Intro.

Both my wife and I have Tinnitus.

I myself have it only in one ear (right) with a high pitch sound with loss
of the lower tones causing a audible disturbance. Cause : Most likely a
neglected flue condintion. Approx 5 yrs.

My wife has Tinnitus in both ears with severe loss of hearing and she
suffers if Tinnitus in the centre of her brain. Cause : Meningitis approx.
15 yrs.

Through one of publications of the Dutch society of Hearing Disabilities my
wife found a new source of treatment. Until now she hasn't found (like the
most of us) no cure or relief. However there might be hope through Dr. D. de
Ridder, neurologist at the University Hospital Antwerp. Although not all the
examination have been completed it the first time she had serious attention
and a much better understanding of her disability. For the first time a
treatment has triggered a result, the Doctor isn't able to explains the
details and why the treatment worked.

The examination which caused a reaction was a test by using a needle. Before
the examination the eardrums where etherized. Then a needle was introduced,
puncturing her eardrum. The purpose was to examine reaction of the cortex to
certain sounds. After the examination (approx. 1hrs) my wife detected a
change of her Tinnitus, the low pitch sound (like a murmur) had disappeared
leaving only the high pitch.

This event took place approx. 3 weeks ago and the change still remains. She
will have a extra examination to take place in Leuven (Belgium) they have a
new technique of MRI scan at 22 dec. At January 10th the Doctor will discus
if further treatment is possible.

I will enclose a part of the new approach. If anybody is interested in the
complete article please mail me.

sliep@tiscali.nl

Article.

Magnetic and electrical stimulation of the auditory cortex for intractable
tinnitus

Case report

DIRK DE RIDDER, M.D., GERT DE MULDER, M.D., VINCENT WALSH, PH.D.,

NEIL MUGGLETON, PH.D., STEFAN SUNAERT, M.D., PH.D., AND AAGE M?LLER, PH.D.

Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Antwerp; Department of
Radiology, University

Hospital Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Cognitive Sciences, London, United
Kingdom; Callier Center for

Communication Disorders, University of Texas at Dallas, Texas

Tinnitus is a distressing symptom that affects up to 15% of the population
for whom no satisfactory treatment exists.

The authors present a novel surgical approach for the treatment of
intractable tinnitus, based on cortical stimulation of the

auditory cortex.

Tinnitus can be considered an auditory phantom phenomenon similar to
deafferentation pain, which is observed in the

somatosensory system. Tinnitus is accompanied by a change in the tonotopic
map of the auditory cortex. Furthermore,

there is a highly positive association between the subjective intensity of
the tinnitus and the amount of shift in tinnitus frequency

in the auditory cortex, that is, the amount of cortical reorganization. This
cortical reorganization can be demonstrated

by functional magnetic resonance (fMR) imaging.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method of
activating or deactivating focal areas of the human

brain. Linked to a navigation system that is guided by fMR images of the
auditory system, TMS can suppress areas of cortical

plasticity. If it is successful in suppressing a patient's tinnitus, this
focal and temporary effect can be perpetualized by

implanting a cortical electrode.

A neuronavigation-based auditory fMR imaging-guided TMS session was
performed in a patient who suffered from

tinnitus due to a cochlear nerve lesion. Complete suppression of the
tinnitus was obtained. At a later time an extradural

electrode was implanted with the guidance of auditory fMR imaging
navigation. Postoperatively, the patient's tinnitus disappeared

and remains absent 10 months later.

Focal extradural electrical stimulation of the primary auditory cortex at
the area of cortical plasticity is capable of suppressing

contralateral tinnitus completely. Transcranial magnetic stimulation may be
an ideal method for noninvasive studies

of surgical candidates in whom stimulating electrodes might be implanted for
tinnitus suppression.