University of Canterbury. New Zealand: A University of Canterbury clinical audiologist is investigating
treatments and training approaches to help improve management of hearing
loss and tinnitus, which is a ringing in people’s ears. Dr Kim Wise has just has recently joined the University’s Department
of Communication Disorders as a lecturer and says that clinically, one
of the most pressing issues is meeting the need of New Zealanders
requiring hearing and tinnitus consultation, management and support.
Internationally, about 10 to 15 percent of adults face chronic
tinnitus—the perception of noise or sounds in the ears or head often
described as ringing, buzzing or hissing without an external cause.
“Of those experiencing tinnitus, 20 percent will seek clinical
treatment and advice. Nearly 91 percent of those presenting with
tinnitus as a primary concern will also demonstrate measurable hearing
loss,” Dr Wise says.
”There is therefore, a link between various types of hearing loss,
hearing system injury or pathology, and tinnitus emergence. There are
sometimes other factors which may occur with, contribute to, or sustain
tinnitus—such as sleep disturbance, attention and concentration issues,
depression and anxiety—but treating hearing loss is an important initial
step in tinnitus management.
“Although global statistics suggest roughly 10 percent of the
population has hearing loss, the World Health Organisation reports that
about a third of people over the age of 65 are affected by hearing loss,
significantly affecting their quality of life. The number of
individuals over 65 is anticipated to double by the year 2030.
“The brain has the ability to change, demonstrating plasticity.
Medical treatment and some forms of training can help patients regain
function after stroke such as improved speech, memory, attention and
concentration.
“However, the brain can also manifest maladaptive change due to
injury, perceptual changes in the sensory systems, or disease. I have
been involved in research developing an attention-based training method
to manage tinnitus.
“The project was aimed to determine if a computer-based auditory
perceptual training game would result in the reduction of tinnitus and
if any improvements were due to auditory attention. Participants
involved in the study experienced significant changes in selective
attention and an improved capacity for ignoring their tinnitus. If
sounds associated with people’s work, recreation or when socialising is
so intense they need to shout they could be damaging their hearing
through this level of exposure.”
Dr Wise aims to continue her research in attention-related approaches
for tinnitus and is keen on applying these methods to potentially
arrest, or improve cognitive ageing. She recommends people with hearing
issues should protect their hearing, to preserve it. If unsure, sound
level meters and dosimeters could be used to help determine if some
noise levels are unsafe.