Zachary Jacobson

Tinnitus: Stimulation of the auditory nerve producing a “ringing” in the ear without an external source.

50 million people suffer from Tinnitus in the US

At least 2 million do not respond to conventional treatment

The US Veterans Administration alone spends $1 billion yearly for treatment of tinnitus

Tinnitus can cause sleeplessness, irritability, loss off personal and professional relationships, depression

Term coined in first century AD (tinnire) but has been historically recorded for 4-5 millennia

Methods of Treatment (Past) Oils, saps, honey,

vinegar, earth worms, opiates

Methods of Treatment (Current) Overpower or mask

tinnitus sensation New treatments exist to

retrain the auditory cortex through neural stimulation

Patient receives VNS implant

Treatment begins by pairing tonal arrangements with nerve stimulation

VNS causes the release of neuromodulators Retrain the brain to

strengthen recognition of sounds

Shrink the recognition of tinnitus tone

Advantages Long term relief without medication and side

effects in most cases Time between treatments allows patients to live a

more normal lifestyle Disadvantages

Takes a month to see results if any Problems associated with implantation Cost for treatment exceeds $20,000

Future Smaller semiconductor electrodes External power source (RF, NIR)

"Brain Stimulation Therapies." National Institute of Mental Health. National Institute of Mental Health, 17 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml>.

[2] Wikipedia: Tinnitus <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tinnitus>.

[3] "A Brief History of Neuromodulation." International Neuromodulation Society. International Neuromodulation Society, 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.neuromodulation.com/about-neuromodulation>.

[4] Lozano, Andres M. "Harnessing Plasticity to Reset Dysfunctional Neurons." The New England Journal of Medicine 364.17 (2011): 1367-368. Print.