Posted on 03/25/2011 6:55:04 AM PDT by Red Badger
A constant annoying ringing in the ears – called tinnitus - didn't go away when researchers tried zapping patients' heads with magnetic waves in a recent study.
The researchers still think magnetic therapy could work, if they can find the right part of the brain to apply it to.
"We haven't found the sweet spot yet," said Dr. Jay Piccirillo, the lead author of the study and a professor of ear, nose and throat surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri.
Tinnitus is caused by a "phantom" sound, thought to be the result of mis-wired brain cells. The condition is common. One study estimated that 50 million Americans experience chronic ringing in their ears at some point in their lives. Piccirillo said most people are not bothered by the ringing. A very small fraction of people are crippled by the sound, however. Some become depressed, or even suicidal.
Doctors who treated the patients in the current study generated magnetic waves outside each person's head that traveled through the skull into the brain; the waves would temporarily rewire the brain's circuits. Several studies in Europe have found that sessions of such magnetic therapy can help relieve ear ringing.
In the United States, sending magnetic waves to the brain is approved for use in patients with depression, but it is only experimental for tinnitus. Piccirillo and his colleagues recruited 14 patients who were severely bothered by the ringing in their ears.
All of them received 10 treatments with a magnet over a 2-week period, and another 10 sessions over another 2 weeks using a fake magnet. The order of the 2-week periods was flipped in half of the patients.
After the treatments, the ringing was no better than before.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Acupuncture seems to have some value, so much so that some acupuncturists specialize in tinnitus.
“... at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri.”
So does this mean they are considered a magnet school?
I hear this research has polarized the medical community.
Interesting that they attribute tinnitus to “miswired” brain cells. I always thought it was caused by loud noises damaging the inner ear cells. I suffer from it due to a youth spent with firearms, extremely loud rock concerts, loud workshop tools, unmuffled lawn mowers, various explosives, exploding bicycle tires and other loud reports and noises. I sorely wish people had warned about tinnitus in the old days — it is a real pain. Of course, what kid actually listens to his elders?
My Dad suffers from it. I also have always heard it’s from damage to the little cells in there. But I did read recently about the miswired brain cells and thought...well, if it works, that would be awesome.
So you had a typical childhood. I too suffer and it is a real pain in the rear. The annoying part is that you can’t get away from it even for a short period of time. My Harley does drown it out...sometimes.
Acupuncture seems to have some value,
I have tinnitus, bad. Constant high pitched tone. I’ve talked to at least 10 doctors and 100 people. So far there is nothing, except large amounts of alcohol. :-)
When I ride, I use ear plugs. The muffle suspension of using the plugs with the loud pipes is music to my ears.
1969
The Old Iowa Fieldhouse (basketball area)
Jefferson Airplane
Second row, center.
I think this might have something to do with it...
That or blasting the headphones at full volume while listening to “Frampton Comes Alive” back in 1976 might have something to do with it.
Maybe the opposites can attract some federal grants...................
I work with my acupuncturist on a regular basis and it's amazing how Western and Eastern medicine differ on the genesis of disease. She tells me ringing in the ears has to do with liver/kidney dysfunction. When she treats me for this the tinnitus goes away.
Developed in my late thirties in one ear. Stuck around off/on for four years before disappearing. I hope it never returns.
You know, that was kinda funny.
I have constant ringing and cricket sounds.
Sometimes it varies in intensity.
Every once in a while, I hear Gregorian Chants...............
Mine was Black Sabbath.
Maybe I can sue Ozzy Osbourn...................
Chardonnay works fairly well..............
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