Lauer Tinnitus Research Center Opens at Mass Eye & Ear

[Champ]

Some news from the locals.

http://www.masseyeandear.org/resear...s/laboratories/lauer-tinnitus-research-center

Lauer Tinnitus Research Center

In partnership with the Lauer family, Massachusetts Eye and Ear launched the Lauer Tinnitus Research Center in 2015 with the goal of advancing research to better understand and treat the debilitating condition of tinnitus.

Tinnitus or "ringing in the ears" is an often unbearable condition that affects more than 50 million Americans. It refers to the perception of sound when no external sound is present. Tinnitus has long been associated with hearing damage (e.g., overexposure to loud sound); but in recent years, scientists have hypothesized that loss of neuronal activity, from either auditory or non-auditory centers, can result in a re-adjustment in the brain circuits that mediate hearing. When nerve cells in the brain not receive adequate sensory input, they may compensate by amplifying all incoming signals. In some situations, this readjustment may lead to the perception of sounds when no sounds are present.

Led by M. Charles Liberman, Ph.D., Stéphane Maison, Ph.D., M.S., Jennifer Melcher, Ph.D., Daniel Polley, Ph.D., and Konstantina Stankovic, M.D., Ph.D., the Research Center brings together years of experience and state-of-the-art research techniques to bear on the problem of tinnitus.



The following strategies are underway to study tinnitus in the ear and the brain:

• Cochlear Nerve Repair and Tinnitus – Dr. Charlie Liberman, along with his colleague Dr. Sharon Kujawa, discovered in 2009 that even brief exposure to loud noise can result in permanent loss of auditory nerve fibers. They named this condition "hidden hearing loss," because it does not affect the audiogram or appear in routine histological preparations of the cochlea. However, the loss of communication between the inner ear and cochlear nerve may be a root cause for difficulties understanding speech in noisy environments and may be a key link in the chain of events that causes tinnitus. Dr. Liberman and his colleagues are working on therapeutic approaches to regrow these sensory neurons in mouse models in hopes of restoring hearing function and alleviating tinnitus.

• Imaging the Inner Ear in Tinnitus – Dr. Konstantina Stankovic is pioneering the development of a new technology to non-invasively image the tiny sensory cells of the human inner ear. Because the inner ear is encased in the hardest bone in the body, no current imaging techniques can "see" the cells and neurons of the ear. Her research aims to develop an endoscope to be used in the exam room to assess neuronal survival in the inner ear, a key to diagnosing the cause of tinnitus.

• Tinnitus in the Brain – Dr. Dan Polley is a leading expert in the physiology and plasticity of auditory processing areas of the brain. He is using cutting edge technologies for chronic imaging at a cellular scale to assess changes in the patterns of neural activity that represent the underlying signature of tinnitus in mouse models. His work is also investigating new strategies for direct brain stimulation that might reverse pathological patterns of activity and restore more normal sound perception.

• Testing Tinnitus Strategies in Humans – In 2000, Dr. Jennifer Melcher was the first to demonstrate tinnitus-related hyperactivity in the human brain using functional MRI imaging (fMRI). An expert in this technique, she will use fMRI to scientifically test the efficacy of potential strategies for tinnitus. Her first targets will be to investigate the efficacy of hearing aids and bite guards to alleviate tinnitus. Her research will provide evidence-based knowledge to physicians and patients and help to offer near-term treatment options for some patients.

• Dr. Dan Polley will be investigating new approaches to turn down the subjective intensity of tinnitus and restore more normal abilities to follow conversations in noisy environments. Using a customized auditory training software interface, Dr. Polley and his team have been successful in boosting speech recognition abilities in persons with hearing loss and now wish to apply this technology to tinnitus. Dr. Polley will be combining electrophysiological testing with his new approach for "brain training" to identify physiological changes in brain processing that accompany improvements in speech recognition and tinnitus severity.

• Dr. Liberman and Dr. Stéphane Maison will be following up on their 2016 study that identified a physiological signature for a "hidden hearing loss" that cannot be detected with conventional audiological tests but underlies difficulties tracking speech in noisy environments. Liberman and Maison will develop and refine their battery of tests to identify objective physiologic measures of aberrant neural processing that "hides" behind normal audiograms but may provide important clues about the mechanisms and manifestations of tinnitus.

The Lauer Tinnitus Research Center will undoubtedly drive the field forward in developing scientifically proven treatments to alleviate tinnitus.

There is also a Tinnitus Information Seminar happening at Mass. Eye and Ear, Meltzer Auditorium, 3rd Floor on November 16th (a Wednesday) from 7:00pm-9:00pm. If it's Mass Eye & Ear there should be good information.

 

[Mentos]

Good news, I believe these people have potential to help us.

 

[ruben ruiz]

When?

 

[Reinier]

Who are the Lauer family?
Philanthropists?
I read something on the internet about Matt Lauer?

 

[HomeoHebbian]

Who are the Lauer family?
Philanthropists?
I read something on the internet about Matt Lauer?

They are philanthropists. No relation to Matt Lauer that I am aware of.

 

[HomeoHebbian]

This is a community event that will be held on Nov. 16 from 7-9PM

 

[HomeoHebbian]

Some news from the locals.

http://www.masseyeandear.org/resear...s/laboratories/lauer-tinnitus-research-center



There is also a Tinnitus Information Seminar happening at Mass. Eye and Ear, Meltzer Auditorium, 3rd Floor on November 16th (a Wednesday) from 7:00pm-9:00pm. If it's Mass Eye & Ear there should be good information.

Thanks for alerting people to this event. Hope to see you there.

 

[Champ]

Thanks for alerting people to this event. Hope to see you there.

Yep, I'm signed up. Looking forward to seeing what's going on.

 

[Reinier]

They are philanthropists.

I would like to thank them, but I do not have a Face book account.

 

[Derek D]

I am glad to hear that more research centers are being open up. Hopefully we are getting closer to a cure in the near future i.e within 10 years.

 

[Champ]

I'm going to be going to the Tinnitus Information Seminar tonight @ 7pm. I'll update you all with any new information I get from it.

 

[serendipity1996]

I am glad to hear that more research centers are being open up. Hopefully we are getting closer to a cure in the near future i.e within 10 years.

Really hoping things will gain momentum in this field. I know it's unhealthy for my current mental state to revolve around 'when will they find a cure' but ugh

 

[T-Hater]

IF THEY DONT QUIT PLAYING AROUND AND HURRY UP, HONESTLY CAN WE JUST SKIP ALL THE CHARADES AND GET TO WORK. JESUS. IT EITHER WORKS OR IT DOESNT, IF IT DOESNT THEN TRY AGAIN JESUS.

im really considering quitting everything to become an ent doctor or a scientist. i know its hard work but i feel they heart is just not in it

 

[gotyoubynuts]

im really considering quitting everything to become an ent doctor or a scientist. i know its hard work but i feel they heart is just not in it

Good luck with that. Based on your writings it would be a miracle if you made it into med school. Maybe being a truck driver is more your thing... no offense...

 

[T-Hater]

Good luck with that. Based on your writings it would be a miracle if you made it into med school. Maybe being a truck driver is more your thing... no offense...

oh HAHA hilarious.....

you would think a person with tinnitus since the 90s would sympathize and feel his fairly new tinnitus brethren on this, i mean come on, but what ever i guess

But like i was saying man i wonder if their hearts are truly in it. i mean yeah they wanna help but would their cause be greater if they themselves were afflicted with it. i simply ask this based off all the ENTS i met.

 

[T-Hater]

I'm going to be going to the Tinnitus Information Seminar tonight @ 7pm. I'll update you all with any new information I get from it.

Hey bro ask them if theres anything AND I MEAN ANYTHING WE THE PEOPLE CAN DO, WHETER ITS TO HELP FUNDING, PROMOTE AWARENESS, MEDIA, ETC ETC.

bro im serious i tried my best to hide/ ignore this crap but now it has become my obsession. we need a cure pronto
life is too short as it is, and this aint living. So again man ask them if theres anything we the people can do to help them.

 

[Champ]

I'm in the auditorium on the right side. If you're here and want to say hi I'll be around after for a bit before I head out.

 

[IreneO]

Good luck with that. Based on your writings it would be a miracle if you made it into med school. Maybe being a truck driver is more your thing... no offense...

 

[Vinnitus]

I'm in the auditorium on the right side. If you're here and want to say hi I'll be around after for a bit before I head out.

Please be kind to update us on anything interesting being discussed during this seminar. I'm unfortunately overseas, else I would have attended myself. Is there anything new? Or has it been mainly about the good old story of "managing techniques for Tinnitus"?

 

[Champ]

Please be kind to update us on anything interesting being discussed during this seminar. I'm unfortunately overseas, else I would have attended myself. Is there anything new? Or has it been mainly about the good old story of "managing techniques for Tinnitus"?

A lot of it was about managing tinnitus.

However, there pretty good information this time around that I had not known. Apparently interventions such as acupuncture, physical therapy, TMJ correct, rTMS, and other techniques do legitimately help a lot of people. I actually met a few people who successfully treated their tinnitus there, although most people there still had it of course.

I'm going to try a few other avenues that I was skeptical about just to see if there's any change on my part.

 

[Candy]

None of that was mentioned at the London one, good to know!

 

[gotyoubynuts]

None of that was mentioned at the London one, good to know!

well BTA is a joke so no surprise their event sucked...

 

[Carlos1]

I emailed ME&E on the latest clinical trials and this is the feedback I got.
They just recently had a seminar in Boston the video links below are the actually seminars

Password is massear


Dr. Aaron Remenschneider-_V2 and Introduction

Charlotte Morse-Fortier

Zeina El-Chemali, MD

Shuchi_Dhadwal,MD

Noah_Siegel,MD

password: massear

Stay Strong
Carlos

 

[Mic]

They received an additional 20M$ for more research on hearing loss (and I hope tinnitus also).

More information:

http://www.masseyeandear.org/news/p...to-mass-eye-and-ear-among-largest-for-hearing

 

[Foncky]

Is this anonymous gift from a TT member ?

 

[Mentos]

I just recieved an email from Stephane Maison from Mass. Eye and Ear, one of the founders of Lauer Tinnitus Research Center with regards to testing diagnostics of hidden hearing loss & cochlear synaptopathy:
" The Federal Government will fund our grant proposal. We received notice last week that our NIH grant has been funded. I'm working with a software engineer to get our protocol ready. I can not wait to start but I have to make sure that everything is in place before recruiting. I can not predict when it will be but hopefully next month….."
So it seems diagnostics of cochlear synaptopathy is on a way and will be tested soon.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Champ
I've well aware of Massachusetts Eye and Ear. I once lived just outside of Boston and knew many friends and some relatives that went there. I also worked for both very large medical corporations and medical government agencies. I agree with you. In my opinion it's best to have a complete 3D CT scan that will image your entire head - ears, mouth, jaws and nerves, forehead and neck included. I would do this with a private 3D imaging center. Then as you said, you will know what therapy may help.

If one has a sudden noise trauma then getting drugs such as prednisone from the Mass Eye and Ear is wise. Or it you have an infection I would seek treatment from them.

 

[Foncky]

I just recieved an email from Stephane Maison from Mass. Eye and Ear, one of the founders of Lauer Tinnitus Research Center with regards to testing diagnostics of hidden hearing loss & cochlear synaptopathy:
" The Federal Government will fund our grant proposal. We received notice last week that our NIH grant has been funded. I'm working with a software engineer to get our protocol ready. I can not wait to start but I have to make sure that everything is in place before recruiting. I can not predict when it will be but hopefully next month….."
So it seems diagnostics of cochlear synaptopathy is on a way and will be tested soon.

Big news !

 

[lapidus]

(and I hope tinnitus also)

Hopefully yes. In the article it says:

"The gift will allow Mass. Eye and Ear to provide long-term sustained research support in the areas of hearing and balance, seed new Chairs for faculty and enable recruitment of additional world-leading hearing researchers. Scientists at the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories are focused on understanding hearing from the outer ear to the brain, with the goal of pursuing new treatment strategies for hearing loss and other hearing impairments such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hyperacusis (painful hearing sensitivity), as well as balance disorders."

 

[Reinier]

Is this anonymous gift from a TT member ?

I would have if I could have.
But very good news indeed.