Tinnitus

Background: Tinnitus is defined as an intrinsic sound perception that cannot be attributed to an external sound source. Distress in tinnitus patients is related to increased beta activity in the dorsal part of the anterior cingulate and the amount of distress correlates with network activity consisting of the amygdala-anterior cingulate cortex-insula-parahippocampus. Previous research also revealed that distress is associated to a higher sympathetic (OS) tone in tinnitus patients and tinnitus suppression to increased parasympathetic (PS) tone.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of a corresponding external acoustic stimulus. With prevalence ranging from 10% to 15%, tinnitus is a common disorder. Many people habituate to the phantom sound, but tinnitus severely impairs quality of life of about 1-2% of all people. Tinnitus has traditionally been regarded as an otological disorder, but advances in neuroimaging methods and development of animal models have increasingly shifted the perspective towards its neuronal correlates. Increased neuronal fi ring rate, enhanced neuronal synchrony, and changes in the tonotopic organisation are recorded in central auditory pathways in reaction to deprived auditory input and represent-together with changes in non-auditory brain areas-the neuronal correlate of tinnitus. Assessment of patients includes a detailed case history, measurement of hearing function, quantifi cation of tinnitus severity, and identifi cation of causal factors, associated symptoms, and comorbidities. Most widely used treatments for tinnitus involve counselling, and best evidence is available for cognitive behavioural therapy. New pathophysiological insights have prompted the development of innovative brain-based treatment approaches to directly target the neuronal correlates of tinnitus. Lancet Neurol 2013; 12: 920-30 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (B Langguth MD, P M Kreuzer MD) and Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Center (B Langguth, P M Kreuzer, References 1 Krog NH, Engdahl B, Tambs K. The association between tinnitus and mental health in a general population sample: results from the HUNT Study. J Psychosom Res 2010; 69: 289-98. 2 Axelsson A, Ringdahl A. Tinnitus-a study of its prevalence and characteristics. Br J Audiol 1989; 23: 53-62. 3 Pilgram R. Tinnitus in der BRD. HNO aktuell 1999; 7: 261-65. 4 Shargorodsky J, Curhan GC, Farwell WR. Prevalence and characteristics of tinnitus among US adults. Am J Med 2010;

Recent findings regarding differences in tinnitus-related neural activity according to onset age have raised a question on possible onset age-related differences in neural substrates of distress. Hence we collected quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) findings of 28 late-onset tinnitus (LOT) and 29 early-onset tinnitus (EOT) (mean onset age 52.3 and 29.0 years, respectively) participants. According to the tinnitus questionnaire (TQ) score grade, LOTs were then subdivided into 13 high distress (HD; TQ grade 3 or 4) and 15 low distress (LD; TQ grade 1 or 2), while EOTs into 14 HD and 15 LD. Compared to the EOT group, the LOT group demonstrated increased qEEG source-localized activity and functional connectivity primarily in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and parahippocampus. In subgroup comparisons, the ACC was activated more in HD-LOT participants than in LD-LOT participants for the beta 1, beta 2 and gamma frequency bands, while the left orbitofrontal cortex and left dors...

The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) and BDS (Beck Depression Scale). High frequency thresholds and PTA (Pure Tone Audiometer) thresholds for the patients were measured in 44 patients with tinnitus (bilateral=13; unilateral=31). Tinnitus frequency and intensity were measured using one-pair method with high frequency audiometer Interacoustic AC40. Applied BDS and THI scores are evaluated for all patients. Our findings are analysed statistically with SPSS v.21 and BDS and THI correlation with tinnitus intensity and frequency was executed. The mean value of tinnitus frequency was 10 kHz (min 0.25 kHz, max16 kHz and SD 4.26), mean tinnitus intensity was 50.6 dB (min 15 dB, max 110 dB and SD 26.9 dB) mean THI score was 38.04 (min 10, max 86 and SD 20.03) and mean BDS score was 9.45 (min 0, max 28 and SD 6.49). There was no statistical correlation between THI score and tinnitus frequency (r=0.055, p=0.787). Moderate correlation ...

The global move toward reducing the usage of lead in electronics manufacturing industry is driving the industry to switch from tin-lead alloys to pure tin (Sn) for its component plating process. This transition has resulted in a reliability concern due to the formation of conductive Sn whiskers, which can grow from the component after the plating process within a few hours to months, with their length ranging from 10 micrometers up to several millimeters. The conductive Sn whiskers may cause current leakage or short circuits, leading to catastrophic failure in the field. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on Sn whisker formation based on the effects of annealing for 1 h at 150°C and environmental test conditions from the joint electron devices engineering council standards. This paper consisted of one temperature cycling test and two isothermal storage tests. The characterization results obtained confirm that temperature cycling and isothermal storage favor the formation of whiskers on Sn-plated copper lead frames. The average maximum length of the whiskers increased with the number of temperature cycles and duration of isothermal storage. It is also shown that annealing for 1 h at 150°C of the samples is effective in reducing the average maximum length of whiskers. Growth mechanisms of the Sn whiskers due to the effects of annealing and without annealing are also discussed.

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effects of conventional face-to-face group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT) and an Internet-delivered guided self-help treatment (Internet-based CBT, ICBT) on tinnitus distress. A total of 128 adults with at least mild levels of chronic tinnitus distress were randomly assigned to GCBT (n = 43), ICBT (n = 41), or a web-based discussion forum (DF) that served as a control condition (n = 44). Standardized self-report measures [the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire (Mini-TQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index and Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire] were completed at the pre- and post-assessments and at the 6-month follow-up. Repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed significant time × group interaction effects on the primary outcomes (THI and Mini-TQ scores) in favor of both CBT interventions compared with the DF at post-assessment (0.56 ≤ g ≤ 0.93; all p ≤ 0.001). Ther...

Background Up to 21% of adults will develop tinnitus, which is one of the most distressing and debilitating audiological problems. The absence of medical cures and standardised practice can lead to costly and prolonged treatment. We aimed to assess effectiveness of a stepped-care approach, based on cognitive behaviour therapy, compared with usual care in patients with varying tinnitus severity.

Background: Binge eating disorder is a new category in DSM-5 and highly associated with higher body mass index. The neural mechanisms that underlie binge eating are of great interest in order to improve treatment interventions. Brain mechanisms underlying drug and food craving are suggested to be similar: for example, both are reported to be associated with increased neural activity in the orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex, and a diminished regulatory influence from lateral prefrontal circuits. Several studies have begun to assess the potential benefits of brain stimulation in reducing craving and addictive behaviors. Data from a study of a one-off session of transcranial magnetic stimulation in healthy women identified as strong cravers and of individuals with bulimic-type eating disorders, reported a reduction in food craving and binge eating episodes. This provides support for a more extensive investigation of the potential therapeutic benefits of transcranial magnetic stimulation. Lastly, brain imaging studies and a dimensional approach, will improve understanding of the neural correlates of the disorders and of the mode of action of transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Objective: The aim of this study is to quantify changes in quality of life due to the use of BAHA. Patients and method: Twenty-eight patients were included. The instrument used to quantify the change in quality of life was the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and a questionnaire including 2 open questions, BAHA use, change in tinnitus, and postoperative pain. Results: The average total benefit score with the Glasgow Benefit Inventory was 38, and the general, social, and physical score were 54, 10, and 1, respectively. There was no significant association between preoperative hearing, aetiology or type of hearing loss, and quality of life. Tinnitus rate went from 37.5% to 20.8% following BAHA; this difference is significant. Conclusions: Our results show that the use of BAHA is associated with a great improvement in quality of life. Also, they show that its use has a positive effect upon tinnitus.

We report the otological effects of the April 1999 Soho Nail Bomb on 17 patients. Twenty-one (62%) tympanic membranes were perforated ( pars tensa only); 78% closed spontaneously within 6 months. The mean size of the perforation in the tympanic membrane nearer to the blast was signi®cantly larger than the opposite side [33% AE 8.3 (mean AE SD) and 13% AE 4.1 respectively; P 0.02]. All patients reported hearing losses that were mixed conductive and sensorineural but mainly high-frequency sensorineural (4, 6 and 8 kHz, pure tone average 42.3 dB AE 20.5). The sensorineural hearing loss correlated inversely with the distance from the explosion but not with the size of perforation. There was no signi®cant difference in the hearing loss between the ear facing the blast and the opposite ear. Fifteen patients (88%) had temporary tinnitus. No patient complained of any vestibular symptoms. The otological effects of a nail bomb in an enclosed space have not been previously reported. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between hearing loss and distance from the explosion and a signi®cant difference in perforation size facing the blast, compared with the opposite side, are also presented for the ®rst time. The high spontaneous closure rate of perforations and minimal ongoing disability from sensorineural losses favour conservative management in most cases.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. More than 50 million people in the United States have reported experiencing tinnitus, resulting in an estimated prevalence of 10% to 15% in adults. Despite the high prevalence of tinnitus and its potential significant effect on quality of life, there are no evidence-based, multidisciplinary clinical practice guidelines to assist clinicians with management. The focus of this guideline is on tinnitus that is both bothersome and persistent (lasting 6 months or longer), which often negatively affects the patient's quality of life. The target audience for the guideline is any clinician, including nonphysicians, involved in managing patients with tinnitus. The target patient population is limited to adults (18 years and older) with primary tinnitus that is persistent and bothersome. The purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians managing patients with tinnitus. This guideline pro...

Tinnitus is defined as a sound in the ear(s) and/or head without external origin and is a serious health concern for millions worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine whether Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is effective in reducing distress associated with tinnitus. Randomized, controlled trials that assessed the efficacy of CBT for tinnitus-related distress in adults were identified by searching electronic databases (PsychINFO, PubMed, the Cochrane Library), and by manual searches. Fifteen studies (total of 1091 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. CBT compared with a passive and active control at postassessment yielded statistically significant mean effect sizes for tinnitus-specific measures (Hedges's g = 0.70, and Hedges's g = 0.44, respectively). The average weighted pre-to-follow-up effect size for the CBT group suggested that these effects were maintained over time. Smaller but yet statistically significant effects of CBT were found for mood outcome measures. Characteristics of the studies were unrelated to effect sizes. Methodological rigor, publication bias, and a series of sensitivity analyses did not influence the findings. The results suggest that CBT is an effective treatment of tinnitus distress. However, caution is warranted given that few large-scale, well-controlled trials were identified.

It is generally accepted that tinnitus severity is influenced
by stress and depression (Folmer, Griest,
Meikle, & Martin, 1999) while the contribution of
hearing loss to tinnitus severity is unclear (Baskill &
Coles, 1999). Functional imaging has suggested that
the degree of cortical reorganisation following hearing
loss contributes to tinnitus severity (Muhlnickel,
Elbert, Taub, & Flor, 1998) while more severe tinnitus
has also been associated with gently sloping audiograms
(Weisz, Voss, Berg, & Elbert, 2004). This
study related results for two self-report questionnaires,
the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ) (Kuk,
Tyler, Russell, & Jordan, 1990) and the Tinnitus
Severity Index (TSI) (Meikle, Griest, Stewart, &
Press, 1995) to audiometric results from 79 patients
attending a tinnitus clinic. The TSI did not show a
statistically significant correlation with any variables
obtained from the audiogram. The Tinnitus Handicap
Questionnaire score was correlated to aspects of the
pure tone audiometry — in particular elevated low
frequency thresholds were correlated with greater
tinnitus handicap. The relationship between hearing
loss and measures of tinnitus impact are discussed.

Tinnitus is phantom auditory sensation felt in one or both ears without external sound stimulus. It can be continuous or pulsatile. Among the most accepted hypothesis of pathophysiology is the one relating to the production of electrical impulses adjacent to the area of loss of outer hair cells of cochlea. Innumerable methods of treatment for tinnitus are described in the literature with variable results of cure and control. Few among them are Intratympanic injection of steroids and lignocaine; infusions of Piracetam in addition to supportive therapy. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of drugs formulated into three schedules on the subjective relief of tinnitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 138 patients 80 males and 58 females, selected randomly from among the patients attending the ENT department. Divided into three groups; A: Intratympanic lignocaine, Alprazolam 0.5mg, injection of B1,B6 and B12; B: Intratympanic Dexamethasone, Alprazolam 0.5 mgs, Gingko Biloba 40 mgs, C: Intravenous Piracetam, Alprazolam 0.5mgs, vinpocetin.

RESULTS: The effective treatment among the three groups was the combination of intravenous infusion of Piracetam, Alprazolam and Vinpocetin regimen in treating moderate to severe grades of recent onset tinnitus.

CONCLUSION: All patients showed significant response to their respective regimens for mild grade of tinnitus. I.V. Piracetam gave significant response to subjective relief of tinnitus in intolerable, severe and moderate grades.

Background: Sound therapy coupled with appropriate counseling has gained widespread acceptance in the audiological management of tinnitus. For many years, ear level sound generators (SGs) have been used to provide masking relief and to promote tinnitus habituation. More recently, an alternative treatment device was introduced, the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment (NTT), which employs spectrally-modified music in an acoustic desensitization approach in order to help patients overcome the disturbing consequences of tinnitus. It is unknown, however, if one treatment plan is more efficacious and cost-effective in comparison to the other. In today's economic climate, it has become critical that clinicians justify the value of tinnitus treatment devices in relation to observed benefit. Purpose: To determine perceived benefit from, and economic value associated with, two forms of sound therapy, namely, SGs and NTT. Research Design: Retrospective between-subject clinical study. Study Samp...

This paper presents a series of 12 cases of chronic tinnitus patients who participated in 4 weeks of auditory discrimination training either close to or far removed from the tinnitus frequency. The training was based on the assumption that tinnitus is related to a shift of the representation of the tinnitus frequency in auditory cortex outside of the normal tonotopic map and that training close to but not removed from the tinnitus frequency should result in a reduction in the severity of the tinnitus. Tinnitus severity was measured 4 times per day during the entire treatment and other tinnitus-related variables were assessed 1 week before and 1 month posttreatment. The comparison of the training close to as compared to remote from the tinnitus frequency did not yield a statistically significant difference. However, a post hoc analysis revealed that patients who engaged in regular training as compared to those who practiced irregularly were significantly more successful in reducing tinnitus severity independent of the trained frequencies. Treatment success was best predicted by days of training and general activity levels. The data suggest that auditory dicrimintion training shows a dose response effect irrespective of training location and that treatment success is also related to psychological variables. For more substantial changes in multiple variables an extended training period with additional consideration of emotional variables would be necessary. In addition, controls for nonspecific training effects need to be implemented.

This article presents an overview of tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), its psychological effects, and the application of cognitive -behavioral therapy (CBT) for its treatment. Several studies have confirmed an association between psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, and severe tinnitus and preliminary reports suggest that a proportion of tinnitus patients suffer from mental illness. Assessment strategies used in CBT for tinnitus include structured interviews, daily diary ratings, and validated self-report questionnaires. The treatment approach described in this article includes applied relaxation, imagery and distraction techniques, advice regarding environmental sounds, management of sleep, cognitive restructuring of thoughts and beliefs associated with tinnitus, and relapse prevention. The literature pertinent to CBT approaches to treating tinnitus is reviewed, and it is concluded that CBT shows promise as a treatment of tinnitus-related distress. Future research directions are discussed. D

Objecti6es: There is strong evidence in the literature about the effect of local anesthetics such as lidocaine in controlling tinnitus; these agents act by stabilizing hair cell membrane and cochlear nerve fibers. However, the effect of intravenous lidocaine is transient, and its oral analog (tocainide) does not have the same efficacy for long-term treatment in patients with tinnitus. Some oral anti-epileptic drugs (carbamazepine, for instance) have been used alternatively in several studies. The aim of this work is to evaluate the response to intravenous lidocaine in patients with intractable tinnitus and the effect of oral carbamazepine in long-term maintenance of tinnitus relief. Patients and methods: We studied prospectively 50 patients (28 females and 22 males; mean age 50.9 years) who underwent the lidocaine test, performed by a 3-min intravenous infusion of 2% lidocaine chloridrate. The patients who experienced any relief after the test started treatment with oral carbamazepine in ascending dosages (50 -600 mg/day). Results: The results were classified as tinnitus abolition (18%), marked relief (32%), partial relief (26%), unchanged (22%), or worsening (2%). The lidocaine test showed favorable results in 76% of patients, especially those with bilateral tinnitus (PB0.001). Afterwards, 50% of patients treated with carbamazepine maintained the improvement of tinnitus (P=0.0034). Conclusion: The authors conclude that intravenous lidocaine is effective in reducing intractable tinnitus and that there is a close association between lidocaine and oral carbamazepine effects. Therefore, carbamazepine can be used for the treatment of tinnitus when the patient achieves improvement of symptom after the lidocaine test.

The study suggests that Mozart therapy could be a valid alternative to the common sound therapy methods in tinnitus patients. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of the Mozart effect as indexed by a variation in tinnitus intensity and tolerability. Method: Sixty-two individuals aged between 22 and 78 years, reporting tinnitus for at least 1 year, were enrolled for the study. All patients attended a 1 h cognitive behavioral counseling session and listened to Mozart's sonata k448 for 1 h per day for a month. Afterwards patients listened to Beethoven's Für Elise sonata for 1 h per day for a month. To evaluate the general stress level, the impact of tinnitus on patients' quality of life, and the intensity of tinnitus, patients were invited to participate in three tests: the Measure du Stress Psychologique (MSP) questionnaire, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and a 0 to 10 visual analog scale (VAS). Results: For all the parameters investigated, MSP, THI, and intensity, there was a general significant improvement between the pre-and post-listening evaluation. A significant improvement, as regards THI and intensity, could already be appreciated after a single exposure to Mozart's sonata.

Degrees of tinnitus distress were explored in a sample of 105 patients who completed audiological measures and were assessed in a structured interview conducted by a clinical psychologist[ The Klockho} and Lindblom grading system was used and its inter!rater reliability assessed in a subsample showing a high degree of correspondence[ Results from the interview are reported in terms of variability of tinnitus\ characteristics of problematic situations\ distress caused by tinnitus\ possibilities to cope\ and other in~uencing factors[ Finally\ a set of discriminant analyses were conducted on the data set resulting in a _nal model which included pitch\ minimal masking level "MML#\ tolerance in relation to onset\ and avoidance of situations because of tinnitus[ This model correctly classi_ed 62) of the subjects into the two levels of distress "grade II and III#[ There may be a potential role for MML as an outcome variable in tinnitus treatment research[ Keywords tinnitus structured interview psycholo`y psychoacoustics minimal maskin`level

Sn-Bi alloys were electroplated from sulphuric acid based plating baths containing tin sulfate (SnSO4) and bismuth nitrate (Bi(NO 3)3). The electrochemical behavior of the plating bath was investigated by electrochemical studies. Potentiodynamic polarization curves of the plating bath revealed the large potential gap between the two elements. The effects of SnSO4 concentration and current density on the composition and morphology of the Sn-Bi electrodeposition were investigated. The surface morphology and composition of the Sn-Bi electrodeposited were investigated by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) spectroscopic. The Sn content in the deposits increased with increasing of Sn content in the bath. Bi content was found to decrease with increasing current density because of the more noble deposition potential of Bi. The microstructure and surface morphology of the Sn-Bi electrodeposits become finer and smoother with increasing Sn content in bath but rougher and less compact when current density is increased. Sn-36.47 wt.% Bi alloy was fabricated from this additive free plating bath.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6320517

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tinnitus on mental activity. In a mixed design study, the performance of 20 subjects with tinnitus and 20 healthy control subjects was compared on the digit-symbol test, completed in three auditory conditions: silence, masking and intermittent masking. Results showed marked overall differences between patients and controls on all three conditions. Lower scores on the digit-symbol test were observed during the intermittent masking condition compared with the masking condition for the patients. There was no difference between silence (e.g. tinnitus) and the masking condition, or between silence and the intermittent masking condition. The control subjects scored lower on the task when exposed to the intermittent masking compared to both silence and masking. The patients had higher depression and anxiety scores than the controls. These findings suggest that there is a link between masking sounds and how tinnitus affects cognitive capacity.

Background: Chronic tinnitus is a common incurable condition often associated with depression, anxiety, insomnia and reduced quality of life. Within National Health Service (NHS) audiology in the United Kingdom (UK), no standard protocol currently exists for the treatment of tinnitus. Counselling is only available in less than half of audiology departments, and there is no agreed standard for what constitutes tinnitus counselling. There is substantial evidence from systematic reviews for the clinical benefit of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for tinnitus delivered by clinical psychologists or psychiatrists, but no studies have sufficiently evidenced the NHS model of tinnitus care where management is increasingly being delivered by audiology professionals. In a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT), this study aims to evaluate the feasibility of comparing a psychologically informed guidance manual developed to support audiologist management of tinnitus with usual treatment.

Phantom auditory perception - tinnitus - is a symptom of many pathologies. Although there are a number
of theories postulating certain mechanisms of its generation, none have been proven yet. This paper analyses the
phenomenon of tinnitus from the point of view of general neurophysiology. Existing theories and their extrapolation
are presented, together with some new potential mechanisms of tinnitus generation, encompassing the involvement
of calcium an d calcium c hannels in co chlear functio n, with implications for malfunction and aging of the auditory
and vestibular systems.
It is hypothesize d that most tinnitus resu lts from the perc eption of ab normal ac tivity, defined as ac tivity
which cannot be induced by any combination of extern al sounds. Moreover, it is hypothesized that signal recognition
and classification circuits, working on holographic or neuronal network-like representation, are involved in the
perception of tinnitus and ar e subject to plastic modification. Furthermore, it is proposed that all levels of the nervous
system, to varying degrees, are involved in tinnitus manifestation. These concepts are used to unravel the
inexplicable, unique features of tinnitus and its masking. Some clinical implications of these theories are suggested.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of silence on the appearance of auditory phantom perceptions in normal-hearing adults, with specific emphasis on the influence of suggestion. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty-three normal-hearing young Caucasian adults were subjected to two 4-minute sessions in an anechoic sound chamber. In the first session the chamber was empty; in the second session the chamber contained a nonfunctioning loudspeaker. At the end of each session, subjects had to indicate which sounds they perceived from a list of 23 different sounds. RESULTS: When the loudspeaker was not present, 83 percent of the participants reported that they experienced at least one sound, and the percentage increased to 92 percent when the loudspeaker was present. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the emergence of tinnituslike perceptions in a nonclinical population in a silent environment and indicate that suggestive mechanisms play only a minor role in their generation.

Background: Up to 53% of individuals suffering from traumatic brain injuries develop tinnitus. Objective: To review the current literature on trauma-associated tinnitus in order to provide orientation for the clinical management of patients with trauma-associated tinnitus. Materials: A systematic literature search has been conducted in PubMed database applying the search terms posttraumatic tinnitus and trauma-associated tinnitus. Results have been complemented by related studies, book chapters, and the authors' clinical experience. Results: Not only mechanical, pressure-related, or noise-related head traumata but also neck injuries and emotional trauma can cause tinnitus. Exact diagnosis is essential. Disorders such as ossicular chain disruption, traumatic eardrum perforation, or perilymphatic fistula can be surgically treated. It should also be considered that pulsatile tinnitus can be a sign of life-threatening disorders such as carotid cavernous fistulas, arteriovenous malformations, and carotid dissections. Also, posttraumatic stress disorder should be taken into consideration as a potential contributing factor. Conclusions: There is an evident mismatch between the high incidence of trauma-associated tinnitus and scarce literature on the topic. A consistent and-at best-standardized assessment of tinnitus-and hearing-related sequelae of trauma is recommended both for the improvement of clinical care and for a deeper understanding of the various pathophysiological mechanisms of trauma-associated tinnitus.

Although hyperacusis, a hyperresponsiveness to non-noxious auditory stimuli, is a sound-evoked symptom, possible resting-state pathologic oscillations in hyperacusis brain have never been explored. By comparing 17 tinnitus participants with hyperacusis (

Chronic subjective tinnitus is a prevalent condition that causes significant distress to millions of Americans. Effective tinnitus treatments are urgently needed, but evaluating them is hampered by the lack of standardized measures that are validated for both intake assessment and evaluation of treatment outcomes. This work was designed to develop a new self-report questionnaire, the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), that would have documented validity both for scaling the severity and negative impact of tinnitus for use in intake assessment and for measuring treatment-related changes in tinnitus (responsiveness) and that would provide comprehensive coverage of multiple tinnitus severity domains.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the noise exposure for different technical officials during
a major badminton tournament.
Methods Individual noise exposure for technical officials was measured during the 23rd BWF World
Championship, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland during all days of the tournament.
Results Umpires and on-court-doctors had equivalent noise exposure, when working longer shifts, that
exceeded the exposure limit according to the EU 2003/10/EC noise directive. Exposure limits regarding
impulse sound was also exceeded during several work shifts during the tournament.
Conclusions Technical officials are exposed to noise levels that exceed current occupational health legislation
within the EU, and may therefore be at risk of developing hearing related disorders. It is of high
importance for the organizers of sports events to reduce the noise exposure for the technical officials by
scheduling shorter work periods, but also by providing individual hearing protectors.

Obecnie wiele zagadnień dotyczących szumów usznych oraz nadwrażliwości słuchowej pozostaje niewyjaśnionych. Narzędziami pozwalającymi na lepsze ich poznanie mogą okazać się standaryzowane, powszechnie stosowane kwestionariusze. W literaturze anglojęzycznej można wyróżnić kilkanaście testów oceniających dokuczliwość szumów usznych. Mimo istniejących w Internecie tłumaczeń, żadne z zagranicznych narzędzi nie zostało zaadaptowane do języka i warunków polskich zgodnie z międzynarodowymi wytycznymi. Praca stanowi przegląd wybranych, krajowych i zagranicznych ankiet i kwestionariuszy, badających występowanie oraz charakterystykę szumów usznych i nadwrażliwości słuchowej. Każde narzędzie opisano ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem przeznaczenia, budowy, zawartości i sposobu oceny wyników oraz ich korelacji z wynikami innych testów opisywanych w literaturze przedmiotu.

During the past decade, a large amount of work on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been performed, including the development of new paradigms of stimulation, the integration of imaging data, and the coupling of TMS techniques with electroencephalography or neuroimaging. These accumulating data being difficult to synthesize, several French scientific societies commissioned a group of experts to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature on TMS. This text contains all the consensual findings of the expert group on the mechanisms of action, safety rules and indications of TMS, including repetitive TMS (rTMS). TMS sessions have been conducted in thousands of healthy subjects or patients with various neurological or psychiatric diseases, allowing a better assessment of risks associated with this technique. The number of reported side effects is extremely low, the most serious complication being the occurrence of seizures. In most reported seizures, the stimulation parame...

Purpose: The development of therapeutic interventions for chronic tinnitus requires sensitive and clinically responsive tools to measure treatment-induced changes in tinnitus loudness and annoyance. In this study, the authors evaluated the psychometric properties of patient-reported visual analog scales (VAS) for measuring subjectively perceived tinnitus loudness and annoyance. Method: The authors analyzed data from a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of acoustic coordinated reset (CR) neuromodulation in patients with chronic tinnitus (trial registration: "Randomized Evaluation of Sound Evoked Treatment of Tinnitus [RESET] study"; ClinicalTrials. gov identifier: NCT00927121) to assess the reliability, validity, and minimally clinically identifiable difference (MCID) of the VAS loudness and VAS annoyance. The VAS loudness and VAS annoyance were completed at screening, at baseline, and at 5 visits during the 16 weeks of the clinical study. Data were analyzed with respect to test-retest reliability, validity, and MCID. Results: VAS loudness and VAS annoyance showed good test-retest reliability of .8 and .79, respectively. In terms of convergent validity, VAS loudness and VAS annoyance correlated well with the tinnitus questionnaire at all clinical visits (max r = .67, p < .05). MCID estimates clustered between 10 and 15 points. Conclusion: VAS loudness and VAS annoyance are valid and effective measurements for capturing reductions in tinnitus severity in patients with chronic tinnitus.

Chronic subjective tinnitus is a prevalent condition that causes significant distress to millions of Americans. Effective tinnitus treatments are urgently needed, but evaluating them is hampered by the lack of standardized measures that are validated for both intake assessment and evaluation of treatment outcomes. This work was designed to develop a new self-report questionnaire, the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), that would have documented validity both for scaling the severity and negative impact of tinnitus for use in intake assessment and for measuring treatment-related changes in tinnitus (responsiveness) and that would provide comprehensive coverage of multiple tinnitus severity domains.