Episode 1: In Search of a Tinnitus Cure — Dr. Josef Rauschecker

[Ed209]

I like how Jack pronounces the word "tinnitus". This is how I choose to pronounce it. Is it the case that the majority of people pronounce it the way Hazel pronounces it? Or is it an American vs. British English thing?!

If anything it's more of an academic vs layman divide. Academics generally use the pronunciation 'tin ni tus.'

I've noticed that it's predominantly Americans who use the 'tin night tus pronunciation, but I've never liked this way of saying it. It's always seemed like a mispronunciation to me, and I feel it has come to be accepted because so many people use it.

That's just my opinion though and I know others don't like the other way of saying it. At the end of the day it's just a word, and in the grand scheme of things, I don't think it matters how one pronounces it!

 

[Bill Bauer]

At the end of the day it's just a word, and in the grand scheme of things, I don't think it matters how one pronounces it!

My dentist got confused and then corrected me after I pronounced it "tiNIGHTus"... I'm afraid that after two years of thinking of it as tiNIGHTus, I am now set in my ways.

 

[Agrajag364]

I like how Jack pronounces the word "tinnitus". This is how I choose to pronounce it. Is it the case that the majority of people pronounce it the way Hazel pronounces it? Or is it an American vs. British English thing?!

Americans seem more like to say tin-I-tis. I think TIN-itis is better. Though I usually say something like this ficking racket.

 

[TuxedoCat]

Americans seem more like to say tin-I-tis. I think TIN-itis is better. Though I usually say something like this ficking racket.

There may be regional differences in the US, but I'm located in Florida and everyone I've encountered so far has said Tin i tis and not Tin EYE tis. Everyone except my husband that is, but he has since changed his ways.

 

[TuxedoCat]

Americans seem more like to say tin-I-tis.

Sometimes US and UK are two nations separated by a common language.

 

[Starthrower]

Well, I can't lie, it is really nice to get acknowledgement for all our hard work! In that vein, and hopefully without sounding too pompous, I'd like to point out that:

• We've been deliberating and making preparations for months, deciding on stuff like scope, topics, branding, guests, recording set-up, distribution, website design, and many other things.
• The preparation time for any episode alone runs into the dozens of hours: reading up on the topic, coordinating with the guest, preparing a structure & questions.
• It took us quite some time to get the technical set-up for recording right, and many test takes were done!
• Audio editing was done by Jack; probably took 10h or so to remove audio disturbances and other glitches.
• Markku spent about 30h designing logos and building the dedicated podcast page. As per Markku's usual web wizard style, it looks really sleek and professional.

All in all, I'd estimate about 150h of work so far.

Also, @Ed209 and @TuxedoCat have been our focus group / test audience. Thanks guys!

One way you could acknowledge our efforts and help out would be to share the podcast on social media, and within any other tinnitus groups you may be a member of.

I haven't been able to read Tinnitus Talk due to a busy schedule over the past few weeks but WOW. So professional and informative.

The time and effort @Hazel, @Markku, @Ed209, @TuxedoCat, @Jack Straw and everyone else is so appreciated.

I would like to start a Tinnitus Talk fundraiser here for this site to help cover the costs of the site and time you all spend doing so much.

Give me a couple days to start a new post on support!!

Will others here support this? Thank you does not seem like it says enough...

Has the BTA placed this link on their website?

I am guilty of always saying Tin Night Tus. For a long time pronouncing Tin NI Tis seemed to hurt my ears back then. But it is the right way. Sounds better with the British accent.

 

[derpytia]

Great job you guys! <3

 

[derpytia]

Sometimes US and UK are two nations separated by a common language.

That's what can be called a 'vernacular'. In the US and the UK there are many different vernaculars of speech depending on where you go in either country.

 

[InfiniteLoop]

It is irrelevant. Both pronunciations have no cure.

 

[JohnAdams]

f-ood = fooooood

g-ood = guhd?

English is kinda dumb.

Also it's "I'm in the hospital.", not "I'm in hospital."

Not using the definitive article sounds soooooo dumb.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

However, bimodal stimulation centers around stimulating the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus in the brainstem. Dr. Rauschecker acknowledged that there is some evidence that this area of the brain may play a part, but his theory is that tinnitus is more complex. Rather, he says that in addition to hearing loss, areas of the brain within the limbic system are also damaged in some way. His model is that both damage to the "ear" and damage to the limbic system must both exist for tinnitus to occur. If these limbic regions were not damaged, the tinnitus signal would not reach the auditory cortex and we would not "hear it". Therefore, the undamaged limbic structures act as a gating mechanism which nicely explains why not everyone with hearing loss experiences tinnitus. His research centers on understanding the mechanisms at work in the limbic system and this understanding will lead to better treatments and eventually a cure. Here is a very hasty and rough schematic.

There's no doubt in laymen words that the limbic system is the cause to receive tinnitus, but some physical damage with sensory influence must also happen and that damage isn't only just to the ear.

All tinnitus researchers focus on the brain and ear where other medical researchers focus on thousands of medical conditions. These other researchers have found thousands of tinnitus associations all either by self with sensory or with association to multiple connecting conditions.

The thyroid and the sternocleidomastoid muscle can each have association to 60 other sensory areas.

There will never be a single cure for all. For many a physical problem must be treated first.

 

[Jazzer]

Sounds better with the British accent.

Yep - most things do as it happens!!

(only kidding)

 

[Jazzer]

I really thought this podcast would get our community talking - commenting - but not many responders so far?

 

[Jazzer]

but he has since changed his ways.

......Coercion is a dreadful thing......!

 

[Hazel]

I really thought this podcast would get our community talking - commenting - but not many responders so far?

Indeed, would like to trigger more discussion here!

So far, nearly 300 listeners, which is not bad at all. But would love to get more and get more people here to discuss.

So .... please everyone, do share this link on your social media if you can!!!

 

[Jazzer]

Indeed, would like to trigger more discussion here!

So far, nearly 300 listeners, which is not bad at all. But would love to get more and get more people here to discuss.

So .... please everyone, do share this link on your social media if you can!!!

Just a thought Hazel.

Of course, those of us with this affliction are crucially interested in every word.

But I can't help thinking that 'average Joe' (whoever he is) would not be as interested in the nitty-gritty, as we are.

I do post items on social media quite a bit, but I don't think this piece, good as it is, would sustain 'their' interest throughout its length.

 

[Deamon22]

I liked the podcast a lot. I am not really discouraged that he did not say anything about Neuromod, maybe he really wasn't up to date (they kind of seem a bit low profile to me) and thus he rather didn't say anything.

@Hazel if you are sending still some follow up questions, could you ask him what he would generally advise tinnitus sufferer to do? He already talked about the importance of sleep, anything else he could recommend? I know this is a pretty general question, but maybe he has some tricks up his sleeves that he would like to share

 

[Hazel]

But I can't help thinking that 'average Joe' (whoever he is) would not be as interested in the nitty-gritty, as we are.

I do post items on social media quite a bit, but I don't think this piece, good as it is, would sustain 'their' interest throughout its length.

The target audience indeed is basically people with tinnitus, not the general public. So if you're sure none of your social media contacts are interested, there's probably no point indeed. What would help more is posting on any other online tinnitus groups that you may be a part of.

 

[Jazzer]

The target audience indeed is basically people with tinnitus, not the general public. So if you're sure none of your social media contacts are interested, there's probably no point indeed. What would help more is posting on any other online tinnitus groups that you may be a part of.

I have had no contact with other tinnitus groups.

 

[Agrajag364]

I think so, although I pronounce it like Dr. Rauschecker, since it is the same as in German.

German accents are so nice, especially those of the over 50s. Young Germans seem to have such good English they barely have accents.

 

[Bam]

Very uncomfortable with chimps being given tinnitus. I would rather be given the option of being put down than a defenseless highly intelligent animal be wilfully afflicted with this awful curse and be made to suffer like us.

 

[Ed209]

Very uncomfortable with chimps being given tinnitus. I would rather be given the option of being put down than a defenseless highly intelligent animal be wilfully afflicted with this awful curse and be made to suffer like us.

They're not giving chimps tinnitus. He said they are specifically targeting older chimps that are displaying signs of already having tinnitus via an eye blink response test. However, he did say they will temporarily induce tinnitus by using aspirin.

 

[Watasha]

@Hazel, @Jack Straw, @Markku, @Steve and anyone else I failed to mention.

I loved the podcast and found it to be by far one of the most interesting items surrounding tinnitus research I've come across and I thank ya'll for your efforts.

Most things worthwhile require fighting for, so don't give up the good fight.

There's a small army of people lurking in the shadows waiting for that one moment to join the fight but they're going to need a leader so keep doing what you're doing.

 

[Jazzer]

Very uncomfortable with chimps being given tinnitus. I would rather be given the option of being put down than a defenseless highly intelligent animal be wilfully afflicted with this awful curse and be made to suffer like us.

I have to agree.

However, every single drug in common use has been animal tested, as far as I am aware.
Even your 'headache' tablet.

I adore animals.
Yet I was brought up to eat meat, which I still do.
I wish I had been brought up to be vegetarian, or better still vegan, but that does nothing to absolve me from my guilt does it?
Several members of my family have lived and died with 'hateful' illnesses, the treatment for which was chemotherapy.
Thank goodness for the existence of those drugs.

I think it is hypocracy to deny animal testing, yet slaughter animals for food.
These are some of the dilemmas created by this weird life that we are condemned to live.

My wish is that all animal slaughter was truly humane.
I totally despise ritual slaughter, in the name of god.
'Human kindness' before 'god fearing', for christ sake.

 

[kmohoruk]

I just wanted to say thank you to @Hazel, @Markku, @Steve and anyone else involved in the project for all the hard work they put into launching this effort. You guys are doing amazing work!

Keep up the great work! I look to donate to Tinnitus Talk in the future (once my job situation stabilizes), and get other family members to support Tinnitus Talk financially in the future (I just need to show them how to donate online )

 

[Jazzer]

@Bam - I mean - what are we going to feed our pets on - parsnips....?

 

[Bam]

@Bam - I mean - what are we going to feed our pets on - parsnips....?

I'm fine with eating animals mate. To be honest I toyed with veganism a few years ago but since getting this incurable evil I'm even more okay about slaughtering animals. As we've discovered the hard way there's worse things In life than dying. Far far worse.

As long as they've had a humane life and the end is quick and they don't suffer....which is the exact opposite of having this awful shit ringing in your head endlessly.

What I wouldn't give for a bolt gun to the head.

 

[Contrast]

Great work on this podcast. I'm glad he got to clarify his gating mechanism which is different from Robert Levine's hypothesis.

I tied the two together for the most part.

 

[EDDTEKK]

Great Work!

But I am disappointed unfortunately.

First: it takes another 10 years for a "cure".

Second: Dr. Rauschecker isn't aware of bi-modal stimulation. This shows me that researchers don't talk to each other, even in TRI meetings which take place every year.

So sad about this.

 

[Contrast]

Great Work!

But I am disappointed unfortunately.

First: it takes another 10 years for a "cure".

Second: Dr. Rauschecker isn't aware of bi-modal stimulation. This shows me that researchers don't talk to each other, even in TRI meetings which take place every year.

So sad about this.

Exactly. I was feeling the same way, lack of communication between research groups.