Is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Therapy the Answer for Tinnitus: A Prospective Study.

The study was aimed at determining the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in treatment of tinnitus using Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and Visual analogue scale (VAS). 60 patients with bilateral, non-pulsatile, chronic subjective tinnitus; aged 18-65 years were subjected to 8 sessions (2 sessions/week) of TENS therapy given over a total period of 4 weeks. Pre-treatment and Post-treatment VAS, THI scores were compiled and analyzed statistically. A significant decrease in Tinnitus severity was seen after TENS Therapy (VAS: Loudness, Annoyance, Duration, Hampering of daily activities) (P value < 0.001). Moreover THI (Functional, Emotional & catastrophic) showed significant improvement (P value < 0.001). TENS is safe, effective, noninvasive therapeutic option for treatment of tinnitus.

Translation and Validation of Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire in Tamil.

Tinnitus is a subjective acoustic perception in the absence of any external source. Symptoms associated with tinnitus are insomnia, lack of concentration, depression, anxiety and elevated levels of stress. There were many questionnaires to evaluate the severity of tinnitus, one such questionnaire is the Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire (TSCHQ). TSCHQ focuses on the tinnitus history and descriptive characteristics of tinnitus. As far as we know there have been no translation of TSCHQ in any Indian languages. This study aimed to translate TSCHQ into a Tamil version and validate it for use in clinics for the Tamil population. Rather than a direct translation, cross-cultural adaptation has been carried out. The steps involved in this process were forward translation, Synthesizing common translation, Backward translation, Expert committee review and pre-testing of the final version. Incorporating these procedures, the translated and validated TSCHQ questionnaire was made in Tamil. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-04941-z.

Pulsatile Tinnitus Due to a Large Mastoid Emissary Vein: Successfully Managed with Percutaneous Embolization in a Novel Approach.

Tinnitus refers to the perception of sound without any external stimuli which can be pulsatile or non-pulsatile. Dilated mastoid emissary vein (MEV) can cause pulsatile tinnitus. Herein, we report a case of persistent pulsatile tinnitus with dilated MEV managed successfully with percutaneous coiling of MEV in a 36 years male.

A Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Ginkgo Biloba and Caroverine in the Management of Idiopathic Tinnitus.

Aim: The sound sensation that is experienced in the ears or brain and is unrelated to any external sources of stimulus is known as tinnitus. Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is used to establish the presence of the condition and determine symptom severity, its impact on the patient's quality of life, thus in this study, we aim to compare the efficacy of caroverine and Ginkgo Biloba in the management of idiopathic tinnitus using TFI. Methods: This clinical study was conducted in at a tertiary care hospital in North India, for a duration of one year, among patients with chronic tinnitus. The sample size for this study consisted of 60 patients in each of three groups (caroverine, gingko biloba, and multivitamin). Assessments of TFI and pure-tone audiometry were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the two medications. The information pertaining to the subjects was kept anonymous and confidential. During data analysis, an association was significant for p value < 0.05. Results: The patients in three groups were matched for the age, gender and duration of tinnitus. At 6 months of medication with Ginkgo Biloba, patients experienced a significant (p < 0.0001) decrease of 50.0% in tinnitus of moderate severity, and a complete resolution of severe tinnitus symptoms with a percentage change of -100.0%. Conclusion: In our study, Ginkgo Biloba Group has significantly improved the severity of idiopathic tinnitus. Tinnitus has diverse underlying mechanisms, can be a symptom of various underlying diseases, and is challenging to measure. Further research is warranted to validate and explore these treatment options further.

Single-Sided Deafness at a Tertiary Care Rehabilitation Centre: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study.

Aim: To estimate the Single-sided deafness (SSD) among sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in Tertiary Care Rehabilitation Centre. To determine the audiological characteristics, associated and medical problems, and rehabilitative approaches among SSD. Method: A retrospective study was conducted to report on demographic details, audiological evaluation, and hearing aid management among SSD clients. A total of 11,534 cases of SNHL were reported to the Audiology department at the tertiary care rehabilitative center at Mysuru between January 2014 and December 2017. Results: A total of 225 were diagnosed as having SSD, accounting for approximately two cases of SSD in a cohort of 100 SNHL cases (225/11,534*100). In addition, males are affected more than females. SSD is found to have more in the right ear than the left ear. Their major complaints were tinnitus and vertigo, apart from reduced hearing sensitivity from the affected ear. In the side of the ear with profound hearing loss among SSD clients showed normal middle ear status with absent acoustic reflexes, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response. Only 54 individuals (24%) out of 225 SSD clients underwent a hearing aid trial. Twenty-one (9%) SSD clients purchased a hearing aid, and a minuscule seven (3%) of 225 SSD clients are using a hearing aid. The preference for hearing aid uptake was low because of the experience of vibratory sensation and having near-normal hearing in one ear. Conclusion: Two cases of SSD were observed among SNHL and they are less likely to get benefits from the hearing aid.

Tinnitus prevalence and associated risk factors among university students: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Tinnitus is a common medical condition that affects an individual's quality of life. It affects 5%-43% of the global population. Only a few research studies have been conducted in Palestine, so knowledge of tinnitus prevalence and risk factors is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine tinnitus prevalence and risk factors among young university students in Palestine. Methods: A cross-sectional study of Palestinian university students was done utilizing an online self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire for the study was developed using the European School for Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research-Screening Questionnaire. A logistic regression analysis of the associations between tinnitus and influencing factors was performed to determine the effects of various clinically relevant variables on the likelihood of experiencing tinnitus. Results: A total of 728 participants responded to the questionnaire aged 20.0 ± 2.0. The overall prevalence of tinnitus was 31%. Having a relative with tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux, depression and anxiety, hearing difficulties, vertigo, tympanic membrane perforation, chronic otitis, acoustic trauma, head and neck radiotherapy, dental surgery, ear surgery, ear pain, headache, neck pain, temporomandibular joint pain, balance disorders, and nasal septal deviation were significantly associated with tinnitus. The logistic regression analysis showed that suffering from frequent vertigo (at least once per year), from slight hearing difficulty, temporomandibular joint pain, performing ear surgery, and having depression and anxiety is associated with an increased risk of having tinnitus. Conclusions: The current study concluded that tinnitus is common among Palestinian university students. Furthermore, the study identified several major risk factors for tinnitus. It is critical to explore the possibly modifiable risk factors for tinnitus in order to have a better understanding of the condition and eventually minimize its prevalence.

Visual Snow Syndrome Prevalence Among Young Adults in the Russian Federation: a Research Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a poorly understood neurological condition of unclear etiology, characterized by visual and non-visual symptoms that reduce quality of life. The objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of young adults with visual snow in Russia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an online survey among 1,177 respondents over the age of 18 residing in Russia. The questionnaire was based on MIDAS, HIT-6, ICHD-3, GAD-7, CES-D. RESULTS: A total of 1085 individuals, divided into three groups: 48 participants with Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS), 36 participants with visual snow symptoms (VS), and 1001 participants without visual snow (control group). Tinnitus (p<0.001) and paresthesia (p<0.001) were more common in participants with VSS compared to the control group. VSS group also reported mood disorders more frequently than those in the other groups (29.2% VSS, 13.9% VS, 7.0% control, p<0.001). Additionally, VSS group exhibited more elevated anxiety levels on the GAD-7 scale compared to the other groups (p=0.005), suggesting a weak association between anxiety and VSS. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosed migraine, tinnitus, concentration problems, paresthesia, and verified psychiatric conditions were significantly more prevalent in the VSS group in our study. Tinnitus was significantly more frequent in the VS group. Diagnosed conditions across all ICD-10 classes were more frequently identified in the VSS group, with the strongest associations (moderate) found with ICD-10 codes: F80-F89 and F60-F69. Additionally ICD-10 codes F30-F39 were more frequently found in the VS group compared to the control group. Our study revealed that nearly all individuals with VSS in our sample (89.6%) had experienced symptoms for as long as they can remember. The prevalence of VS symptoms in Russia is 7.7% (6.2-9.3%) and VSS is 4.4% (3.2-5.7%).

Cochlear implant usage in single sided deafness and factors affecting usage.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to examine duration of daily cochlear implant (CI) usage at 12 and 24 months post-operatively in single sided deafness (SSD). The secondary objective was to examine factors that could affect CI usage. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of patients with SSD who received CI from January 2015 to March 2020. CI usage was evaluated at 12 and 24 months. Hearing loss duration, tinnitus scores and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were correlated with CI usage at 12 months. RESULTS: Usage data was available for 54 patients at 12 months and 38 patients at 24 months. The mean usage was 8.2 h/day (SD 4.2) at 12 months, 7.0 h/day (SD 5.1) at 24 months. 5 out of 54 (9.3%) and 7 out of 38 patients (18.4%) were non-users at 12 and 24 months post-operatively. An improved mean SNR score from pre-operative 4.4 dB (SD 2.8) to - 0.70 dB (SD 4.2) at 12 months post-operative was positively correlated with CI usage at 12 and 24 months. Hearing loss duration and tinnitus scores were not associated with CI usage. CONCLUSIONS: 18.4% of our patients were non-users at 24 months. Mean usage at 24 months was 7.0 h/day. Improved hearing in noise at 12 months was correlated with better usage.

Gray matter volumetric changes in tinnitus: The impact of hearing loss and severity.

Tinnitus is a phantom auditory sensation that commonly co-occurs with hearing loss. Both tinnitus and hearing loss can impact the quality of life, emotional well-being, and cognitive functioning of the affected individuals. While previous studies have highlighted structural alterations in hearing loss and/or tinnitus, the fundamental neural mechanisms underpinning tinnitus severity remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a voxel-based morphometry to investigate gray matter (GM) volume differences among groups of participants with varying tinnitus severity and hearing status, and controls within a large sample. We observed reduced GM volume in the left anterior insula and right planum polare in participants with hearing loss, regardless of their tinnitus status, compared to normal hearing controls. We noted decreased GM volume in the bilateral anterior and posterior insula for those with tinnitus and normal hearing compared to a normal hearing control group. Further, the tinnitus with hearing loss group showed decreased GM volume in the left planum polare, left inferior temporal gyrus, bilateral anterior temporal gyri, and right superior frontal gyrus compared to the normal hearing control group, suggesting a combined effect of hearing loss and tinnitus. While tinnitus severity did not show a significant overall effect, there was a significant positive correlation between tinnitus distress and GM volume in bilateral planum polare. Our findings enhance the understanding of structural brain changes related to hearing loss and tinnitus, and advance the overall knowledge of tinnitus pathophysiology, which can contribute to the development of more effective treatments for tinnitus.

Can Residual Inhibition Predict the Success of Sound Enrichment Treatment for Tinnitus?

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate whether residual inhibition (RI), which provides information on the relationship between tinnitus and increased spontaneous activity in the auditory system, is a predictor for the success of sound enrichment treatment. DESIGN: Tinnitus patients were divided into two groups based on whether RI was achieved (RI+) or not (RI-). All participants underwent sound enrichment. Psychosomatic measures (for tinnitus severity, discomfort, attention deficit and sleep difficulties), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), minimum masking level (MML), and tinnitus loudness level (TLL) results were compared before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. STUDY SAMPLE: Sixty-seven chronic tinnitus patients were divided into two groups based on whether RI was achieved (RI+) or not (RI-). There were 38 patients in the RI+ group and 29 in the RI- group. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in psychosomatic measures, THI, MML and TLL scores at the post-treatment 6 months after treatment (p <.05). There was a statistically significant decrease in psychosomatic measures, THI, MML and TLL scores during the treatment period in the RI+ group, but not in the RI- group. CONCLUSION: RI may predict the prognosis of tinnitus treatments used in clinics to reduce the spontaneous firing rate of neurons in the central auditory system, and that RI positivity may be a predictor of treatment success in sound enrichment.

[Professor YANG Jun's experience in treatment of neuropathic tinnitus with acupuncture and moxibustion based on disease elements].

Based on Chinese medicine classics, combined with clinical experience and modern research findings, Professor YANG Jun deepens the analysis on the etiology and pathogenesis of neuropathic tinnitus, and has summarized the TCM elements of this disease, including "qi and blood stagnation" and "shen (spirit) hidden and orifices closed". The multiple therapies are used in combination, such as acupuncture, electroacupuncture, warm needling, borneol-moxibustion and herbal medication. The different acupoints are combined according to individuals, especially the application of Tinggong (SI 19) and Yamen (GV 15). The comprehensive treatment overlaps the dose effects, co-acts on activating blood circulation in meridians, calming-down the spirit and opening the orifices so that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion can be improved on this disease.

Exploring the effects of naringenin on cell functioning and energy synthesis in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats with chronic tinnitus, by examining genetic indicators such as Bax, Bcl-2, Tfam, and Pgc-1α.

BACKGROUND: The pivotal factors, including neural plasticity, oxidative stress, neuronal inflammation, and apoptosis, play a significant role in the pathogenesis of tinnitus. The balance between Bax/Bcl-2 genes is an important factor in determining the rate of apoptosis. Pgc-1α and Tfam genes are fundamental regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis. Naringenin possesses significant antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antiviral properties, and its compounds are effective on cell signaling pathways. AIMS: In light of the aforementioned information, we endeavored to evaluate the impact of naringenin on the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Pgc-1α, and Tfam genes in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats with chronic tinnitus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To demonstrate the existence of tinnitus, all rats were instructed to complete an "active avoidance test" utilizing a conditioning box. The expression levels of genes mentioned above were assessed using real-time PCR. RESULTS: The sodium salicylate at a dosage of 350 mg/kg showed an upregulation in the expression level of Bax and a downregulation in the expression level of the Bcl-2 gene (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the sodium salicylate displayed significantly higher expression levels of Tfam and Pgc-1α (p < 0.001) genes. The naringenin, at a dose of 100 mg/kg, led to a decrease in Bax gene expression (p < 0.05) and an increase in Bcl-2 gene expression (p < 0.05). On the other hand, naringenin restored the expression level of both Tfam (p < 0.001) and Pgc-1α (p < 0.01) genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our research findings demonstrate that sodium salicylate-induced tinnitus leads to enhanced apoptosis and mitochondrial biogenesis within the hippocampus. Additionally, our evidence recommends that naringenin can reduce apoptosis effectively and maintain a balanced mitochondrial state.

Involvement of BK Channels and Ryanodine Receptors in Salicylate-induced Tinnitus.

Neural hyperexcitability of the central auditory system is a key pathological characteristic of tinnitus, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. The large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel (BK) plays a crucial role in down- or upregulating neuronal activity. This study aims to investigate the role of BK channels in mediating tinnitus-associated neural hyperexcitability and elucidate the mechanisms behind it. Immunofluorescent staining revealed extensive expression of the BK channels on neurons within the central auditory system of rats. After long-term systemic administration of salicylate, a stable tinnitus inducer, we observed a significant change in the expression levels of BKα and ß4 subunits in the rat central auditory system. In addition, salicylate was found to enhance the outward potassium currents mediated by the BK channel when exogenously expressed in HEK293 cells. Interestingly, this effect could be blocked by ryanodine, a potent inhibitor of ryanodine receptors (RyRs). Molecular docking identified Gln4020 within the central domain of RyR as a key residue in RyR-salicylate interactions. The results indicated that salicylate might directly activate RyRs leading to Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum, and increased BK currents subsequently. Systemic treatment with paxilline, a potent blocker of BK channel, selectively reversed the increased P4/P1 amplitude ratios in the frequency region of tinnitus perception induced by single-dose salicylate administration. These results suggest that BK channels and ryanodine receptors may play a selective role in salicylate-induced tinnitus.

The use of balloon guide catheters during venous sinus stenting: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Venous sinus stenting (VSS) is a safe and effective treatment strategy for pulsatile tinnitus (PT) and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Although complications are rare, the morbidity associated with the complications is high. Navigating through the venous sinuses poses unique challenges to the interventionalist. There is limited literature regarding device selection to maximize safety and efficiency. We report on the safety and advantages of using a balloon guide catheter (BGC) for venous access in VSS. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing VSS using a BGC over a three-month period. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients were included in the analysis (median age 35; 21 female). The indication for treatment was PT in 10 patients and IIH in 12 patients. The BGC was navigated into the sigmoid and transverse sinuses, enabling successful delivery of the stent in all cases. The BGC balloon was inflated 23 times for navigating past tortuosity or obstructions, and for anchoring. There were no intraprocedural complications. CONCLUSIONS: The use of BGC in VSS is safe and feasible. BGCs have features that can be utilized to overcome the unique challenges encountered during VSS.

Perceptual and Cognitive Effects of Focal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of Auditory Cortex in Tinnitus.

OBJECTIVES: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied as a potential treatment for many brain conditions. Although tDCS is well tolerated, continued study of perceptual and cognitive side effects is warranted, given the complexity of functional brain organization. This study tests the feasibility of brief tablet-based tasks to assess auditory and cognitive side effects in a recently reported pilot study of auditory-cortex tDCS in chronic tinnitus and attempts to confirm that this untested multisession tDCS protocol does not worsen hearing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants with chronic tinnitus completed two hearing tasks (pure-tone thresholds, Words In Noise [WIN]) and two cognitive tasks (Flanker, Dimension Change Card Sort) from the NIH Toolbox (2024 Toolbox Assessments, Inc, Lincolnwood, IL). Participants were randomized to active or sham 4×1 silver/silver-chloride tDCS of left auditory cortex (n = 10/group). Tasks were completed immediately before and after the first tDCS session, and after the fifth/final tDCS session. Statistics included linear mixed-effects models for change in task performance over time. RESULTS: Before tDCS, performance on both auditory tasks was highly correlated with clinical audiometry, supporting the external validity of these measures (r2 > 0.89 for all). Although overall auditory task performance did not change after active or sham tDCS, detection of right-ear WIN stimuli modestly improved after five active tDCS sessions (t34 = -2.07, p = 0.05). On cognitive tasks, reaction times (RTs) were quicker after sham tDCS, reflecting expected practice effects (eg, t88 = 3.22, p = 0.002 after five sessions on the Flanker task). However, RTs did not improve over repeated sessions in the active group, suggesting that tDCS interfered with learning these practice effects. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated sessions of auditory-cortex tDCS do not seem to adversely affect hearing or cognition but may modestly improve hearing in noise and interfere with some types of motor learning. Low-burden cognitive/perceptual test batteries could be a powerful way to identify adverse effects and new treatment targets in brain stimulation research.

Tinnitus Generation and Behavioral Changes Caused by Chronic Stress: A Behavioral and Brain Study in a Rat Model.

OBJECTIVES: This study explores the connection between chronic stress and tinnitus, a phantom auditory perception, using an animal model. METHODS: Rats were subjected to 2 h of daily restraint stress for 10 days. Tinnitus was assessed on the last day of stress exposure using the gap response of pre-pulse inhibition acoustic reflex, measured at 60 dB background sound level at 8, 16, and 20 kHz. Chronic stress-exposed rats were categorized into two groups: tinnitus (RTG) and non-tinnitus (RNTG). Various tests, including hearing assessments (distortion product otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response), behavioral evaluations (elevated plus maze test and forced swimming test), and immunohistochemical studies in the auditory and limbic brain regions, were conducted to understand the relationship between chronic stress, tinnitus, and behavioral changes. RESULTS: Following chronic restraint stress, 64.3% of the rats exhibited tinnitus with no audiometric changes. EPM and FST indicated an increase of anxiety- and depression-related behavior in RTG. Immunohistochemical analyses identified specific alterations in the expression of neurotransmitter receptors within brain regions implicated in tinnitus. Specifically, we observed a decrease in γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor α1 expression and an increase in glutamate receptor (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 1 and receptor subunit 2B) expression in specific brain region. These changes suggest a reorganization of neural circuits associated with the tinnitus generation and behavioral changes of the rats after chronic stress exposure. CONCLUSION: Chronic stress alone can be a causal factor for the generation of tinnitus and behavioral changes through altered neural activities in tinnitus-related brain networks. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 2024.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine on symptoms of patients with spleen and stomach deficiency-related tinnitus.

BACKGROUND: Tinnitus affects 10%-30% of the population. Recent evidence suggests that tinnitus is associated with spleen deficiency. However, compared with kidney deficiency-related tinnitus, less research has been conducted on the impact of spleen deficiency-related tinnitus. AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy of using Guipi Wan and dietary and lifestyle modification based on traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of patients with spleen and stomach deficiency-related tinnitus. METHODS: We enrolled 110 patients with spleen and stomach deficiency-related tinnitus who were distributed into treatment (58 cases) and control (52 cases) groups. Tinnitus severity, sleep quality and emotional state were assessed by questionnaires [Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ); Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)] that were used for analysis in the two groups during the initial and intervention and after. In the treatment group, patients were treated with oral administration of Guipi Wan and consulted for healthy dietary and lifestyle modification. In the control group, patients were only assessed and not treated. RESULTS: At the end of the 6-months, TEQ scores decreased significantly in the treatment group (P = 0.021) but not in the Control group. Significant effects in the treatment group were noted for PSQI total score (P = 0.043) and several PSQI component scores in the treatment group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the DASS-21 scores were significantly reduced in the treatment group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Guipi Wan combined with dietary and lifestyle modification based on regulating the spleen and stomach can be considered core to the treatment of tinnitus related to spleen and stomach deficiency.

Cross-sectional screening for inflammation in tinnitus with near-normal hearing.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external stimulus. Recently, inflammation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of tinnitus. In tinnitus animal models, cytokine levels are increased throughout the whole auditory pathway, and microglia and astrocytes are activated. However, only a few human studies on inflammation in tinnitus were conducted, which generally did not account for confounders such as hearing loss, anxiety and depression. The current study therefore aimed to evaluate the association between inflammation and tinnitus specifically in participants with (near-)normal hearing and without signs of anxiety or depression. In this cross-sectional study, fifty tinnitus participants and fifty healthy controls completed a tinnitus questionnaire and underwent audiometric testing. Complete blood count measures were determined in blood plasma, as well as cytokine concentrations by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Platelet count and cytokine concentrations of IL-10 and IFN-γ were lower in participants with tinnitus compared to controls, and male sex, lower MCV, lower platelet count, and lower IL-10 and IFN-γ concentrations were significant predictors of tinnitus presence. The current study shows that inflammatory parameters are altered in tinnitus patients after exclusion of important confounders such as hearing loss, anxiety, depression, and inflammatory diseases.

Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing-EMDR Method in Patients with Chronic Subjective Tinnitus.

This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) method on chronic subjective tinnitus. The research was planned as an observational study. The study group comprises individuals who applied to the training and research hospital in Ankara between 2019 and 2020 and were aged between 15 and 60 years old. They were identified as having tinnitus. The study samples were determined as 36 participants selected through purposeful sampling. The samples of the 36 participants included in the study. 12 were assigned to the 1st Group EMDR and Masking Group, 12 to the 2nd Group Masking and EMDR Group, and 12 to the 3rd Control Group. The study's dependent variable was the tinnitus levels of the participants, and the independent variable was EMDR and the Masking method. The dependent variable data of the study was collected with the Visual Analog Scale and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). EMDR and Masking methods used as independent variables in the study were conducted in eight sessions for two months. As a result of the Wilcoxon Sign test used to determine whether the EMDR Method is effective on tinnitus severity level, the difference between tinnitus severity level pretest and post-test median scores of tinnitus patients was found to be statistically significant. Our research findings show that the EMDR method reduces and improves chronic subjective tinnitus, and further studies with a larger sample size could confirm our results.

The Long-Term Effect of Cochlear Implantation on Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review investigates the long-term effect of cochlear implantation (CI) on clinical outcomes in tinnitus patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). DATABASE SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 30 April 2024. Manual searches of reference lists supplemented these searches when necessary. REVIEW METHODS: Original studies included in the meta-analysis had to contain comparative pre- and postoperative data for SNHL patients who underwent CI. Outcomes measured were the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ). RESULTS: A total of 28 studies comprising 853 patients showed significant tinnitus improvement after CI: THI mean difference (MD) -14.02 [95%CI -15.29 to -12.76, p < 0.001], TQ MD -15.85 [95%CI -18.97 to -12.74, p < 0.05], and VAS MD -3.12 [95%CI -3.49 to -2.76, p < 0.05]. Subgroup analysis indicated a significant difference between follow-up periods in THI (p < 0.0001) and VAS loudness (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implantation substantially improves tinnitus in patients with hearing loss, though the effect may diminish over time. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.