Tinnitus: a mystery solved at last
This disorder affects around 10% of the population, and has a considerable impact on the quality of life of those who suffer from it. But there might be hope for a cure.
According to a study carried out by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute (USA), there is a correlation between tinnitus and auditory nerve loss. This link that cannot be detected by conventional hearing tests. In fact, research has shown that tinnitus is caused by specific damage to the auditory nerve, resulting in hyperactivity of neurons in the brain stem. The hyperactivity is thought to be the brain's response to compensate for the loss of the auditory nerve, inducing what we know as “phantom noises”. A scientific breakthrough that confirms the hypothesis that tinnitus can also occur in people with perfectly normal hearing, which could lead to new treatments.
(Anne-Sophie Debauche/Source: Consoglobe/Photo: Unsplash)
