An Exploratory Study of Bimodal Electro-Aural Stimulation Through the Ear Canals for Tinnitus

[Nick47]

Conclusions:

Our results should be considered preliminary given the small sample size, lack of crossover data, and small subject pool. When considered alongside other recent bimodal therapy results, we do believe that there are therapeutic benefits of bimodal stimulation for tinnitus sufferers that have the potential to help some with tinnitus, with a variety of stimulation parameters and electrode placements.

→ An Exploratory Study of Bimodal Electro-Aural Stimulation Through the Ear Canals for Tinnitus

 

[Jonno02]

Man's a research-study-finding-machine.

 

[Nick47]

Man's a research-study-finding-machine.

Not really; I just check PubMed with OCD.

 

[Utdmad89]

Not really; I just check PubMed with OCD.

You have OCD?

 

[Nick47]

You have OCD?

Yes, checking behaviours and intrusive thoughts. Hence, I check PubMed every few days and post here. It seems to calm me. I also had and have health anxiety.

 

[Utdmad89]

Yes, checking behaviours and intrusive thoughts. Hence, I check PubMed every few days and post here. It seems to calm me. I also had and have health anxiety.

I do, as well. I really think there seems to be a big link between severe tinnitus and OCD.

 

[mrpetrov]

Yes, checking behaviours and intrusive thoughts. Hence, I check PubMed every few days and post here. It seems to calm me. I also had and have health anxiety.

I was about to say the similarities in our respective stories are uncanny... but when you think about it, I guess not!

 

[Cmspgran]

100%. I think all of the mechanisms behind the initiation of tinnitus and its continued perseverance are linked to things like OCD and health anxiety. I've heard a lot of experts mention this in relation to tinnitus. Prof. Dirk De Ridder alluded to it on the Tinnitus Talk Podcast.

I've had, and once again have, health anxiety over all of this. I check Tinnitus Talk daily in an OCD fashion; I'm not even sure why.

 

[IYIiKe]

I think it is a bit of gaslighting and a reason why it's doubly frustrating trying to seek medical advice for the condition.

For one, doctors can't really cure it since they don't truly understand it.

For two, Jasterblowhard's theory of "just deal with it" and "anyone bothered by tinnitus is a freeloader and wants a check for disability" is still very much ingrained.

For three, it's really hard to say whether my OCD is causative, nor is it really fair to say, "hey, by the way, you're going to hear this loud fucking intrusive phantom sound for the rest of your life, oh by the way -- NO ONE ELSE CAN HEAR IT, BUT EVERYONE WILL TELL YOU IT'S FINE AND TO JUST GET USED TO IT." Of course, those with OCD will try to problem-solve and find the cause. Our brains think in a "hey caveman brain, if you have a health problem that you can't explain, perhaps try to find the cause so that perhaps it can be cured" type of way that I imagine was very useful and part of why our genes have been passed down for millennia until us.

Double with the fact that things like antibiotics are in the grand scheme of human existence, like the most recent .01% of it, and the insane technological advances in medical know-how, it's fairly reasonable for the average pleb to be like, "hey, they're shoving nanobots up people's butts, maybe there is a cure for this if I just explain to the right doctor the right way..."

And so we OCD folks are stuck in permanent rumination when we can't ignore it.

Frankly, I just think health anxiety is inherent in a condition like tinnitus. If you AREN'T bothered by a loud, intrusive, almost magic-like sound, there is probably something wrong with you.

 

[ZFire]

Associating psychological factors with tinnitus, specifically severe cases, is interesting. However, I don't think I'm 100% on board with it unless this link can lead to significant breakthroughs in alleviating tinnitus for severe sufferers, which I highly doubt.

Severe tinnitus is inherently pervasive. It's this pervasive nature that can make it extremely difficult not to "obsess" over it, regardless of whether one has a pre-existing OCD condition or not.