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Objective measurement of tinnitus and its remediation
Background
Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound. Objective measures of tinnitus have long been sought to enable assessment of the severity of tinnitus and also the effectiveness of treatment or intervention.
Given the neural basis of tinnitus, previous attempts to objectively measure tinnitus have been made by measuring brain activity, however due to limitations these techniques have not become established. Recent research by Nathan Weisz and his team has used new magnetoencephalographic (MEG) imaging techniques to reveal real-time, three-dimensional imaging of brain activity. Spontaneous and auditory evoked MEG recordings have been shown to offer a real and objective measures of tinnitus in patients.
Detail
In this project, we aim to identify a biological marker of tinnitus.
Using an MEG to objectively measure activity in the auditory cortex of the brains of subjects with severe tinnitus, we will identify abnormal spontaneous activity or disturbances to the sound-evoked activity. This will enable us to investigate the degree and pattern of disturbance to 'normal' electrical activity in the auditory cortex that occurs in the presence of long-standing tinnitus.
Secondly, using the Neuromonics tinnitus treatment program, we will compare the magnitude of the cortical disturbance recorded via the MEG with subjective reports of the impact of tinnitus on one’s life before during and after treatment. This will be important in the investigation of the effectiveness of a tailored tinnitus rehabilitation program to the reorganisation of cortical electrical activity.
Project leadership
![[title]](http://hearingcrc.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/profile_260/content/people/profile-mcmahon.jpg "Dr Catherine McMahon")
Project Team
Sean Randall, Blake Johnston, Graciela Tesan, Harvey Dillon, Melanie Reid, PhD student (to be appointed)
Organisations involved
Publications from this Project
No publications available for this project at this time.