Narrow band masking - can improve T permanently?

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JJ Alfred - 24 Jun 2003 17:29 GMT

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6
915836&dopt=Abstract

Here it says that some patients report a residual inhibition of Tinnitus
after the masking sound has ended.

Another link explaining this concept better:
http://www.ohsu.edu/ohrc-otda/95-01/meth/protocol.html
(here it says you have to raise the masker by 10dB in order to have a
residual inhibition)

For some tinniti there wouldn't be a complete residual inhibition but
only a partial residual inhibition, meaning that the T would be lower,
but not totally suppressed. (see second link)

The residual inhibition is "residual" which means that it can normally
last from some seconds to many minutes (see second link) and then the
tinnitus returns to normal loudness.

However, the first link sets the idea that with continued use of the
masker, such residual inhibition might accumulate, and potentially
become permanent. Such idea sounds possible to me too, but I'm not able
to find any trial which checks for this obvious extension of the
treatment.

Now my request is: *** Can you help me searching? I can't believe nobody
has trialled this. ***

--------

BTW in another article I have found that narrow-band maskers usually use
an octave span (= one doubling of frequency) centered on the frequency
of the tinnitus: supposing your tinnitus is at 500Hz you would use a
masker which produces all the frequencies between 333Hz to 666Hz

Because 2 x 333 = 666, and (333+666)/2=500

Many audio programs for PC (e.g. Cooledit) are able to generate white
noise and then they let you use bandpass filters to obtain the
narrowband masking sound for your tinnitus. If you ever try this
narrowband masking, let me know your findings.

I would say a narrowband masker is probably preferable to a full
spectrum (white noise) masker because it seems to me the white noise
masker puts unnecessary strain on your ears at useless frequencies,
potentially damaging them further.

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BruceMeyerz - 25 Jun 2003 01:25 GMT

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6
915836&dopt=Abstract
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> (here it says you have to raise the masker by 10dB in order to have a
> residual inhibition)

Hi JJ, great stuff : )
This residual inhibition sounds like the exact opposite of
the Zwicker tone.

> For some tinniti there wouldn't be a complete residual inhibition but
> only a partial residual inhibition, meaning that the T would be lower,
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Now my request is: *** Can you help me searching? I can't believe nobody
> has trialled this. ***

Jack Vernon has looked into this and has experimented with some devices
which can cause this effect. You may be able to contact him through the American
Tinnitus Association for further info on residual inhibition.
Anyone point this guy in a direction for more info on this?

Peace
Bruce

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Stephen Nagler - 25 Jun 2003 01:51 GMT

>Jack Vernon has looked into this and has experimented with some devices
>which can cause this effect. You may be able to contact him through the American
>Tinnitus Association for further info on residual inhibition.
>Anyone point this guy in a direction for more info on this?

...............

Dr. Vernon may be reached on Fridays 9-12 and 1:30-4:30 Pacific time
at 503-494-2187.

smn

Reply to this Message

Capt. Ron Yoli - 25 Jun 2003 02:10 GMT

<<<> Dr. Vernon may be reached on Fridays 9-12 and 1:30-4:30 Pacific time

> at 503-494-2187.>>

When can YOU be reached there Mr. "Leading Authority on Tinnitus?"

Leave the poor f.cker alone!

We thought your sorry fuckin pathetic lying a.s had all the answers?

BTW, When did I threaten to "disrupt" your meeting ya lying little filthy
cocksucking piece of human debris! LOL

Come on, post it here: Post where I said I was going to ***DISRUPT*** Your
meeting?

PS: Joker thinks yer an a.shole, better start yer own fuckin board a.shole,
the party will be short-lived!

Cheers Loser Boy

capt. Ron

> >Jack Vernon has looked into this and has experimented with some devices
> >which can cause this effect. You may be able to contact him through the American
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> smn

Reply to this Message

JJ Alfred - 25 Jun 2003 10:43 GMT

> >Jack Vernon has looked into this and has experimented with some devices
> >which can cause this effect. You may be able to contact him through the American
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> smn

Heck I speak & understand English too badly at the phone, expecially
over intercontinental calls :( ... doesn't this doctor have an email
address?

BTW: Maybe one point in my post was not clear: I would maybe try this
narrow band masking on myself but I'm tremendously scared if it could
possibly make the tinnitus worse in the long term. This is THE
information I'm interested to... also to be said that I have been with
this condition for only 7 weeks now so it's a new thing for me and 1)
I'm broken in tears... totally devastated 2) I'm still in the time frame
in which it could possibly recover by itself (God please help) and I
don't know if putting extra strain on my ears could slow down the
healing process so that finally I would go out of the useful recovery
time frame without having completed a good healing process....... On the
other hand trying the narrowband masking now could also accelerate my
recovery but I really can't guess it at the moment without further info

There are two separated problems here: 1) we don't know if on a
stabilized tinnitus the narrow-band noise masking (NBNM) could be
beneficial in the long term, or worsen the tinnitus 2) we don't know if
the NBNM would accelerate the healing process of tinnitus after a noise
trauma like in my case or slow it down. The answers to the two questions
might not be the same

When I have a broken bone, it needs to stay totally blocked in order to
heal at its best. For the ears, I can't guess. Maybe nerves which are
"in use" (electricity passes into them) can heal faster than nerves
which are "not in use" so hearing sounds (but of course not too loud
ones) could accelerate the thing... Does anybody know if a nerve (like
the hair cells in the cochlea) heals better if left alone or stimulated?
Please tell any info you know... please...

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