Ten years ago, when James Rand was working as a DJ in Liverpool, England, he would often hear strange sounds when he was off work that he knew were not real—a high-pitched whine or a low rumble. These tinnitus symptoms always went away when he woke up… until one day in 2017, they didn’t go away.
A doctor confirmed that the noises may have been caused by Rand being exposed to loud music for hours on end. There was no treatment, no way to help him adapt. “I knew I would never hear silence again,” he said. “It’s incredibly frustrating.”
Today, however, the prospects for treating tinnitus are not so bleak. New research has developed neurostimulation devices that can reduce the volume of sounds. Additionally, several treatments are in development that may even eliminate tinnitus entirely. “For the first time we are discussing possible treatments,” said Stephen Mason at Harvard Medical School.
These insights also shed light on common causes of hearing loss. In fact, they believe some of the same tinnitus treatments may also restore hearing in people who have become partially deaf as they age. “It revolutionizes the way we think about hearing loss,” Mason said.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is one of the most common long-term illnesses, Affects up to a quarter of older adults. While the whines and rumblings experienced by Rand are common forms, others may hear whistles, buzzes, clicks, and even musical hallucinations. These sounds can be intrusive and distracting, sometimes leading to depression, anxiety…
