Schulze H, Schilling A, Krauss P, Tziridis K. [The Erlangen model of tinnitus development-New perspective and treatment strategy].
HNO 2023;
71:662-668. [PMID:
37715002 PMCID:
PMC10520106 DOI:
10.1007/s00106-023-01355-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
About one sixth of the population of western industrialized nations suffers from chronic, subjective tinnitus, causing socioeconomic treatment and follow-up costs of almost 22 billion euros per year in Germany alone. According to the prevailing view, tinnitus develops as a consequence of a maladaptive neurophysiological process in the brain triggered by hearing loss.
OBJECTIVES
The Erlangen model of tinnitus development presented here is intended to propose a comprehensive neurophysiological explanation for the initial occurrence of the phantom sound after hearing loss. Based on the model, a new treatment strategy will be developed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The model summarized here is based on various animal and human physiological studies conducted in recent years.
RESULTS
The Erlangen model considers subjective tinnitus as a side effect of a physiological mechanism that permanently optimizes information transmission into the auditory system by means of stochastic resonance (SR) even in the healthy auditory system. In fact, hearing-impaired patients with tinnitus hear better on average than those without tinnitus. This unfamiliar perspective on the phantom percept may already help affected patients to cope better with their suffering. In addition, based on the model, low intensity noise tinnitus suppression (LINTS) has been developed as a new, individually adapted treatment strategy for tonal tinnitus and has already been successfully tested in patients.
CONCLUSIONS
A possible limiting factor for the model and treatment strategy is the pitch of the tinnitus percept, which may require adjustments to the treatment strategy for frequencies above about 5 kHz.
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