Science MagazineA device using a paddle to deliver mild shocks to the tongue, alongside sound therapy, can reduce tinnitus for up to 1 year, researchers claim.  

Cathleen O’Grady
7--October-2020

Tinnitus—a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears that affects about 15% of people—is difficult to understand and even harder to treat. Now, scientists have shown shocking the tongue—combined with a carefully designed sound program—can reduce symptoms of the disorder, not just while patients are being treated, but up to 1 year later.

It’s “really important” work, says Christopher Cederroth, a neurobiologist at the University of Nottingham, University Park, who was not involved with the study. The finding, he says, joins other research that has shown “bimodal” stimulation—which uses sound alongside some kind of gentle electrical shock—can help the brain discipline misbehaving neurons.

Hubert Lim, a biomedical engineer at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, hit on the role of the tongue in tinnitus by accident. A few years ago, he experimented with using a technique called deep brain stimulation to restore his patients’ hearing.  

Continue reading @ Science Magazine.

Electric Shocks To The Tongue Can Quiet Chronic Ringing Ears

Science MagazineA device using a paddle to deliver mild shocks to the tongue, alongside sound therapy, can reduce tinnitus for up to 1 year, researchers claim.  

Cathleen O’Grady
7--October-2020

Tinnitus—a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears that affects about 15% of people—is difficult to understand and even harder to treat. Now, scientists have shown shocking the tongue—combined with a carefully designed sound program—can reduce symptoms of the disorder, not just while patients are being treated, but up to 1 year later.

It’s “really important” work, says Christopher Cederroth, a neurobiologist at the University of Nottingham, University Park, who was not involved with the study. The finding, he says, joins other research that has shown “bimodal” stimulation—which uses sound alongside some kind of gentle electrical shock—can help the brain discipline misbehaving neurons.

Hubert Lim, a biomedical engineer at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, hit on the role of the tongue in tinnitus by accident. A few years ago, he experimented with using a technique called deep brain stimulation to restore his patients’ hearing.  

Continue reading @ Science Magazine.

2 comments:

  1. Must look into this as I've recently developed tinnitus which for some reason happens just before sleep. Drives me nuts.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You mean like putting your tongue across both terminals on a 9volt battery?

    ReplyDelete