Tinnitus

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. For several of the most popular leading frontmen and musicians from the heavy rock days of “turn it up to eleven”, the question of developing hearing loss was not an if, but a when. Eric Clapton, famous for that proverbial blasting of his guitar tube amp, now cites this as the reason why he’s going deaf. Ozzy Osbourne also performed at such extremely high volumes in Black…

Research reveals that video gamers are at risk of irreversible hearing loss and tinnitus due to frequently exceeding safe sound level thresholds in games. This highlights the need for increased public health efforts and further research to address this issue and promote safe listening practices among gamers.Research indicates that sound levels in video games often approach or surpass safe thresholds. Researchers advocate for increased public health initiatives to heighten awareness of the potential hazards.A systematic…

If you're the one in every ten adults who experiences incessant ringing in your ears, you already know how disruptive tinnitus can be.A new study led by researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear has uncovered evidence of this phantom noise being generated by hyperactive nerves the nervous system can no longer tune out.As widespread as it is, tinnitus has long remained a medical mystery, but now researchers have tracked down evidence that supports a leading theory of the origins of that pesky buzz. A quick explainer for…

Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear have linked tinnitus, a condition affecting over 10% of adults worldwide, to undetectable auditory nerve loss. Their study suggests that even individuals with normal hearing tests can suffer from this hidden hearing loss, paving the way for new treatments focused on nerve regeneration. A groundbreaking study by Mass Eye and Ear associates tinnitus with undetected auditory nerve damage, challenging previous beliefs and opening new paths for treatment through auditory nerve regeneration. A…

A University of Michigan study has found that personalized bi-sensory stimulation, combining individual tinnitus spectrums and electrical stimulation, can significantly reduce tinnitus symptoms, improving quality of life. This method, which will be commercialized by Auricle Inc., offers new hope for effective treatment for millions of tinnitus sufferers.A new innovative treatment device tackles the hissing sound of silence.Tinnitus, the ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound of silence, ranges in severity from being a minor…

Constant buzzing and ringing in the ears without any input from the external environment can seriously impair quality of life for the 10 percent of the U.S. population with severe tinnitus. A combination treatment using sound and electrical stimulation may now give hope to sufferers. One cause of tinnitus is probably overactivity of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) in the brain stem. This is where acoustic signals are processed with other sensory stimuli. So the whistling and ringing in the ears caused by tinnitus is…

A study by the Optics and Photonics Research Center in Brazil has determined low-level laser therapy to be the most effective treatment for tinnitus. Over a four-week trial, researchers found laser acupuncture and transmeatal low-power laser stimulation outperformed other treatments. This study could pave the way for standard treatment protocols using laser therapy.Brazilian researchers compared the therapies used most frequently for tinnitus, which affects some 750 million worldwide.Low-level laser therapy and associated…

A "bi-sensory" treatment combining precisely timed sound and touch has shown impressive results in reducing people's experience of tinnitus, a common and debilitating form of hearing damage that presents as an incessant ringing sound in the ears.That ringing sound can become incredibly penetrating and stressful, particularly in a silent room. It's not a real sound, it's believed to be generated in a brain region called the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). The DCN is one of the first processing stops for audio signals in the…

Anyone who has ever experienced phantom ringing in their ears knows that it is a nuisance to say the least. Those who have tinnitus – hearing continuous ringing, buzzing, humming or even roaring sounds – often experience anxiety and depression as a result.  The condition affects approximately 15% of the global adult population. However, treatment has remained elusive, with those afflicted left to find their own ad hoc mitigation solutions.  Neuromod, a medtech startup from Ireland, is looking…

The ringing, rushing sound of tinnitus is a complex condition. It's caused by a range of factors, so there's no known one-size-fits-all treatment. But researchers are reporting excellent results with a combination treatment in a smartphone app.Some 5% of people experience tinnitus at some point in their lives – I'm one of them. It can develop after repeated exposure to loud noise; that's probably where I picked it up, thanks to a long association with drums, live music and loud motorcycles. But it can also arise thanks to…