with this well-known GIF, dubbed an "optical illusion for the ears"?

How my Tinnitus sounds

2017-06-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

STABLE SOUNDS (unchanged)

* Constants (uninterrupted)

- white noise
- pink Noise
- wind
- running water (fountain)
- waterfall
- whistle
- sound of one voice (human)
- murmur of several people
- burning grass
- engine or electric generator
- chainsaw
- vaccum cleaner
- high pitched mosquito hum
- low pitched mosquito hum
- chimes (bells)
- car horn (low pitched)
- muted trumpet
- synthesizer (keyboard)
- cello
- high pitched violin (always present, even now)
- plane engine – take off (high pitched sound / always present, even
until now)

* Intermittents

- phone line tone
- human voice (women)
- elephant trumpeting (roaring)
- electric guitar (strums)
- morse code sound (low pitched)

CHANGING SOUNDS (like melodies)

* Constants (without interruption)

- harmonica (musical instr.) and melodica (pianohorn, a kind of musical instr.)

* Intermittents

- whistle / ocarina
- bells
- whistle plus bells
- wind
- male or female voice
- vocalizations of two notes
- ambulance siren
- melodica (pianohorn)
- trumpet
- muted trumpet
- sax
- sax plus trumpet
- flute
- piccolo (high pitched flute)
- organ
- electric guitar
- piano
- violin
- cello
- synthesizer

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My early reconciliation with Tinnitus: how I got to live with it without suffering

2017-06-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

For too long I have delayed writing about how tinnitus is no longer a problem for me in spite of my continuing to perceive it intensely. This delay has not been due to lack of time or interest on my part, but has been due primarily to the difficulty of describing my experience without sounding simplistic or even offensive to those who still suffer from its presence. I have finally decided to do it because l now think that despite that risk, l should share my experience with as many people as possible, especially those who are living in torment and are seeking an end to their suffering. I therefore hope that this post will be understood in its proper spirit and l also hope that more than one person will benefit from it. I will describe my case as clearly and concisely as possible below:

I am a musician specializing first in jazz studies and later in the musical traditions of the East, encompassing Asia, North Africa and Eastern Europe. After an acoustic accident in 1992 during a recording session, hyperacusis and tinnitus first appeared at a moderate level. However in 2006 due to several events all associated with loud noise, the hyperacusis and tinnitus intensified so much that my life became a living hell.

In late 2006, because of extreme sensitivity and highly intense tinnitus, l had to start a period of voluntary confinement. As the days passed the tinnitus sounds diversified and l perceived more and more sounds each day (see list here). It was a terrifying experience, not only because of the sounds themselves but also because l didn't know where they came from and if they were real or a product of my imagination. I had many days of despair and even had thoughts of suicide. It was not until several weeks later, thanks to some articles l located and read, that l realized that all these sounds l was hearing were characteristic of tinnitus and that l was not crazy. One aspect that l finally understood was that tinnitus represented the sound of the neuronal activity of the brain, thus being one of the many sounds produced by the body, and that for some reason certain people are able to perceive it with greater intensity. Several experiments that were performed in an anechoic chamber (having soundproof walls made of a substance which does not reflect sound waves) show that even people without hearing problems are able to perceive the sounds that we know as tinnitus if they remain in that silent environment for a few minutes. Thus tinnitus is a physiological sound originating in our own brain. You can read about the classic experiment conducted by Heller and Bergmann on the matter, and find out what they said in regard to tinnitus.

Knowing this gave me some peace and serenity but it did not mean in any way that the disturbance these sounds caused me disappeared, especially having read that there is no cure for this auditory phenomenon.

After a few more weeks, by which time it was already 2007, l began to realize that the pitch of many of the sounds l heard was not stable, but varied as when a musical instrument moves from one note to another. This gave me the idea of notating the sounds l heard on a music staff to see how they behaved and what patterns they followed. Starting this process in April 2007 led me to unravel the musicality in tinnitus.

What followed was something completely opposite to everything l had imagined some months before. Instead of wanting to forget tinnitus, to make it disappear in some way by distraction or perhaps by taking some form of medication, what l did was to throw myself at it, to begin to listen to it at every available moment and to try to capture and notate every tiny detail and any new element that appeared no matter what time of day it appeared, during the day, at dawn or at night. Much of what l heard and wrote down were sounds that resembled musical phrases, but even those which were continuous sounds acquired a musical function within the whole.

In the beginning all the sounds l was notating had a markedly sad or gloomy character. They were quite strange and some were even sinister. But almost at the end of April something unexpected happened: l woke up one morning hearing a happy tune full of vitality and hope which made me feel a great joy and an inexplicable happiness. For me it was like a sign, an omen, that something good was coming. At that time l accepted it as a supernatural experience, as a very subtle, brief, ecstatic experience.

My desire to transcribe the tinnitus sounds into musical notation continued with even more enthusiasm after this incident. Between April 2007 and May 2008 l completed more than 100 transcriptions. Below you can listen to a simulation of the sound of one of the early transcriptions (the volume is quite low and involves no risk to the listener):

(it is a recurring arpeggiated sound resembling a bell which l heard in my right ear)

By that time, May 2008, l had noticed that more of the tinnitus sounds were gradually disappearing, and that at the same time, l was experiencing some relief from the hyperacusis. Currently l am still making transcriptions, but less frequently than before , when l notice a sound or pattern which is different from those heard previously.

Thanks to my very deliberate approach to the sounds of the tinnitus, l came to regard it as something personal and very interrelated with myself as if it were an intrinsic part of me. I got so used to its presence that at night l enjoyed listening to it, trying to identify to which of the transcriptions it corresponded, for example to N° 12 or to N° 6 etc., and if l heard a new sound l immediately wrote it down. After going to bed at night l frequently began making rhythms with my fingers around the tinnitus sounds, and sometimes l fell asleep listening to them.

Currently there are times when the tinnitus becomes very intense, usually after exposure to loud noise, and then some which had apparently disappeared reappear, for example this one (the volume is quite low and involves no risk to the listener):

(This example is typical of the more complex tinnitus sounds which have several melodies playing simultaneously. Most of these melodies are located in my right ear -with sounds resembling organ, melodica and cello-, however there is also a constant sound resembling a plane engine during takeoff which is present in both ears, but more intensely and noticeably in my left ear. To hear other examples of my musical tinnitus click here)

Because this increase in tinnitus intensity is most noticeable at night, what l continue to do is to concentrate on it and try to distinguish any new sounds from those that l have heard before. Then l allow myself to flow with it until l either fall asleep or my attention is diverted to another matter.

From this experience l consider it important to emphasize here that many tinnitus sounds which may seem like constant unchanging noise do in fact change at some point, and in doing so, draw a melodic and/or a rhythmic sequence thus acquiring a noticeable musical form. If tinnitus is only a constant high pitched tone (or a mix of tones) without a clear pitch, and/or without any rhythmic pattern, I consider that in those cases it could be also treated as a musical sound, or at least it could be framed within a musical context and thus be considered as an essential musical ingredient which enhances the perception of the other musical sounds in the manner of stochastic resonance*, so the noise itself can be conceived as a musical element. In the case of a pulsatile tinnitus, I think that it is just the fact that the tinnitus is a rhythmical phenomenon what makes it a kind of musical event.

So far so good, but then one might ask what is the benefit of perceiving tinnitus as music? Then l would reply that to perceive it as music facilitates its acceptance and allows us to free ourselves of the negative associations it might have had for us. One might also wonder, assuming that one could perceive tinnitus as music, what would be the benefit if its intensity was still disturbing? Then l would say once again that it depends on how one relates to the sound, whether one considers it to be something weird, dangerous and foreign to oneself, or as something that is part of one's essence as a living being.

It is expected for example that a person would be very annoyed by a noise coming from the house of a neighbor with whom that person does not have a good relationship, while the same noise coming from the house of a neighbor with whom that person has a good relationship would be perfectly tolerable.

The effect of a particular sound depends greatly on how we relate to it. This is something that many tinnitus specialists have also claimed and continue to claim. They have discovered that, not always it is the intensity of tinnitus which disturbs people, but it's meaning. Many of us already know that, but it is sometimes very difficult to consider that possibility in our own particular case.

Considering all that l have described in this post, l would say that instead of rejecting tinnitus, it is better and more useful to accept it, to pay attention to it, to try to get to know it and to become familiar with it. This acceptance is neither a kind of resignation nor even habituation. Accepting the tinnitus as something natural and as something that belongs to our own body can definitely change the meaning that it has for us. In the beginning you may feel fear about paying more attention to it because you might expect that by doing this, despair and disturbance would increase even more, however l have seen that eventually the opposite occurs.

Besides, there are people who have already commented about their own experience through groups or pages on Facebook, and they describe how they have come to accept their tinnitus, no longer seeing it as an enemy. Some have even used meditation as a method of desensitizing themselves to its presence.

I would add two things to these experiences:

Firstly, what has already been highlighted above, which is to consider the musical aspect of the tinnitus sound. This offers a very fast and effective way to connect with it because most people love music and are sensitive to it in many different ways. In order to recognize the music within the tinnitus and to change our attitude to it, it is not necessary to be a musician or to know how to put it on a musical staff. It is sufficient to identify by ear the different musical characteristics such as melody, rhythm and timbre. Discovering the music within the tinnitus becomes a great facilitator.

Secondly, this method of approach does not require any prior special training or timing. It can be made at any stage, as it was in my case.

Having addressed tinnitus that way, having understood and accepted it as it is, means that l no longer wait for or look for its disappearance, because l know it must be there and will always be there whether or not l consciously perceive it.

This position may be questionable or even controversial because it does not imply a cure for tinnitus, but instead it is offering us a different perspective for dealing with the sound (or sounds) of tinnitus, a perspective that can lead us from an insanely destabilizing situation to something totally opposite, that of an enormously reassuring and peace providing experience.

Of course that does not prevent us from trying to avoid those factors which may unnecessarily increase tinnitus intensity such as noise and ototoxic drugs. In my case l have had to keep this in mind always, constantly thinking of what factors might negatively affect my hyperacusis but not my tinnitus.

As could perhaps be expected, living with this musical tinnitus soon led me to ask myself several questions. The discovery of the musical elements present in it soon raised in me a strong desire to know why it had manifested itself in that musical way and to wonder what could be its meaning. Then l began a long process of research through different fields to look for answers and explanations. I sensed that l would have to look beyond the fields of medicine and music as it could involve elements which could be explained by other fields such as physics, philosophy and even mysticism. It took me a long time to reach clear conclusions, and only by mid-2013 l was able to develop an integrative interpretation of what I experienced with tinnitus.

Then, from that year, l began working on a book to capture my experience with tinnitus and in it l have also noted down what l have concluded as a result of my research into other disciplines in the hope that this would widen the scope of all aspects involved as well as adding support for my ideas.

I wish to mention here two conclusions drawn from my book which are extremely important to me: Firstly, it is not a coincidence that tinnitus can manifest itself in a musical way, and secondly, it is neither unexpected nor inexplicable that in a given moment of time l experienced such a sudden and profound joy from listening to it.

To explain and justify both these things here could be very longwinded for the reader and also somewhat limiting for me given the blog format, so, for a fuller insight, l recommend reading my book**.

But as a final reflection l wish to remind you that, as is well known, music is both a communicator and a transforming agent, and so, if it present in tinnitus, then this auditory phenomenon becomes a bearer of those functions and could be exploited when conceived as such. I no longer feel that l am an unhappy person with limitations due to the presence of tinnitus but rather l feel fortunate and privileged to be able to access this unique sound experience.

I accept that this idea might be far-fetched, laughable or even offensive to some people, however, even though it is only a personal interpretation and perspective, it will always have true value for me as long as l have no evidence to the contrary. It is precisely that value which has allowed me to strengthen and complete my reconciliation with tinnitus, my musical tinnitus, and it is also what encouraged me to share it in this blog in the hope that it could be useful to someone else.

* Stochastic resonance is a phenomenon by which the presence of a certain noise, even at a low volume, can cause other sounds to be amplified and so become more noticeable.

** The book, which is written in Spanish, is already available in a digital version from Amazon. To read an excerpt, click here.

To read the original post in spanish click here.

My book about Tinnitus: The Holy Humming

2016-09-15T15:43:00.001-07:00

Dear friends, I have recently finished writing a book about my experience with tinnitus* which in my case took a musical form. I have registered my book in the 3rd Indie Writers Literary Competition (in Spanish) organized by Amazon and it is now displayed on the Amazon webpage as a digital book (check it out here). From there you can read the introduction and the first few pages. Digital books are usually cheaper than printed ones and the price of mine is US$7 or €6.25 in Europe. Besides the assessment made of the contents of the book by the panel of judges, the competitive rating of the book increases the more times the book is purchased or borrowed, so l will be very grateful to any of you who decides to purchase it. In order to read the book once you have purchased it, you only need to download the free Kindle app from Amazon and install it on your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. The title of my book is "El Santo Zumbido" (The Holy Humming. An approach to tinnitus from science, music and mysticism). Thanking you in advance for your support.

*In a future post I will describe how I can live with a high level of tinnitus without feeling disturbed nor annoying by it.

Testimony: Anthony Ochoa...his life and attempts for improving.

2015-09-01T15:56:00.003-07:00

This is the story of an audio engineer whose life have changed in many ways by hyperacusis.

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Excellent sounds for a “sound enrichment therapy”

2014-10-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to the “A Soft Murmur” project by Gabriel, a guy who edited, remixed and rearranged many environmental sounds that can be useful when suffering from Hyperacusis and Tinnitus:

http://asoftmurmur.com/

With the exception of “Thunder” and “Singing Bowl”, all sounds are very soft. Besides, you can make any combination of them using individual faders.

“I created A Soft Murmur for myself. I like to work in public spaces like libraries and coffee shops, but they can be noisy and distracting.

Listening to ambient helps me focus, and I like being able to mix different sounds together to match the environment I’m in.

Other people seem to like it too, so I’ve kept working on it.”

Gabriel Martin

Testimony: Joyce Cohen and husband (New York – USA)

2014-03-11T13:42:00.003-07:00

Here is, on the link below, the testimony of Joyce Cohen and her husband Ben, who live in New York and suffer from Hyperacusis:

This is the link to the original video produced by ABC:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/everyday-noises-pain-wife-husband-living-ny-22421602

If you have any problem loading the video from that link, below is a copy from Youtube:

My musical tinnitus 3/3

2012-05-11T19:25:00.002-07:00

On this third and last sample you will hear a more complex musical tinnitus with several melodic-like phrases and arpeggios sounding at the same time. In this case, the sounds that are present closely resemble the sound of an organ, a melodica, a cello (all of them on the right ear), and an airplane takeoff (on both ears, but louder and more notorious on the left one).

Related links:
- My Musical Tinnitus 1/3
- My Musical Tinnitus 2/3

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My Musical Tinnitus 2/3

2012-05-04T17:19:00.001-07:00

This second sample shown here is a kind of melodic arpeggio which was present again on my right ear, with a sound that closely resemble the sound of small bells or wind chimes.

Related links:
- My Musical Tinnitus 1/3
- My Musical Tinnitus 3/3

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My Musical Tinnitus 1/3

2012-04-26T13:47:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned on previous posts, I suffer not only from hyperacusis, but also from tinnitus, and this second condition has been as severe as the first one. The level of my tinnitus has been almost always very high and extremely diverse. I have perceived many types of sounds, and some of them have had even musical features.

On this respect I have read some articles that explains about people who have the same kind of "musical tinnitus" which some specialists called musical hallucinations. However, I consider this terminology not correct because an hallucination refers to something that is not real, but tinnitus is a real sound produced on the ears. Besides, as a musician I am able to clearly identify what I am hearing.

On this and the two following posts, I will show you 3 different samples of the musical tinnitus I experienced some years ago. The samples are simulations of what I perceived on my ears, and they were recorded using different computer softwares. The sounds on the right cannel represent the sounds I perceived on the right ear, and the sounds on the left one represent the sounds from the left ear respectively.

The first sample shown here is a single melody-like phrase which was present on my right ear (most affected), with a sound that closely resembles the sound of an ocarina or whistle.

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Related links:
- My Musical Tinnitus 2/3
- My Musical Tinnitus 3/3

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The correct way to fit foam earplugs

2012-02-27T06:23:00.003-08:00

Here is an excellent video about how to fit foam earplugs.

A success story on hyperacusis recovery

2011-10-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

On the link below you can find the success story of an english musician who could win the battle against hyperacusis:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/i-was-allergic-to-sound-1987908.html

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How to treat Hyperacusis (and Tinnitus) - 2/2: Origins of TRT

2009-05-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

Dr. Pawel Jastreboff

In mid 1980s, based on his own research and neurophysiological model of tinnitus, Dr. Pawel Jastreboff proposed a new clinical approach which has created a totally new treatment for tinnitus (and hyperacusis) now known as TRT.

At present, this model has become very popular and the number of specialists that are now attempting to use TRT is increasing each time, not only to treat tinnitus but also hyperacusis.

The first medical professionals to implement TRT in the world were Dr. Jonathan Hazell, (an authority on tinnitus) together with Mrs. Jacqui Sheldrake in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, after Dr. Jastreboff presented TRT to them. In USA, the first center for TRT treatment was created in Baltimore in 1990.

To read the article “Origin of TRT” written by Dr. Jastreboff, click here.