News and Publications

Tinnitus Today is the American Tinnitus Association's informative magazine for patients, researchers and health care professionals who are ATA members. Published in April, August and December, Tinnitus Today features the latest developments in research and treatments, reports on ATA-funded research projects and more!

ATA offers low cost brochures, books, audio and video tools and other materials to help you learn about and manage your tinnitus. ATA members receive discounts on every order.

Take a look at ATA's press releases and see the progress we're making.

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ATA Featured in Award-Winning Radio Broadcast!

The National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) awarded Reed Pence their 2008 media award for a segment he created for Radio Health Journal, a weekly broadcast aired by over 425 stations in the United States produced by Media Tracks Communication. ATA Associate Executive Director, Jennifer DuPriest, was interviewed for this piece along with Theresa Schulz, Air Force Lt. Col-Retired, an audiologist and a recent past president of the NHCA. Michael Hoffer, M.D., a captain in the Medical Corps at Naval Base San Diego, CA, was also featured in this award-winning segment. Use the player below to listen to the broadcast.

 

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Tinnitus News and Research

Quick jump to: 2009 News and Articles / 2008 News and Articles / 2007 News and Articles

(Note: The links below will take you to web sites not maintained or endorsed by the American Tinnitus Association.)

Tinnitus, An Inherited Condition? 02/15/10

Tinnitus does not appear to be a highly inherited condition (i.e., does not pass frequently from parents to offspring), according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.

Study Casts Doubt on Caffeine Link to Tinnitus 01/12/10

Researchers at the Centre for Hearing and Balance Studies at Bristol University studied 66 volunteers with tinnitus who usually consumed at least 150 mg a day of caffeine in a 30-day placebo-controlled trial.
 

2009 News and Articles

Tailor-made Notched Music May Reduce Tinnitus Loudness 12/28/09

Individually designed, notched music therapy program may help reduce noise levels in people suffering from tinnitus, according to a recent German study.

Coping With Vestibular (Inner-Ear) Trauma 12/28/09

Behavioral scientist Ann Fillmore, Ph.D. details the latest information about vestibular trauma, the life-long debilitating trauma which always accompanies brain injury.

Early Onset Tinnitus Treatment Provides Hope 12/18/09

A research team from the University of Western Australia has raised the possibility of successfully treating tinnitus in its early stages by temporarily dampening down nerve signals in the cochlea.

Gene Linked to Rare Form of Progressive Hearing Loss in Males Identified 12/17/09

A gene associated with a rare form of progressive deafness in males has been identified by an international team of researchers at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The gene, PRPS1, appears to be crucial in inner ear development and maintenance.

ATA Scientific Advisory Member Craig Formby $5.6 Million TRT Military Study 12/16/09

American Tinnitus Association Scientific Advisory Committee Member Dr. Craig Formby has launched a $5.6 million phase-three, randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) involving tinnitus sufferers drawn from the U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force. The study will be conducted in Navy and Air Force flagship hospitals in California, Texas, Maryland and Virginia.

Royal National Institute for Deaf People Develops Facebook Hearing Test  12/14/09

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) has launched an innovative hearing check application on Facebook that measures a person’s ability to hear someone speaking when there’s background noise, similar to being in a crowded room. 

Scientists Create Mouse Equivalent of "Person With Golden Ears" 11/12/09

A new strain of "golden eared" mice that maintain outstanding hearing as they age has been developed by scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Researchers Isolate Role, Functions Of Cochlear Neurons 10/22/09

A Johns Hopkins team says it has, for what is believed to be the first time, managed to measure and record the elusive electrical activity of the type II neurons in the snail-shell-like structure called the cochlea.

Non-invasive Imaging Technique Can Help Diagnose Tinnitus 10/5/09

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) can determine the site of perception of tinnitus in the brain, which could in turn allow physicians to target the area with electrical or chemical therapies to lessen symptoms, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

U.S. Army Designs Next Generation Earplug 9/8/09

The Army has developed a next-generation earplug designed to make it easier for troops to protect their eardrums in the war zone. The new Combat Arms Earplug has a dial and rocker switch to regulates the amount of sound entering the ear canal without removing the earplug.

Zebrafish Being Used for Hair Cell Regeneration 8/4/09

The zebrafish has hair cells on its body that work in a similar way to hair cells in the human inner ear. Researchers hope they can unlock secrets to protect human hair cells from becoming damaged and to stimulate cells to regenerate.

What Do Urban Sounds Do To Your Brain? 7/24/09

Discover magazine explores the various noises of New York City and the associated negative health effects, like stress and hearing damage, from overexposure to loud sounds.

Connection Between Cell Phones, Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Tinnitus 7/23/09

Indian Health Prime Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, spoke about a recent Chandigarh Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) study, the dangers of cell phone use and the possibility of causing hearing damage and tinnitus. "In a research study done in PGI, excessive use of mobile phones was found to cause deficient hearing and tinnitus (ringing in the ears)," Azad said. A large-scale project, with 4,000 participants, is planned to study the findings of the PGI research.

Brain Stimulation: Can Magnetic or Electrical Pulses Help You? 7/15/09

Brain stimulation, also known as neuromodulation, can come in several forms. While no one knows the limits of brain stimulation's therapeutic potential, research on neuromodulation is exploding. U.S. News & World Report discusses targeting misbehaving brain circuitry with therapies like ECT, DBS, and TMS.

How a Jab in the Ear Could Banish Tinnitus for Good 7/7/09

An injection that is administered into the eardrum could help relieve tinnitus.Laboratory research showed that a single dose of a drug that blocks the the brain chemical glutamate cured tinnitus in people with noise-induced hearing loss.

Special Protein Helps Noise-Related Inner Ear Damage 6/24/09

A new research study conducted by scientists from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) provides fresh insight into how noise damages the inner ear and how that damage can be repaired.

Regrowing Hair Cells in the Human Cochlea 6/23/09

Advance for Audiologists magazine provides an overlook of the latest studies from across the globe and details progress being made in human hair cell regeneration.

Deep Brain Stimulation: Expanding Reach to New Patients 6/1/09

Deep brain stimulation was approved in the United States only to treat certain movement disorders like Parkinson's disease. Large clinical trials are in the works for use of deep brain stimulation for epilepsy, depression and tinnitus.

Radiosurgery to Preserve Hearing 5/28/09

Vestibular schwannomas (frequently called acoustic neuromas) arise near nerves that control hearing and movements of the face. Symptoms patients notice include unilateral (one-sided) or asymmetrical hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness/loss of balance. Gamma Knife radiosurgery is being utilized to provide treatment.

Study Looks at Effective Treatments for Meniere's Disease 4/14/09

Research is being conducted to find effective treatments for Meniere's disease. Studies look at managing your symptoms during an attack, or reducing or preventing further attacks.

Tinnitus Research Gaining Attention 3/17/09

There is no cure for tinnitus but the research community is working tirelessly to find one. Based on a 2007 survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that some 23 million people in the country hear something when there is no external sound present.

Tinnitus Forum Takes to the Blogosphere 2/8/09

Deafness Research UK has set up its first blog to celebrate National Tinnitus Week (February 9-15) and to reach out to tinnitus sufferers across the globe.

New Research Towards Hearing Loss Pill 1/23/09

Researchers have manipulated a protein found on sensory hair cells in mouse ears and found that the mutant mice were better able to withstand loud noises. Researcher Paul Fuchs, author of the study published in PLoS Biology, describes how the finding could one day help human ears.

Hearing Aids as a Tinnitus Treatment 1/09

A survey of 230 hearing care professionals suggests that six out of 10 patients (60%) experience minor to major relief of tinnitus when wearing hearing aids, and a total of one in five (22%) receive major relief. Less than 2% of patients experience a worsening of their tinnitus when wearing hearing aids, while 39% receive no benefit. 

Surgeons Attempt To Restore Hearing To Patient With Rare Tumor 1/8/09

Physicians at the University of Illinois Medical Center performed a rare surgery in December to restore hearing to a deaf patient diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)- a rare genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerves in the brain or spinal cord, but most commonly on the auditory nerve.

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2008 News and Articles

MRIs May Damage Cochlear Implants 12/29/08

Researchers at the Medical University of Hannover, Germany tested the effects of MRI machines on cochlear implants. Certain MRI machines may demagnetize the magnets used in cochlear implants to couple external and implanted components. MRIs exert strong magnetic fields that may induce voltages or temperatures that could damage the implant or harm the patient. 

Tinnitus Treatment and the Effectiveness of Hearing Aids
(December 2008 Hearing Review)

Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D., and Richard Tyler, Ph.D., report on the effectiveness of hearing aids on patients with tinnitus. Utilizing a survey of 230 hearing health care professionals, the study states that 60% of patients are reported to receive some benefit  from hearing aids.

Study: Titanium Golf Clubs May Harm Hearing 12/17/08

New titanium golf clubs may make the ball travel farther, but they may also damaging one's hearing. Research published in the British Medical Journal, pitted six brands of titanium clubs against thicker-faced and older stainless steel models, found that the former produced greater sound levels.

Low-frequency Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Study 12/14/08

A study conducted at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has shown potential to markedly improve tinnitus. TMS has previously shown short-term effectiveness in European studies. The UAMS team was the first to introduce TMS as a maintenance therapy in which patients receive an initial course of treatment and follow-ups as symptoms persist.

Psychological Treatment and Neurostimulation Offer Hope 11/24/08

A study involving 265 tinnitus patients conducted by Hilke Bartels, Ph.D., of the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands, looked into whether psychological treatment and neurostimulation would have a positive effect of reducing tinnitus symptoms. 94 of the 265 patients were identified as having a ‘type D personality’.

2008 Noisy Toys List Released 11/17/08

The Sight & Hearing Association released its annual noisy toys list. 14 of the 18 toys tested pose hearing risk in 15 minutes. All toys tested by the nonprofit organization and researchers at the University of Minnesota reached an unsafe 90 dB.

Personality and Perception of Tinnitus 10/6/08

Researchers at the Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, are studying the role of personality in the perception of tinnitus in the general population. They utilized the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire to measure the level of tinnitus-related distress in 970 individuals, with the goal of tailoring specific tinnitus treatment therapies to sufferers with varying levels of awareness.

New October Initiatives 10/2/08

"Hearing loss affects more than 36 million Americans, and while hearing problems are often associated with the normal aging process, more than half of all hearing-impaired people are younger than 65. With the increased use of personal music players (MP3 players) and ear buds, the number of Americans experiencing hearing loss at a younger age is growing, and hearing loss ranks as the third most common US health problem."
American Academy of Audiology Raises Profile of Hearing Loss," an article printed in Hearing Review, 30 Oct. 2008. At ATA, we know that a large percentage of people with hearing loss also suffer with tinnitus. 

Hearing Aids Can Really Help 7/14/08

Hearing aids can play an important role in controlling tinnitus. To determine if hearing aids were helpful, a British study looked back at 1,440 patient records covering a 25-year span. They found that, for patients with hearing loss, 67-69% experienced an improvement in their tinnitus when they used hearing aids.

It May Not Matter How You Got It 7/14/08

Researchers at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine recently learned that different kinds of damage to the inner ear, such as noise, disease or neck injury, all cause similar changes in the central auditory system. These changes lead to tinnitus. This discovery is good news for tinnitus sufferers. These findings may mean that if a treatment targets the uniform brain changes that all tinnitus sufferers experience, a single treatment may help people who have tinnitus from different origins.

Hearing Too Much? TRT Might Help 7/14/08

Many people with tinnitus also suffer from hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is a decreased tolerance to sound that makes everyday noises - such as dishes clinking or hands clapping - seem unbearably loud. So who would think that introducing more sound to the ear would help successfully treat the problem? Counterintuitive though it may seem, that appears to be the case. Dr. Charles Formby and his team at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa recently released a study demonstrating that Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), which uses in-the-ear noise generators along with counseling, helped over 80% of patients better tolerate sound.

One Method of Caring for Tinnitus Patients: Progressive Audiologic Tinnitus Management 6/17/08

“Audiologists are arguably the most qualified of all health care professionals to offer clinical services for tinnitus. Yet many audiologists lack a high level of training in appropriate interventions, leaving them wondering how to most effectively treat ‘tinnitus patients,’” writes James A. Henry, Ph.D., a research career scientist with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) in Portland, Ore. In this article, Dr. Henry and his team outline a treatment protocol for tinnitus patients that minimizes the condition’s impact on the patient, while maximizing your clinical time and cost.

Music – The Culprit Behind Many People's Tinnitus 6/2/08

The National, on June 2, 2008, featured Dr. Richard Salvi in an article about the dangers of developing tinnitus through exposure to loud music. The article quotes him on the current research that has brought us all hope of a cure. Dr. Salvi closes the article by echoing ATA’s mission to fund cutting-edge tinnitus research that will help restore silence to hundreds of millions across the globe.

Zebrafish Offer Clues to Silencing Tinnitus 5/14/08

This article, which recently appeared in The Washington Post, mentions The American Tinntius Association. The piece discusses the ongoing studies of tinnitus researcher, Ernest Moore, at Northwestern University in Illinois, who has been investigating the inner ears of zebrafish. According to Moore, zebrafish have shown the ability to both suffer from tinnitus as well as obtain relief from certain types of drugs. The article also quotes Dr. Anthony Cacace, of Wayne State University, who is the chair of ATA’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

Hearing Loss Association of America's 2008 Walk4Hearing 5/2/08

The goals of the walk include: have hearing loss recognized as a health issue; minimize the stigma associated with cochlear implants, assistive technology and wearing hearing aids; raise funds to expand services and programs for people with hearing loss and their families; and empower the HLAA state organizations and chapters to do more local outreach. The walk will be in 17 cities nationwide with an anticipated 4,000 walkers. People can walk themselves or sponsor a walker. Top sponsors of Walk4Hearing 2008 include Aetna, Advanced Bionics Corporation, T-Mobile, Phonak and Sorenson IP Relay. For a complete update of walk sites and dates go to HLAA's Web site.

Potential Treatment for Noise-Induced Tinnitus 4/22/08

Exposure to loud sound is the most common cause of tinnitus. Researchers in Israel found that applying the drug "ifenprodil" directly to the cochlea, when applied within four days of damaging sound exposure, made noise-induced tinnitus go away. In addition to potential treatment options, this discovery suggests that tinnitus causes changes in the brain that become more permanent over time. Read the research summary or read the complete article.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Helpful Day or Night 4/22/08

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) uses counseling, education and sound therapy to help a person reduce or end their tinnitus perception. TRT often involves using sound generators for up to eight hours a day. Researchers in Italy recently reported reduced tinnitus symptoms in 68 percent of their patients. Furthermore, researchers in France discovered that using sound generators at night is at least as effective as using them during the day. Advantages to nighttime use may include rapidly improved sleep quality and decreased use of sleep medications.

25 Years of Proof: Hearing Aids Can Help Tinnitus 4/22/08

A study that ran from 1980-2004 found that, of 1,440 patients with hearing loss and tinnitus, almost 70 percent reported improvement in their tinnitus perception after receiving hearing aids. This held true whether the patient had hearing loss on just one or on both sides.

Tinnitus Featured on Good Morning America 4/7/08

On Monday April 7, 2008, Good Morning America featured a segment on tinnitus and new sound therapies to help treat this devastating condition. Also included in the story was Richard Salvi, Ph.D., Director for The Center for Hearing and Deafness at State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Salvi is the former chair of ATA’s Scientific Advisory Committee. Read more here and/or view the segment on the ABC Web site (click on the top video). (Read more about tinnitus and who is at risk in ATA's How Loud is Too Loud section.)

New York Times Highlights Tinnitus Research 4/1/08

This article, which appears in the April 1, 2008 edition of The New York Times, highlights the advances made in tinnitus research over the past five years and why researchers are so optimistic about finding a cure for this harrowing condition. Featured in the article are Drs. Thomas Brozoski, Anthony Cacace, Jennifer Melcher and Richard Salvi.

Marine Corps Times 03/08

In an article recently published in The Marine Corps Times, former ATA CEO David Fagerlie, speaks to a significant health problem within military personnel. Tinnitus is currently the number one service-connected disability in combat personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The article also highlights the changing perceptions of active duty military personnel and military leaders as they become increasingly concerned about their long-term hearing health. As a result of this shift in thinking, the military is testing new devices for use in combat situations that both allow for audibility and protect the ear.

U.S. Troops Returning With More Hearing Damage 3/7/08

The Associated Press broke a story on March 7, 2008 about the vast numbers of military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with tinnitus and other hearing damage. The article featured The American Tinnitus Association as an expert resource for analytical data pertaining to the growing number of military personnel afflicted with this harrowing condition. Over 200 major news Web sites including MSNBC, Yahoo News and CBS featured the AP story.

Answered at Last: Why Your Teenager Never Seems to Hear You 3/4/08

Consider these facts recently released by researchers at West Virginia University.
Of 238 college students:

• 75 percent knew that loud sounds could cause hearing loss.
• 50 percent exposed themselves to loud music anyway.
• 66 percent had experienced tinnitus.
• Of those that had experienced tinnitus, 58 percent weren’t concerned about it.

Recent research reveals a critical need in higher education for comprehensive healthy hearing awareness and instruction. Then maybe your teenager will hear you when you call their name. Read about these findings here.

NIDCD Initiates Doctor Research Training Program 3/4/08

Though medical research is valuable in its own right, its ultimate purpose is to improve disease treatment and management. The National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) recently announced an award program that will pair otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors) with research scientists so that doctors can learn how to do research. This means that scientific discoveries will move more quickly from the research lab to the doctor’s office – where they can benefit you.

Sound Therapies Overview 3/4/08

The Wall Street Journal, in its March 4, 2008 edition, referenced ATA in an article focusing on sound therapies, including “Neruromonics” and “Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.” Featured in the article are Dr. Craig Newman of the Cleveland Clinic, who currently serves on ATA’s Scientific Advisory Committee; Dr. Craig Kasper of the The New York Otolaryngology Group, who is part of ATA’s New York City Fund Raising Council; and Dr. Pawel Jastreboff, a past ATA grant recipient, of the Emory University Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Clinic.

Stress Increases Tinnitus In Loud Environments 2/8/08

Tinnitus sufferers have long reported that their tinnitus sound increases in loud environments. For the first time, researchers are figuring out why. A recent study determined that levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, rose after sound exposure. The study found that although overall cortisol levels were lower in tinnitus patients than in non-tinnitus subjects, the amount of subjective stress they reported was significantly higher. Unsurprisingly, their tinnitus went up as well. 

Malady of the 21st Century 02/08

An article in The News-Gazette, a Southern Illinois newspaper, featured ATA as the go-to resource for information on tinnitus. It also highlights current, ongoing research at Southern Illinois University and discusses the scope of the tinnitus problem in the United States.

More Research Funding for Tinnitus 2/08

The February 2008 issue of ADVANCE for Audiologists included an article by Jennifer DuPriest, ATA Director of Public Affairs. The article highlights the recent success celebrated by ATA – advocacy efforts that helped  increase research funding available for tinnitus investigation in the 2008 Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The article also stressed why these research dollars are important to health professionals who treat tinnitus patients.

NIH-Funded Research Goes Open Access 1/2/08

For the first time, research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - which is to say, research funded by American taxpayers - will be made accessible for free via the internet within one year of publication. Previously, research findings were available only through pricey professional journals, a problem for scientists on tight budgets. "Improved access will enable universities to maximize their own investment in research," notes David Shulenburger, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, "and [will] widen the potential for discovery as the results are more readily available for others to build upon." The NIH will publish research on The National Library of Medicine database, www.pubmed.gov. Read more here and here.

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2007 News and Articles

The Cutting Edge of Tinnitus Research 12/11/07

Tinnitus research took a huge leap forward when researchers discovered that most tinnitus originates in the brain, rather than the ear. Now, researchers are going straight into the brain by using surgery to try to solve this problematic condition. Researchers in Wisconsin implanted electrical stimulators directly on the auditory cortex, the area of the brain which is responsible for processing auditory signals, of eight tinnitus patients. After about twelve weeks, two had consistently quieter tinnitus, and six experienced short periods of total tinnitus suppression. Learn more about surgery to treat tinnitus or read this research abstract.

Going Backward to Move Forward: Reversing Cell Development 11/29/07

What if you could reverse time? In an incredible scientific breakthrough, scientists have transformed mature human cells back into an embryonic-like state, sending the arrow of time, in the words of researcher James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin, “completely backward.” As with  traditional stem cells, the hope is that these cells could someday be converted to other tissues and be used to treat a variety of conditions. For instance, conversion from stem cells to inner ear hair cells could benefit patients with hearing loss and tinnitus.

Learn more, read a scientific abstract or find a full article as a PDF.

More Veterans Experiencing Tinnitus With Service in Iraq and Afghanistan 11/12/07

The New York Daily News reports that nearly one-third of veterans are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with tinnitus. Tinnitus and hearing loss are the third most common disability among all veterans,  and as a result, efforts to cure, treat and prevent tinnitus in the veteran population have begun to gain proper attention.

Scientist Discovers Second Job for the Inner Ear's Supporting Cells 11/1/07

Scientists have long thought that supporting cells in the inner ear merely prop up the hearing cells, but are unrelated to hearing. Now, Dr. Dwight Bergles at Johns Hopkins University has made a new connection between these cells and hearing – a connection that may help explain tinnitus. He found that before birth, supporting cells in the inner  ear release a chemical called ATP. This chemical helps the fetal brain develop the nerve connections necessary for hearing by acting as a substitute for sound. After birth, release of ATP stops as hearing develops. However, an unexpected ATP release following, for example, exposure to loud noise can possibly trigger the tinnitus sound.
Learn more here and here.

Daily Exposure to Loud Live Music Can Damage Hearing 10/18/07

A study conducted at a high school music camp in 2005 found students' sound exposure exceeded the guidelines of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) by as much as 400 percent. NIOSH sets 85 decibels over eight hours as a maximum daily sound dose. A study of the marching band at Duke University in 2003 reached similar conclusions.

SAC Chair Wins $2.9 Tinnitus Grant From NIH 10/5/07

Dr. Richard Salvi, Director of the Center for Hearing and Deafness at State University of New York, Buffalo, was recently awarded $2.9 million for tinnitus research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Dr. Salvi will attempt to identify which neural activity in the brain corresponds to tinnitus onset, and how pharmaceuticals may help to suppress tinnitus.  Learn more about Dr. Salvi's research.  SAC member Dr. Jay Piccirillo at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. was also awarded a multi-million dollar NIH grant to study repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a potential tinnitus treatment.  We offer our hearty congratulations to them both!

Op-Ed on Community Noise 10/5/07

Written by an anthropology student, this article, while focusing primarily on the fact that loud music played by one person impacts many others around them, makes a good point about tinnitus at the end.

New Study on Cell Phones and Hearing Loss 9/24/07

According to new research presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation’s Annual Meeting, long term cell phone use can lead to high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Sound of Silence 9/14/07

In the October 2007 issue of Men’s Journal , Dr. Craig Kasper, member of ATA’s NYC Fundraising Council, and Dr. Billy Martin of Oregon Health Sciences University talk about ways you can manage your tinnitus and prevent futher damage. ATA is the expert source on the incidence and dangers of developing tinnitus.

ATA Featured as a Top Resource for Audiologists 9/14/07

A recent press release issued by ATA, was highlighted by ADVANCE for Audiologists. It is currently featured in their Tinnitus Resource Center as part of some of the latest in industry news.

Talking about Tinnitus 9/14/07

On August 29th, Dr. Billy Martin of Oregon Health Sciences University was featured on an hour long program called Health Talk. He discusses tinnitus as a chronic illness and ways of managing tinnitus.

A Major Breakthrough in Hair Cell Research 8/15/07

In a breakthrough that will accelerate the pace of hearing loss, tinnitus and balance research, scientists have discovered a way to reproduce inner ear hair cells (the nerves that transmit sound to the brain) in the laboratory. Hair cell death is the catalyst, researchers believe, for the brain changes that generate tinnitus. If they  can find a way to cause human hair cells to regenerate (which they do naturally in birds and other vertebrates), they may be able to restore hearing and silence tinnitus.  Previously, scientists have had to do painstaking animal-ear dissections in order to obtain hair cells for study. By cutting out this time consuming and difficult process, this new technique allows them to greatly expand the scope and speed of their research.

Hope For A Cure 7/07

Former ATA CEO David Fagerlie and ATA’s mission to cure tinnitus are featured in this Seattle Times article about one man’s longtime struggle with tinnitus and new treatments that help tinnitus patients manage their condition..

Veterans and Tinnitus 7/07

An alarmingly high number of veterans from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come home only to wage a personal battle against tinnitus. Read about one Iraq vet’s struggle to cope with tinnitus; how military officials are responding to this crisis; and what tinnitus experts have to say about this growing problem. This Buffalo News article quotes Jennifer DuPriest, ATA's Director of Public Advocacy, and accomplished researcher Dr. Richard Salvi of the State University of New York at Buffalo, a member of ATA’s board of directors and Scientific Advisory Committee.

Dramatic Advances in Tinnitus Research 7/07

Doctors and researchers are able to “see” areas of the brain that may be related to tinnitus, thanks to sophisticated imaging techniques. Newsday has the scoop in this article that explains tinnitus, describes one tinnitus patient’s experience and quotes tinnitus researcher Dr. Richard Salvi of the University of Buffalo, a former member of ATA’s board of directors and Scientific Advisory Committee.

Hearing Loss High Among Musicians 6/07

Musicians suffer a higher incidence of hearing loss than people who are not exposed to noise, a new study confirms. The study says that musicians' hearing thresholds are worse across almost the entire range of human hearing and that hearing protection devices are effective in reducing the risks to hearing health.

ATA, Noise Risks Featured in Deployment Guide 4/07

ATA is the go-to source in this article from the AmeriForce Deployment Guide, delivered to all service members deployed overseas. The article focuses on extreme noise dangers military members face on a battlefield's frontlines. Read the article here, courtesy of AmeriForce Publishing, Inc.

Gabapentin Ineffective for Tinnitus Relief 4/19/07

The medication Gabapentin is no more effective than a placebo in alleviating tinnitus, reports researcher and ATA Scientific Advisory Committee member Dr. Jay Piccirillo, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Read more.

Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment – Patients Report Improvement 4/07

Patients reported rapid and profound improvement in the severity of their tinnitus in an Australian clinical trial testing this music-based treatment. Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment combines acoustic stimulation with a structured program of counseling by a clinician trained in tinnitus rehabilitation. Read more.

Diminished Quality of Life in Seniors with Tinnitus 3/07

For a large cohort of older adults, there is a clear association between tinnitus and reduced quality of life, according to this recent study. Researchers based the study in part on the premise that, in its more severe forms, tinnitus can be accompanied by depression, anxiety, insomnia, headaches and concentration problems, all of which can diminish quality of life. Read more.

Psychological Disturbances – Ménière's Disease, Vertigo, Tinnitus and Hearing Loss 3/07

Patients with Ménière's disease and those who have significant, similar symptoms – vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss – often experience psychological disturbances. This study investigates the relationship between Ménière's disease and personality traits, illness behavior, depression and anxiety. Read more.

Tinnitus Patients Report Relief After Receiving Cochlear Implants 2/07

Read about this Italian study involving 20 adult patients, evaluating the effect of cochlear implants on the evolution of tinnitus. Read more.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Help Tinnitus Sufferers 1/07

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can have a significant, positive effect on the way people cope with their tinnitus. Here's a summary from Cochrane Collaboration,  an international organization that evaluates health-related research. Read more. 

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