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Fabrizio-Stover EM, Oliver DL, Burghard AL. Tinnitus mechanisms and the need for an objective electrophysiological tinnitus test. Hear Res 2024; 449:109046. [PMID: 38810373 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.109046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Tinnitus, the perception of sound with no external auditory stimulus, is a complex, multifaceted, and potentially devastating disorder. Despite recent advances in our understanding of tinnitus, there are limited options for effective treatment. Tinnitus treatments are made more complicated by the lack of a test for tinnitus based on objectively measured physiological characteristics. Such an objective test would enable a greater understanding of tinnitus mechanisms and may lead to faster treatment development in both animal and human research. This review makes the argument that an objective tinnitus test, such as a non-invasive electrophysiological measure, is desperately needed. We review the current tinnitus assessment methods, the underlying neural correlates of tinnitus, the multiple tinnitus generation theories, and the previously investigated electrophysiological measurements of tinnitus. Finally, we propose an alternate objective test for tinnitus that may be valid in both animal and human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Fabrizio-Stover
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Douglas L Oliver
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Alice L Burghard
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
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Wallace MN, Palmer AR. Neural Plasticity in Tinnitus Mechanisms. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1615. [PMID: 38137063 PMCID: PMC10741551 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Basic work into neuroplasticity mechanisms in both invertebrate and vertebrate brains, followed by the development of the first animal model of tinnitus, and coupled with clinical studies of tinnitus, meant that, by 1990, Jastreboff [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark N. Wallace
- Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
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Park KW, Kullar P, Malhotra C, Stankovic KM. Current and Emerging Therapies for Chronic Subjective Tinnitus. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6555. [PMID: 37892692 PMCID: PMC10607630 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12206555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Chronic subjective tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external source for longer than six months, may be a greatly debilitating condition for some people, and is associated with psychiatric comorbidities and high healthcare costs. Current treatments are not beneficial for all patients and there is a large need for new therapies for tinnitus. OBSERVATIONS Unlike rarer cases of objective tinnitus, chronic subjective tinnitus often has no obvious etiology and a diverse pathophysiology. In the absence of objective testing, diagnosis is heavily based on clinical assessment. Management strategies include hearing aids, sound masking, tinnitus retraining therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and emerging therapies including transcranial magnetic stimulation and electrical stimulation. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Although current treatments are limited, emerging diagnostics and treatments provide promising avenues for the management of tinnitus symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Wan Park
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 801 Welch Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter Kullar
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 801 Welch Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Charvi Malhotra
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 801 Welch Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Konstantina M. Stankovic
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 801 Welch Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, 290 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Bülow M, Best N, Brugger S, Derlien S, Loudovici-Krug D, Lemhöfer C. The effect of lidocaine iontophoresis for the treatment of tinnitus: a systematic review. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2023; 280:495-503. [PMID: 36102987 PMCID: PMC9849149 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-022-07645-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tinnitus is a common symptom with multiple causes and treatment options. Previous studies have investigated the effect of lidocaine iontophoresis. The aim of this review is to systematically present the effects on tinnitus and to derive possible effects. METHODS In accordance to the PRISMA statement, the search and analysis were performed. An abstract in German or English and a performed intervention with lidocaine iontophoresis for the treatment of tinnitus, independent of the study design, were considered as inclusion criteria. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, only a narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS The search yielded 179 studies of which 170 were excluded. Six full-texts and three abstracts were included. In total, 957 patients were treated with lidocaine iontophoresis. The percent improvement in symptoms after lidocaine iontophoresis ranged from 4% to 62%. The qualitative assessment of the studies resulted in an overall "weak" rating for all of them. CONCLUSIONS Due to the heterogeneity and the limited quality of the studies found, no clear statement can be made about the efficacy. The number of those who benefited from therapy varied widely. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that the effect was merely due to electrical stimulation of the cochlea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Bülow
- Institute for Physiotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Norman Best
- Institute for Physiotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Brugger
- Institute for Physiotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Steffen Derlien
- Institute for Physiotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Dana Loudovici-Krug
- Institute for Physiotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Christina Lemhöfer
- Institute for Physiotherapy, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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Grundfast KM, Jamil TL. Evaluation and Management of Tinnitus: Are There Opportunities for Improvement? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 168:45-58. [PMID: 35349391 DOI: 10.1177/01945998221088286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review current information about diagnosis and management of tinnitus aiming to identify opportunities for achieving a cost-effective, efficient, evidence-based approach that meets the needs of tinnitus sufferers. DATA SOURCES PubMed/MEDLINE. REVIEW METHODS In total, 249 relevant published reports were reviewed. Pertinent keywords and MeSH terms identified reports via PubMed and EMBASE. Acknowledged experts were consulted on ways to improve tinnitus management. CONCLUSIONS There may be opportunities to improve evaluation and management of patients with tinnitus using modern modes of communication and a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Tinnitus can adversely affect quality of life while being time-consuming and costly to evaluate and manage. Based on both personal experience and the reports of others, patients with tinnitus who choose to see a physician primarily want to know two things: (1) that the tinnitus that is so distressing will not remain at the same level of severity forever and (2) that something can be done to help cope with the tinnitus that is so annoying. Recent advancements in internet communications, social media, information technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, holistic medical care, mind-body integrative health care, and multidisciplinary approaches in medical therapeutics may be possibly making new ways of meeting the needs of patients with tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Grundfast
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Otology Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Taylor L Jamil
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Di Nardo W, Di Cesare T, Tizio A, Paludetti G, Fetoni AR. The Effectiveness of Targeted Electrical Stimulation via Cochlear Implant on Tinnitus-Perceived Loudness. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:885263. [PMID: 35812237 PMCID: PMC9263381 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.885263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The cause of tinnitus improvement in cochlear implant (CI) users is not understood. On the basis that a spatially limited dysfunction in the auditory pathway could cause tinnitus, we used single-channel stimulation to evaluate any variation of tinnitus-perceived loudness and identify the cochlear regions involved. Materials and Methods It was an observational prospective case-crossover study. After the first mapping, 21 adults with unilateral CI and chronic tinnitus expressed their tinnitus loudness based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score (0–10) at baseline (L0), during a 10 s single-channel stimulation with C-level of electric current (L1) and 30 min after CI activation (L2). Tinnitus reduction [RT = (L0 – L1) × 100/L0] > 50% was considered significant. VAS outcomes were compared between baseline (L0) and (each) single-channel stimulation (L1) to find the channel with the greatest RT (suppressive channel-SC), whose frequency range revealed the cochlear region involved. Seven patients with asymmetric hearing loss underwent the pitch-matching test to identify the actual frequency evoked by the SC. We compared selective (L1) and non-selective (L2) intracochlear stimulation using paired t-test. Preoperative Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was compared with those at 1, 6, and 12 months with paired t-tests to evaluate long-term tinnitus perception. Results We observed a significant reduction of tinnitus loudness during the experimental procedure [L0 (6.4 ± 2.4) vs. L1 (1.7 ± 2.7), p = 0.003]. A total of 15/21 patients (71.4%) had a significant (RT > 50%) and selective improvement, reporting a mean L1 of 0.4 ± 2.0 (p = 0.0001). In 10/15 (66.6%) patients, the SC was in the apical turn, within 1,000 Hz; in 5/15 patients (33.4%) within 4,000 Hz. The cochlear region 125–313 Hz was the most affected by tinnitus improvement (p = 0.0074). Targeted stimulation was more effective than non-selective stimulation [L1 vs. L2 (4.3 ± 2.5), p = 0.0022]. In 3/7 patients, the perceived pitch did not fall within the SC frequency ranges. All patients with selective attenuation described tinnitus as monotone. Patients with non-selective attenuation had polyphonic tinnitus and better THI results after 1 year. Conclusion Targeted intracochlear electrical stimulation improved chronic tinnitus perception, especially in monotone tinnitus, and the apical region was mainly involved. Our results provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of tinnitus and targets for innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Di Nardo
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo, UOC di Otorinolaringoiatria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Di Cesare
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo, UOC di Otorinolaringoiatria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Tiziana Di Cesare, ; orcid.org/0000-0001-9756-1880
| | - Angelo Tizio
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo, UOC di Otorinolaringoiatria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Paludetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo, UOC di Otorinolaringoiatria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Fetoni
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Audiologia, Universitá Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Assouly K, Smit AL, Stegeman I. Effect of electrical stimulation with a cochlear implant on tinnitus impact: protocol of an individual patient data meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e063432. [PMID: 35715189 PMCID: PMC9208004 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external stimulus, often experienced as a ringing, buzzing sound. While several studies have shown a reduction in tinnitus distress following cochlear implantation, others showed an increase or no change after implantation. At this stage, clinicians have little certainty when counselling their patients prior to implantation regarding tinnitus post-implantation. To help clinicians to counsel cochlear implant (CI) candidates on the risk of developing or improving tinnitus after implantation, we aim to assess the effect of electrical stimulation with a CI on tinnitus impact for individual adult patients with tinnitus. We will also apply prediction models to individual patient data (IPD) of clinical trials to find predictive factors of the effect of electrical stimulation on tinnitus impact. METHOD AND ANALYSIS The IPD meta-analysis is a follow-up project of the systematic review on cochlear implantation in patients with tinnitus as a primary complaint. First, the systematic searches will be updated to date. Methodological quality of eligible studies will be assessed using the Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Intervention tool (ROBINS-I). Based on a data-sharing agreement, authors of the eligible studies will be invited to share their deidentified and complete IPD. The primary outcome is the effect of electrical stimulation with a CI on tinnitus impact 1 month or more post-implantation. IPD meta-analysis will be used to assess the primary outcome, while differentiating the tinnitus impact questionnaires. Second, linear regression analyses will be used to model the effect of electrical stimulation on tinnitus impact based on relevant predictors. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The Medical Research Involving Human Subject Act does not apply, and ethical approval is not required. The study results will be made accessible to the public in a peer-review open access journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022319367, review ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Assouly
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Cochlear Technology Centre Belgium, Mechelen, Belgium
| | - Adriana L Smit
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Inge Stegeman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- UMC Utrecht Brain Center, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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