The Bionics Institute Claim They Have Found a Way of Objectively Measuring Tinnitus

Fantastic news!

 

Please keep us updated. Unless there's an NDA.

 

Keep us updated!

 

Any news here? I literally check this post every single day, and I am so curious as to whether anyone has any information.

 

I can answer that. I applied for the study from northern NSW and was told that they were limiting the study to the Melbourne area for the moment, but they did put me on a waiting list if the study expands the area to other states.

 

Any news? lol

 

I am very curious to see how they'll objectively measure tinnitus. Like will they be able to see it visually? Or as just a chart? I have so many questions. I am curious! I suppose I have always wanted a way to "record" my tinnitus in a way that I could show people. It's probably not how it will work though.

 

I wonder whether The Bionics Institute will use the same approach or the same method used by Hough Ear Institute or whether it will be different. This will be the interesting question.

 

Looks like @DebInAustralia had to sign an NDA.

 

Ah come on!

 

That's just awesome, so now no one will know...

 

I don't know for sure. But she definitely ghosted us.

 

Sorry guys.

The trial will end roughly by the end of 2021.

The Bionics Institute will analyse my data using their algorithms, which will ascertain its severity, in mid January. I'll be able to post any information I receive.

I was fitted with a cap, and exposed to quiet, pink noise, and visual stimuli on a computer at certain intervals.

As @Hazel and @Markku have stated, The Bionics Institute have agreed to making a Tinnitus Talk Podcast episode in early 2021, so you'll have a chance to ask pertinent questions.

 

@DebInAustralia - great photo! The headset apparatus looks brilliant! Very exciting!

 

This sounds very interesting, though I have to wonder exactly how this might translate to determining the presence and severity of phantom noises. I guess that's part of all the sciencey stuff that these guys get paid to do!

I'm just hoping this system accurately processes and judges cases, and I'll be curious to learn how exactly they plan to validate their results when they don't have much concrete to reference. They are basically laying the framework for measurement with supplies they themselves are crafting.

It's really great to see that you were a part of this. Hopefully, in the Near Future™, you can proudly proclaim you were a contributor to such a milestone achievement!

 

Great news! That's quite a shower cap you're wearing

 

I already know my tinnitus is loud. I don't need a machine to objectively assess it. I need better treatments or a cure.

 

This might lead to just that. To date there is no way to measure tinnitus objectively. Anything that might help us is based on anecdotal reports.

This could help us as it would prove treatments work.

 

I agree, at this point it's just poking around and seeing what works!

 

It would be a monumental step forward if they can measure tinnitus objectively. It's discoveries like these that will help pave the way towards treatments that work. It's an essential step.

 

Essentially this is the measurement from a scientific perspective that will put to bed any claims about treatments that are successful being simply anecdotal or placebo as it eliminates subjectiveness.

 

Considering the current "standard" of the TFI is one that is based entirely on subjectivity, how do you think implementing a test such as this one fits in? We can already determine that someone has or doesn't have tinnitus because the presence of phantom noise alone is what defines it.

I guess my question really is "what does it mean to measure tinnitus objectively?" Does this mean the test is able to determine where in the brain you are encountering difficulties? Does it instead mean that you are instead gauging the severity? In that case, how likely is the possibility that results of the test may not be congruent with a patient's TFI? I'm sure people wont enjoy being told they don't have anything wrong or aren't suffering from problems that they certainly are.

Of course, I am not challenging this, the science behind it, and its potential benefits. I just would like to better understand how this fits in to the puzzle.

 

If you can say person X has tinnitus of 45 dB and then offer treatment to them that lowers their tinnitus to say 35 dB, then this tells us objectively that the treatment Y used has worked with assisting lowering their tinnitus.

The thing that these trials are trying to gauge and measure is how loud an individual's tinnitus is and how loud it is if specific situations are put forward such as using various stimulants to determine if it is going to lead to any change.

 

Ah, okay. Thank you! This helps clear it up a bit. I thought this was already accomplished through minimum masking level, but as that is subjective, there is certainly room for error.

 

This tends to look it will be much more accurate than minimum masking level and as a result shall end up giving better indications.

 

I'm more interested in whether the biomarker (blood oxygen changes) they're using can be used as a therapeutic target. Material correlation seems like a really good thing.