- Jul 25, 2023
- 120
- Tinnitus Since
- 02/2023
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Night club in Feb ‘23, MRI in Feb '24, drummer since age 15
Sharing a very recent article from Johns Hopkins from 13 February 2024. Here's the link. I've attached a PDF version, and a synopsis below:
Type II fibers activating following cochlear damage as the main hypothesis, in line with Norena's research. Here's a simplified abstract of this paper (GPT): Damage to the cochlea, the part of the ear that helps us hear, can not only cause hearing loss but also lead to conditions where sounds become painfully loud, known as hyperacusis. This is thought to happen when a specific type of nerve cell in the cochlea, called type II cochlear afferents, which are similar to pain-sensing nerves in our body, carry signals of pain to the brain. These nerve cells and the surrounding ear tissue react to damage by releasing certain substances that create a wave of calcium inside the cochlea. This process is important in causing cochlear damage and hyperacusis. Scientists have studied how these nerve cells and tissues respond to damage, including how they react to loud noises before, which can make these cells more sensitive and active. This increased activity could explain why sounds become painfully loud in hyperacusis.