'Doctored' Music may Ease Tinnitus Pain

Listening to individually designed music may spell the end of pain for tinnitus sufferers, say researchers.

According to the research team from Westphalian Wilhelms University, individually designed music therapy may help reduce the noise levels experienced by people who suffer from tinnitus.

Tinnitus - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnose - Treatment - FAQs
Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, hissing, or other sound within the ears when no corresponding external sound is present.

Tinnitus causes ringing, buzzing, roaring, hissing or whistling.

In the year-long study, participants' favourite music were altered to remove notes which matched the frequency of the ringing in their ears.

The individuals reported a drop in the loudness of their tinnitus.

Hyperacusis - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Hyperacusis is a chronic hearing disorder characterized by hypersensitive and abnormal hearing problem to noises, usually accompanied by tinnitus.

The theory behind the new technique is that removing the spectrum of noise associated with tinnitus from the music reduces activity in the brain relating to that frequency, alleviating the condition.

Lead researcher Dr Christo Pantev, from Westphalian Wilhelms University in Munster, said the approach specifically targeted the part of the brain responsible for tinnitus.

Clinical Factors of Tinnitus Influence Perceived Loudness and Annoyance
Clinical characteristics of tinnitus such as duration, consistency and other factors influence the way individuals perceive loudness and annoyance associated with the condition.

"The notched music approach can be considered as enjoyable, low cost, and presumably causal treatment that is capable of specifically reducing tinnitus loudness," BBC News quoted Pantev as saying.

"It could significantly complement widely-used and rather indirect psychological treatment strategies," Pantev added.

Tinnitus can be Pinpointed in Brain Thanks to New Imaging Technique
It may be possible to pinpoint the area of the brain that is activated when a person suffers from tinnitus, US researchers have revealed.

Dr Ralph Holmes, director of biomedical research at deaf and hard of hearing charity, RNID, said he would look in detail at the findings.

Holmes said: "While we find it encouraging there is new investment in treatment for tinnitus, we know there is no proven 'cure'."

Source-ANI
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