Auditory-somatosensory Stimulation to Alleviate Tinnitus

Combined Auditory-Somatosensory Stimulation to Alleviate Tinnitus

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a subject operated device to lessen tinnitus (ringing in the ear), based on subject-feedback for stimulus presentation.

This study consented 35 adult subjects. 21 subjects qualified and were randomized into the study. This project will develop and test a device with the ultimate goal of providing a patient operated device to alleviate phantom sound perception, or tinnitus, based on patient-feedback for stimulus presentation.

The device, an electrical-acoustical stimulus timing, is based on physiological findings of stimulus-timing-dependent plasticity in somatosensory and auditory nuclei,that when aberrant, contribute to tinnitus.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Constant, subjective, preferably unilateral tinnitus without any active external or middle ear pathology.
2. Hearing thresholds better than 50dB HL at peak tinnitus frequencies.
3. Able to modulate their tinnitus with a somatic maneuver
4. BothersomeTinnitus.

Exclusion Criteria:

• No participation in a tinnitus treatment regimen within the past four weeks
• Retrocochlear pathology/ VIIIth nerve lesion