The end of tinnitus?

Researchers are developing combination therapy for tinnitus

05/25/2012

More than a fifth of the adult population suffers from annoying ear noises, so-called tinnitus, according to Dutch researchers. Rilana Cima from the University of Maastricht in the British journal "The Lancet". To relieve those affected of their suffering, the scientists have developed a combination therapy of cognitive behavioral therapy and hearing therapy.

From September 2007 to January 2011, the Dutch researchers tested their novel treatment approach on 245 tinnitus patients. Another 247 patients underwent conventional treatment and served as a control group. Although the ear noises could not be cured even with the combination therapy, however, in the context of the experiments a clear alleviation of the discomfort was achieved, the researchers write in the article "Specialized treatment based on cognitive behavior therapy compared to the usual care of tinnitus"

Relief of tinnitus symptoms by 33 percent
The constant ringing of the ears is a considerable psychological burden for the tinnitus patients, which can also bring about further physical problems. A really efficient treatment was not possible with the conventional methods of conventional medicine. However, the focus of treatment here was mostly on physiological aspects, while the Dutch researchers integrated psychological approaches with their combination therapy. The combination method of psychological treatment and hearing therapy, which has now been tested on 245 adult tinnitus patients, has been a considerable success. After one year, those affected showed an average improvement in their symptoms by 33 percent, while the patients in the control group despite therapy only an improvement of 13 percent achieved, the researchers report. "The treatment seemed to have its effect independent of the initial severity of tinnitus, and we did not observe any adverse events in this study," Dr. Cima.and colleagues continue.

Complaint-free life with the ear noises
Although the researchers at the University of Maastricht did not tackle the constant ringing of the ear, the buzzing, humming, hissing or whistling in their combination therapy, they provided the patients with a way to deal with them. "Although people still hear the sound after the treatment, they describe themselves as cured," explained the study director. Rilana Cima. The researcher used the metaphor of a comfortable shoe that adapts to the extent that it just will not be felt anymore. In a commentary on the current tinnitus study in the journal "The Lancet", the German tinnitus expert Berthold Langguth from the University of Regensburg praised the new approach of the Dutch researchers under the heading "Tinnitus: the end of therapeutic nihilism". The scientists at the University of Maastricht have shown that there are definitely ways to treat tinnitus, said Langguth. For tinnitus patients therefore legitimate hope for a symptom-free life despite the annoying ear noises. (Fp)

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Music therapy in tinnitus relieves symptoms
New tinnitus therapy developed