Insights on Somatosensory Tinnitus and Research Needs

A special issue of Audiology Research (ISSN 2039-4349).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 10783

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
2. Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Interests: tinnitus; tinnitus treatments

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Co-Guest Editor
1. College of Medicine, University of Vale do Taquari-UNIVATES, Center of Medical Sciences, 171 - Universitário, Lajeado 95914-014, RS, Brazil
2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Interests: tinnitus; hypercusis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Somatosensory tinnitus is perhaps the least understand, and most complex form of tinnitus. Indeed, there are different subtypes of Somatosensory tinnitus, and these needs to be explored, understood and acknowledged. For patients with both middle-ear and sensorineural tinnitus, their percept can be change by jaw clenching or pressure on the head or neck. For some, the tinnitus can increase in loudness, and for others it can decrease. For Middle-Ear somatosensory tinnitus, it is reasonable that external pressure could change middle ear blood flow or muscle contraction. For Sensorineural somatosensory tinnitus, the effects are unclear. 

This special issue of Audiology Research scope will explore different forms of somatosensory tinnitus, mechanism and treatments. Specific research needs are discussed. We hope this moves the field forward. 

Prof. Dr. Richard Tyler
Prof. Dr. Claudia Barros Coelho
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • somatosensory  tinnitus
  • somatosensory tinnitus mechanisms
  • somatosensory tinnitus etiology
  • somatosneosry tinnitus epidemiology
  • somatosenory tinnitus treatment

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2909 KiB  
Article
The Effectiveness of Microcurrent Stimulation Combined with Sound Therapy for Tinnitus Relief: A Preliminary Study
by Donghyeok Lee, Youngchan Jeong, Sumin Lee, Tae-Jun Jin and In-Ki Jin
Audiol. Res. 2024, 14(1), 139-150; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres14010012 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2393
Abstract
Various stimulation-based rehabilitation approaches have been proposed to alleviate tinnitus. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a rehabilitation approach that simultaneously provides microcurrent and sound stimulation for tinnitus relief. Twenty-eight participants with chronic sensorineural tinnitus were randomly assigned to one of [...] Read more.
Various stimulation-based rehabilitation approaches have been proposed to alleviate tinnitus. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a rehabilitation approach that simultaneously provides microcurrent and sound stimulation for tinnitus relief. Twenty-eight participants with chronic sensorineural tinnitus were randomly assigned to one of two groups based on the rehabilitation approaches (sound therapy-only group and combined microcurrent and sound therapy group). Each participant underwent sound therapy or simultaneous stimulation for approximately 2 h daily for 3 months. The effectiveness of the rehabilitation approaches was determined based on changes in the Korean version of the tinnitus primary function questionnaire (K-TPFQ) and visual analog scale for loudness (VAS-L) scores at baseline, 1.5 months, and 3 months. For the K-TPFQ scores, both groups exhibited a large effect of rehabilitation; however, for the VAS-L scores, the simultaneous stimulation group demonstrated a large effect of rehabilitation, whereas the sound therapy group exhibited a small effect. Therefore, a rehabilitation approach that combines sound stimulation with microcurrent stimulation can improve response and perception in tinnitus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights on Somatosensory Tinnitus and Research Needs)
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9 pages, 6677 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Tinnitus Functional Index as Treatment Outcomes
by Marta Fernández, María Cuesta, Ricardo Sanz and Pedro Cobo
Audiol. Res. 2023, 13(1), 23-31; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres13010003 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3236
Abstract
Background: Tinnitus is an audiological disorder for which there are no objective measuring tools. Thus, many self-report questionnaires have been proposed to assess its severity. These questionnaires have been judged for their capacity to assess the tinnitus severity at baseline, their sensitivity to [...] Read more.
Background: Tinnitus is an audiological disorder for which there are no objective measuring tools. Thus, many self-report questionnaires have been proposed to assess its severity. These questionnaires have been judged for their capacity to assess the tinnitus severity at baseline, their sensitivity to treatment-related changes (responsiveness), and their resolution. Methods: The most widely used questionnaires for clinical and research studies are the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). While both questionnaires have been recognized as good evaluators of the baseline tinnitus severity, the latter is considered to be more responsive to changes following treatments. Objectives: The aim of this work is to provide a preliminary comparison of the performance of both questionnaires in the initial and final tinnitus severity assessment of a cohort of patients undergoing a four-month Enriched Acoustic Environment (EAE) therapy. Results: The EAE therapy provided a 30 and 26 point reduction in THI and TFI, respectively. A good correlation is obtained between the THI and TFI questionnaires at baseline and after the treatment. Conclusion: At baseline, the THI provided a higher score than the TFI for a higher degree of tinnitus but a lower score for lower tinnitus severity. Both THI and TFI were good questionnaires for baseline assessment and for treatment-related changes. The THI provided a slightly higher score drop than the TFI following the treatment, although the TFI had better resolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights on Somatosensory Tinnitus and Research Needs)
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Review

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9 pages, 493 KiB  
Review
Methods, Applications, and Limitations of Somatic Maneuvers for the Modulation of Tinnitus
by Sumin Lee, Tae-Jun Jin and In-Ki Jin
Audiol. Res. 2022, 12(6), 644-652; https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres12060062 - 18 Nov 2022
Viewed by 4024
Abstract
The modulation of tinnitus through somatic maneuvers is a well-documented phenomenon in tinnitus patients with somatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to review the methods, applications, and limitations of somatic maneuvers. First, 35 somatic maneuvers proposed by various research groups were [...] Read more.
The modulation of tinnitus through somatic maneuvers is a well-documented phenomenon in tinnitus patients with somatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to review the methods, applications, and limitations of somatic maneuvers. First, 35 somatic maneuvers proposed by various research groups were summarized according to four body areas (jaw, head and neck, eye, and limbs), following which their applications and limitations were assessed. Although some studies have shown that somatic maneuvers can aid in screening for somatic tinnitus and may help alleviate symptoms with repeated practice, the limited number of studies and inconsistent results among studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Therefore, follow-up studies are required to overcome these limitations and determine whether the treatment of somatic disorders can also aid in alleviating somatic tinnitus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights on Somatosensory Tinnitus and Research Needs)
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