How Is Tinnitus Confirmed?

[tinnitussufferer]

tinnitus is not a structural brain problem, but a functional one.

it also says: Given that brain structure and function are highly related, identification of anatomical differences may shed light upon the mechanism of tinnitus generation and maintenance.

 

[linearb]

"structural" vs "functional" seems like sort of a silly argument to me -- functional problems have structural correlates. The function of the brain is a result of its structure. You cannot alter the maximum velocity of a car without making structural changes to it. You can do something like use a higher octane fuel which will cause a functional change in the engine, but if you run the engine at that higher velocity for a period of time, this will cause structural changes to it in terms of how it wears.

A big reason for the wide differences in results from different studies, is probably just that tinnitus is a symptom which seems to result from a wide variety of underlaying etiologies. Consider a mixed group of people who had severe acoustic trauma and people who were on a course of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, and people who withdrew from a strong GABA(b) agonist rapidly. They may all have the same subjective complaint (tinnitus). It's unlikely that the structural reasons for the symptom are the same in all cases, and it may be unlikely that a treatment which works well for one subclass works for the other two.

 

[erik]

I think tinnitus covers any wide range of noises, buzzing, ringing, clicking etc --whatever sounds that are not normally heard by the masses or that you didn't necessarily hear before you noticed it. I don't think you need a test to know that you have T; unless you are testing for hearing loss, or some other medical reason to why you might have T or a kind of T like Pulsatile T.

 

[dan]

@tinnitussufferer, I agree with you. I just think that tinnitus after acute noise trauma is not so much a result of brain structural changes. Science has shown that tinnitus causing activity happens immediately post trauma, I.e. the brain cannot structurally change within 24hrs. What changes is brain plasticity- which is a functional neuronal maladaptation- WHICH leads to reduced white matter in specific limbic areas in the long term. There are many forms of T, some surely are the result of some brain structural defect/damage, but I am talking strictly auditory acute trauma like they induce in rats.

 

[click]

"structural" vs "functional" seems like sort of a silly argument to me -- functional problems have structural correlates. The function of the brain is a result of its structure. You cannot alter the maximum velocity of a car without making structural changes to it. You can do something like use a higher octane fuel which will cause a functional change in the engine, but if you run the engine at that higher velocity for a period of time, this will cause structural changes to it in terms of how it wears.

A big reason for the wide differences in results from different studies, is probably just that tinnitus is a symptom which seems to result from a wide variety of underlaying etiologies. Consider a mixed group of people who had severe acoustic trauma and people who were on a course of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, and people who withdrew from a strong GABA(b) agonist rapidly. They may all have the same subjective complaint (tinnitus). It's unlikely that the structural reasons for the symptom are the same in all cases, and it may be unlikely that a treatment which works well for one subclass works for the other two.

I agree..
also, over the last 3 years, I've been amazed by how many different 'types' of T there are. The symptoms of T vary massively. A critical step in finding a cure will be to to define those differences and link them to the individual causes, where known. I've yet to see a study that's even attempted this.

 

[Avabelle]

@Avabelle
The clicking, as any other noise that we hear in out head without an external noise enters in the definition of tinnitus. But of course has a completely different etiology than the "eeeeeeeeee" T.
I heard that clicking can be cause by ETD (Eustachian tubes dysfunction), tympanic myoclonus, as well as soft palate myoclonus, which are other neurological problems than neurons hyperactivity, of course.

Thanks Dana...can my Eustachian tubes be fixed? Do I have any options like Botox or surgery?

 

[PaulBe]

I've yet to see a study that's even attempted this.

Too much time gets wasted on surveys that measure how upset we get about having these conditions, rather than studying the conditions themselves.

 

[Kfschall]

It's frustrating, I try and to explain it but most docs( and people) I talk to just ignore I even mention it. Been asked if its been confirmed I have it, but without a test to show it no one believes me. I feel like going to the ENT Tuesday is a waste of time.

 

[NiNyu]

@tinnitussufferer, if they don't believe you to have T 'cause they *can't hear it* light some firecrackers next to them in confined spaces. I bet after that they can hear **it** loud and clearly too.
Oh, and don't forget to wear earplugs yourself.
#
@Richard zurowski, what makes you so sure that there will be a cure not far away?
Just to make things clear, in theory we all know what causes T: neurons in the brain and cochlea that go apeshit 24/7 for whatever the reason. But how to remove/destroy/stop the hyper firing neurons without invasive, trial and error lobotomy?
Bottom line we are not further than we were in the '50s. Everything about the brain is a trial and error gamble. A guessing game. And since the skull is the hardest nut there won't be any clinical trials. Moreover, T isn't taken seriously. Essentially it doesn't exist. It's all inside your head literally. I don't blame society. I mean, why should they bother with something they don't suffer from? But I blame the healthcare system that doesn't give a shit and primarily blows money for useless treatments like rudimentary psychology, which is by the way a bestseller for all kind of severe physical ailments. And this gets us nowhere 'cause it's just another placebo that merely works for those that have it **mild**.
Therefore, if you see a physician that's about to treat you for your T make sure to ask if they have T as well. If they don't, **leave* immediately!
How can you expect that someone that isn't suffering from T can understand you, let alone help you?
If they claim to have T, ask them to describe it. This should reveal its authenticity or not.

 

[NiNyu]

Been asked if its been confirmed I have it

Yeah, first thing is to **get T** confirmed. Maybe you don't have it. If you are lucky. I think that says it all T does not exist for most people.

Honestly, it's a waste of time to go to see a ENT. They can't help us. No one can.