Light Therapy in Treatment of Tinnitus...

[erik]

Government praise work to end misery of tinnitus

A new technology developed by the University of Leicester to provide relief for sufferers of a debilitating medical condition has been praised by a Government minister. The project has been named as a finalist in a national competition and will now go on display in London.
This new technology aims to provide intermittent relief for sufferers of Tinnitus, which is said to affect 10 per cent of the western population.The device was selected for its innovative and forward-thinking nature, and for being an example of British manufacturing creativity at its best.

It is based on the discovery that exposure to light of individually tailored colour can provide relief from tinnitus symptoms in 40 per cent of sufferers. The technology uses red, green and blue LEDs, tuned specifically to each individual, which they stare at for a defined period to achieve symptomatic relief.

Alongside the tinnitus relief technology, other successful entries of the Make it in Great Britain Challenge include a new technology which could offer relief to tinnitus sufferers, an eco-friendly alternative to everyday cement that could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent and a pushchair that can be folded down to a 32 litre-size rucksack.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said: "The University of Leicester has come up with a great idea. Tinnitus is a horrible condition."

It will now be displayed in the Make it in Great Britain exhibition at the Science Museum between July 24 and September 9. This will be featured alongside exhibits from iconic companies including Mars, McLaren, Airbus and The Royal Mint.

Mr Prisk said: "The UK is full of creative manufacturing expertise, and I'm delighted that we are able to celebrate some of the best pre-market ideas through the challenge."
Each Make it in Great Britain Challenge finalist will be on display for one week of the exhibition. Visitors to the six-week exhibition will be invited to vote on their favourite Make it in Great Britain entry.

The winners from each weekly vote will feature together in the final week of the exhibit.

 

[calin]

Interesting Erik!

I use light therapy - called Light Relief - and it works great for aches, inflammation swelling, sprains, etc.

Too bad there isn't more on this technology.

The future in medicine is light and sound!!!

 

[erik]

Update on this light therapy....

The University of Leicester is shortlisted in the Life-Changing category. Tinnitus is estimated to affect up to 10% of the western population. The tinnitus relief technology is being developed at the University of Leicester in collaboration with industrial partners Orthoscopics and the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

The technology may provide potential respite for responsive tinnitus sufferers and is based on the discovery that exposure to precise 'narrow band' wavelengths of light from the colour spectrum appears to provide relief from Tinnitus symptoms in an estimated 40% of sufferers. The technology uses red, green and blue LEDs, that can be finely adjusted to produce a colour specific to an individual. Responsive tinnitus sufferers report symptomatic relief over the period of light exposure.

Earlier this year, the technology won a Design Council Award to turn smart ideas into viable products through design. The University of Leicester application, led by the Enterprise and Business Development Team, got the go-ahead to spearhead four groundbreaking research advances — including the tinnitus relief project — in the 2011 Innovate for Universities mentoring service.

Dr Mike Mulheran, based in the University Medical School and part of the research team pioneering this project said, "Obviously I am thrilled and delighted that the University of Leicester has been selected as finalists in this strong national competition. Our project was carried out with ENT colleagues at Leicester Royal Infirmary. It appears that the precise spectral colour in some tinnitus patients results in changed perception of their tinnitus. Our aim with the Design Council support is to better develop this technology for customised personal use at home."

Tas Gohir, Intellectual Property Manager at the University of Leicester, said: "I am very pleased to see ground-breaking University of Leicester technology receiving this national recognition. It is a great opportunity to showcase the innovation to tinnitus sufferers, as well as potential commercial partners interested in the technology."

 

[Molan]

Interesting thanks for posting Erik, I do remember reading about this last year in an article.

Since I live in London I think it might be worth going to pay a visit to the Science museum. Last time I was there was on a school trip when I was a kid!

 

[erik]

Hi Molan

Yes, I wish I was closer. I live in USA now but spent 8 years living in the UK. I think it would be worth a closer look. Looks like the U of Leceister is doing some great research in tinnitus area.

If you do go, please keep this thread updated. Thanks

 

[carlover]

Found your post Erik as i was going to start one,a further study from Leicester NHS trust has shown a trial with 94 people ,45% had their T noise halved ,with blue light having the greatest effect

 

[Grant1]

Found your post Erik as i was going to start one,a further study from Leicester NHS trust has shown a trial with 94 people ,45% had their T noise halved ,with blue light having the greatest effect

Hi carlover. Would you have a link to the new study? Thanks.

 

[Royal&Bourbon]

Hi, excited to be here. I've posted over at TSMB for a while. This board seems to emphasize research and new treatments, which is great! I'm pretty much fully habituated and rarely hear my tinnitus, but being something of a science junkie (total amateur....no professional experience) who loves to read about studies and research in general, I am happy to have found a place to both read and share about tinnitus related research!

In case anyone is curious about my nick...it's a reference to a famous New Orleans street corner. I'm not from there, but it's one of my favorite places to go and the nick is just pure randomness.

I had a post ready to go but it contained links, and you have to have at least one post without links to prevent spam. So, I thought I'd introduce myself.

 

[Royal&Bourbon]

There has been some work in mice and humans on LLLT (near infrared lower level light therapy) at Mass General in Boston for TBI. LLLT was tested on two case studies (link below) and showed very promising results. I also found article discussing LLLT being investigated for depression.

The case studies were published in May 2011. A more recent study from 2013 shows promise for severe TBI in mice (also conducted at Mass General). I was told by the director of the case studies via e-mail that Mass General was going to test the same LLLT device used with in the case studies in a human trial in 2012. However, I can't find any articles about this, but the mice study they conducted showed very promising results. (For whatever reason, they appeared to have gone back to mice subjects.... possibly to rule out side effects before proceeding with more human studies).

I have read in more than one article/ study that tinnitus might involve chronic inflammation. LLLT appears to possibly address inflammation. This might explain its at least partial efficacy in humans.

Human case studies published May, 2011; Mass General Boston:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3104287/

Mouse study published January, 2013; Mass General Boston:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23308226

 

[jazz]

The case studies were published in May 2011. A more recent study from 2013 shows promise for severe TBI in mice (also conducted at Mass General). I was told by the director of the case studies via e-mail that Mass General was going to test the same LLLT device used with in the case studies in a human trial in 2012. However, I can't find any articles about this, but the mice study they conducted showed very promising results. (For whatever reason, they appeared to have gone back to mice subjects.... possibly to rule out side effects before proceeding with more human studies).

I have read in more than one article/ study that tinnitus might involve chronic inflammation. LLLT appears to possibly address inflammation. This might explain its at least partial efficacy in humans.

Hi Royal&Bourbon and welcome to TT!

Did a recent pubmed search (not comprehensive) on LLLT and tinnitus. Of the six articles encountered, four were favorable. I agree that chronic inflammation is part of tinnitus--at least when it's of a cochlear origin. From personal experiences, I've found some relief whenever I take my nasal steroids, and an increase in symptoms when I've withdrawn from them. (And I don't think this is from a "rebound effect.")

Did your contact at Mass General talk about specifically about tinnitus studies or just TBI--though, obviously, tinnitus often accompanies such injuries so researchers should note this too?

Here's are the links. The first four are positive; the second two are negative. The most recent one, 2011, appears first:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3063436/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19205171

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17625032

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14505199

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843180

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18616089

(BTW, I've been to New Orleans. Awesome place! Can still taste the coffee and beignets at the Cafe du Monde! )

 

[Royal&Bourbon]

jazz,

Haha I actually considered a jazz reference for my screen name.

Thanks for those links! Some of the more knowledgeable posters on the other tinnitus board I visit have pretty much dismissed LLLT in the past, possibly based on the next to the last study you linked to above, but I believe there is some promise that some form of this therapy will help sufferers.

One huge advantage to this type of treatment is the ease of use. There is no need for any sub-cranial implants, and the device can be portable and used in the home without much difficulty or any discomfort.

Similar devices to those used in the TBI case study are actually currently available on the market for use in the home, according to my contact at Mass General, and cost somewhere around $4000 USD (give or take...and at the time I looked them up online in 2011). They are, however, controlled medical devices, and need a prescription or a letter from a doctor to purchase, if I remember correctly. I actually did not mention tinnitus in my inquiry since my primary concern is TBI and I only hear my tinnitus now and then due to apparent habituation.

Thankfully, my TBI symptoms have generally subsided as I was told they probably would over time. I'm not 100%, but getting better! Anyway, thanks for the welcome and the links. This seems like a great place!

 

[Grant1]

Bourbon, thanks so much for posting here.

 

[carlover]

Hi Grant sorry cant help with a link,It was an article in a British Newspaper The Daily Mail. Funny ,they do a health page section every week ,and T figures In a lot of them ,wonder if the editer Is a sufferer

 

[Markku]

For Grant... and others interested:

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/medica...e-home-treatment-for-tinnitus/1010772.article

Dated November 2011

Research into treating tinnitus with coloured light could lead to a personal medical device under a Design Council-supported scheme.
Scientists from Leicester University and UK company Orthoscopics will work with designers from the public body to explore ways in which research on the treatment could be commercialised for use in the home.

The researchers have conducted a study that found around 40 to 45 per cent of patients reported that their tinnitus was reduced by around 50 per cent when looking at an area of coloured light illuminated by Orthoscopics' LED 'Read Eye' lamp.

Although the exact mechanism for how this happens is unknown, Leicester's project leader Dr Mike Mulheran said that it may be due to the unusual light the lamp produces, which mixes red, green and blue colours with very specific or 'tight' frequencies.

'We think it may be selective attention by the brain to this that results in less perceptual processing being given to tinnitus — which is another unusual and "unnatural" signal,' he told The Engineer.

More research is needed to establish details, such as how long the effects last, but the team ultimately aims to adapt the treatment for home use and in varying environmental conditions.

'This may be a modified Read Eye lamp, with memory and simple programming functions,' said Mulheran.
'The actual design of the lamp may take a number of configurations depending on the specific user environment.'
The treatment, which the Orthoscopics researchers came across while using the Read Eye lamp to prescribe tinted lenses for migraine sufferers, appears to involve the interaction of sensory signals in the brain.

This cross-sensory integration means that information from one sense can alter the brain's perception of stimuli from other senses, although scientists have yet to define the exact circuitry involved.

Tinnitus — which affects up to 10 per cent of the UK population — is the perception of sound in the ear without the existence of an external sound, which makes it very difficult to objectively test and treat.

Existing treatments range from acoustic masking with other sounds and talking therapy, to drugs, implants, electro-stimulation and radiosurgery.

The Design Council is providing design support for the project, which is one of four from Leicester University to receive help from the organisation under the 2011 Innovate for Universities mentoring service. Another six universities are also taking part in the scheme.

 

[SteveToHeal]

I see this post was some time back. Are there any further updates? Anyone tried this? Market availability?

 

[J-rod]

I did some searching but have not found any updates, I do have questions though. Would this line of treatment be related to the Bioptron? If recall correctly the Bioptron has been said to be quackery and a questionable practice.

By chance let us just say this is unrelated and it's just a simple brain hacking technique. What would stop someone from setting up an app on their monitor to simulate the blue colors needed for therapy? The idea of using tinted lenses to reduce migraine and visual discomfort has been well documented over the years. Seeing as how migraines and tinnitus sometimes find themselves on the same card tables warrants a further look I think. Perhaps this is an easier treatment than once thought and would only need the correct prescription of blue tinted reading glasses? In contrast however is the principal that blue light inhibits the production of melatonin.

Any minute now I will probably find myself at 5-am looking rather insane with blue movie-star sunglasses and bright leds strapped to my forehead.

 

[Beste]

Any updates to this study? This looks interesting but we do not hear about it lately.

 

[Samir]

Just found this as I was going to post a new thread myself. I am always too late. Anyway, here is the Daily Mail article on this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4197322/Can-coloured-lights-really-stop-ringing-ears.html

 

[Michael Larsen]

Sounds great, where can I buy one of these coloured lamps

 

[Newloud]

This is interesting. The true cure or alleviation could very well be along the lines of giving the brain something else to worry about, and it doesn't necessarily have to be sound. Perhaps trying to cure tinnitus with sound is misguided.

 

[Bobby B]

"the group of patients stared for 3 hours at very bright colored flashing lights and some reported a reduction of perceived tinnitus loudness for up to 10 minutes at the end of the session"

 

[Eltel]

I rang them and spoke to someone in the Hearing department ,they knew nothing of any trials and tbh was unhelpful

Eltel

 

[Tom Cnyc]

"the group of patients stared for 3 hours at very bright colored flashing lights and some reported a reduction of perceived tinnitus loudness for up to 10 minutes at the end of the session"

good ROI if ya ask me. lol

 

[RaZaH]

"the group of patients were hit on the head with a stick for 3 hours while being spun around in circles and some reported a reduction of perceived tinnitus loudness for up to 10 minutes at the end of the session"

 

[Steve]

Slightly related here...

I was at a place last summer with a few art installations. One of them was a zoetrope, it was huge, 3 levels of things going on. All through it spinning around I did not notice my tinnitus at all. It was only after it stopped that I heard it again, was like a jolt realising it was still there.

I made a note to look into it further but of course I have pages of these sorts of notes... It does lend a bit of credibility to me for distraction using visual stimulus. Although like I said, it was there as soon as it finished. Maybe a portable strobe light on some Google Glasses is the answer?

Found a video of it

 

[RaZaH]

I can see why you would be distracted watching that !

 

[jer]

So, I was reading at one time a lot about light therapy. From all I read it seemed to be a pretty interesting and also to a point effective treatment option for tinnitus.

Recently, I have not come across too much information about this.

What happened to light therapy? Is it called something else now? Did they prove it was not effective after all?

 

[jer]

I just saw this. Maybe it is something that has not been posted on here before. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20170207/282368334383618

 

[Frédéric]

OK. So to get rid of Tinnitus, you have to spend your whole life watching coloured lenses. It seems to be a little bit boring. It also prevents us from doing anything.

 

[Frédéric]

OK. In order to be more constructive, I did a search and found that this link was not published :
https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02772536
So dear UK folks, if you are interested, this study is currently recruiting.