Tinnitus Talk

Can Sound Silence Tinnitus?

Maybe you heard of sound therapy devices like Neuromonics, Desyncra, and SoundCure? Or more recently, Lenire? Hazel talks to Steve Harrison, a musician and audiophile who has suffered from severe tinnitus for decades. Steve knows all about the use of sound for tinnitus relief. Rather than relying on expensive devices, which typically can only do one thing, Steve recommends experimenting with sound and gives practical tips for doing so. We go through all the different types of sound therapies and treatments and discuss the pros and cons. Check out Steve’s YouTube channel Tinnitus Works and the TinnitusPlay app (iPhone only). Become a Tinnitus Talk Podcast Patron at https://moretinnitustalk.com [https://moretinnitustalk.com] for bonus content, video interviews, Ask an Expert series, and more!

The Man Who Donated a Million Dollars to Tinnitus Research

Meet Brian Fargo, a successful video game developer who – when he developed tinnitus – tried every imaginable treatment to get rid of it, to no avail. Frustrated at the lack of effective treatment options, he decided to put his money where his mouth is. He funded the research of Dr. Hamid Djalilian from UC Irvine, who is testing electrical stimulation of the inner ear to alleviate tinnitus. His results so far seem very promising, with some patients even getting rid of their tinnitus completely. This episode is all about one man’s journey to come to terms with his tinnitus and help others by providing much needed research funding. Become a Tinnitus Talk Podcast Patron at https://moretinnitustalk.com [https://moretinnitustalk.com] for bonus content, video interviews, Ask an Expert series, and more!

It’s the Data, Stupid! - Christopher Cederroth and David Stockdale

We hear figures of up to 20-30% of the population supposedly having tinnitus, but is tinnitus really that prevalent? In this episode, we learn that such data is based on population studies where people are asked questions like “have you heard ringing in your ears for more than 5 minutes in the past year?”. That’s not helpful data. When it comes to finding better treatments, we need to zoom in on chronic, severe tinnitus. We talk about the need for bigger and better data for tinnitus with Christopher Cederroth, a researcher who focuses on the genetic underpinnings of tinnitus, and David Stockdale, the chief executive of the British Tinnitus Association. Existing data from biobanks has already taught us a fair bit about tinnitus, for instance that chronic tinnitus tends to be persistent over the years. But we need better tinnitus definitions than the “5 minutes” one, we need larger sample sizes, and higher quality data on for instance hearing profiles. You can take part and contribute your data too! Become a Tinnitus Talk Podcast Patron at https://moretinnitustalk.com [https://moretinnitustalk.com] for bonus content, video interviews, Ask an Expert series, and more!

Tinnitus Realities - Steve and Sean

Living with tinnitus can be tough. It’s also different for everyone, and our experiences tend to change over time. This episode – and there will be similar ones in future – features two people’s stories: Steve and Sean. Both talk openly about how badly tinnitus affected them, but also how they ultimately learned to live with it. We talk extensively about how “learning to live with it” does not necessarily mean everything is fine. But it can mean the difference between pure suffering and leading a normal, though somewhat compromised, life. Steve and Sean also cover tips and tricks for coping with the challenges posed by tinnitus and hyperacusis; how useful (or not) the medical profession has been for them; and how to deal with a lack of understanding from those around you. Become a Tinnitus Talk Podcast Patron at https://moretinnitustalk.com [https://moretinnitustalk.com] for bonus content, video interviews, Ask an Expert series, and more!

Tinnitus, Ingrained in the Brain? - Prof. Dirk De Ridder

Prof. Dirk De Ridder is one of the most cited tinnitus researchers, a very eloquent speaker, and a passionate advocate for people with tinnitus. He also runs his own brain research centre and clinic Brai3n. We spoke with Dirk about how the brain can create phantom perceptions like pain and tinnitus, and the different schools of thought in this area. He also highlights the role of epigenetics and explains how tinnitus can become intertwined with our sense of self, and how effective treatment should attempt to break that connection. In terms of clinical work, he describes how he works with patients and what he can offer them. Although he does not see Lenire and similar devices as the solution, he does see promising developments in psychedelics-based treatments and suppressing chronic neuroinflammation. Become a Tinnitus Talk Podcast Patron at https://moretinnitustalk.com [https://moretinnitustalk.com] for bonus content, video interviews, Ask an Expert series, and more!