Tinnitus Cure Possibilty, Furosimide identified as possible curative compound

New research funded by the UK charity, Action on Hearing Loss, suggests that tinnitus may well be eliminated by blocking errant signals between the ear and brain. The findings offer some hope to suffers that a cure for tinnitus may be within reach. One in ten people in the UK are affected by tinnitus everyday, their symptoms range from a light buzzing to a constant roar in their head. The impact varies from person to person, from being a simple annoyance to having a real harmful effect on their quality of life.

The effects of tinnitus

The effects of tinnitus really do vary from person to person, the worst effects include having difficulty sleeping and being unable to concentrate at work or during the day. This can lead to depression and disruption to everyday family life. A lot of research has been undertaken in the tinnitus field in the last few years with some very interesting ideas about treatment surfacing. Treatment options that have been discussed include neurological stimulation and possible drug therapy. This new study was focused on the possible use of drugs as a cure for tinnitus.

Possible cure for tinnitus

the research was undertaken at the University of Western Australia using guinea pigs as subjects. researchers treated guinea pigs with a drug called furosemide one week after tinnitus had been triggered by exposure to loud noise. They then monitored the effect on the auditory cortex, the part of the brain that processes sound. The drug treatment lowered the activity of the auditory nerve and reduced neural hyperactivity in the auditory cortex. Crucially the animals treated with the drug no longer displayed any signs of tinnitus.

Dr Helmy Mulders who led the research said: ‘Studies in human tinnitus sufferers are still needed to confirm our results and to establish whether this approach will be effective for people who have had tinnitus for a long time, but our research shows that lowering the activity of the auditory nerve may be a promising approach to treating recently triggered tinnitus'. The research shows some promising outcomes, the next steps would be to assess the drugs safety in humans before moving towards possible future clinical trials involving humans.

Continued search for a cure for tinnitus

Dr Ralph Holme, Head of Biomedical Research at Action on Hearing Loss said: ‘There are practical steps people can take to manage their tinnitus, but what people who suffer from tinnitus want the most is a cure to silence the noise. The research we have funded takes us a step closer to this goal. We will continue to fund research into treatments, and offer support to people who suffer. As the music festival season approaches, I’d urge music lovers to wear ear defenders and avoid dangerously high volumes on personal music players, which can lead to tinnitus. Protect your hearing"

It is sage advice indeed, while research increasingly brings hope that a cure for tinnitus may well be closer than at any other time. The best treatment is still prevention. Take care of your hearing, wear hearing protection when needed and be aware of noise exposure. In this way you can protect and keep what you have. Whilst tinnitus can't be cured, it can be treated. Sound therapy can be very beneficial as a treatment for Tinnitus, especially if combined with cognitive therapy.

if you have any questions about tinnitus or hearing in general, please don't hesitate to contact us