New Tinnitus Therapy: Headphones That Transfer Sound from One Ear to Another
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| Illustration of using headphones (photo: doc. pexels) |
- A new innovation in tinnitus treatment has emerged with the use of headphones which are able to transfer sound from one ear to another. Tinnitus, which affects around five million people in the UK, could see a significant reduction through this approach.
This method refers to mirror therapy used for phantom limb pain. When sound comes from the user's right side, the microphone in the headphones will pick it up and direct it to the left ear, and vice versa.
Researchers believe that confusing the direction of sound, where the eyes signal the brain that the sound is coming from one place but the ears signal otherwise, helps "reprogram" the auditory nerve. This can reduce the intensity of tinnitus.
Results from a small trial showed that using a headset for two hours a day for three weeks could significantly reduce tinnitus. This method offers new hope for those suffering from long-term tinnitus which is often accompanied by hearing loss.
Tinnitus occurs when the tiny hair cells in the inner ear become stressed and emit more of a chemical called glutamate. This condition causes a "glutamate storm" that triggers nerves in the inner ear. By "distracting" the auditory nerve, this method can reduce the perception of tinnitus.
Dr. Will Sedley, a lecturer in neurology at Newcastle University, welcomed the therapy, although he stressed the need for further trial results. Meanwhile, talk therapy remains an effective option for many people suffering from tinnitus.
Thus, headphones capable of switching sound from one ear to the other offer an interesting potential solution for relieving tinnitus, although more research needs to be done to validate their effectiveness.