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

As I said, not till sometime this March.

 

Oh ok, sorry, that email you posted confused me.

 

Just dropping a note to say thanks to @DebInAustralia for keeping us up-to-date.

Also, great photo! They fitted you with a pretty nifty cap. Are you allowed to tell us how long it took to take the test?

 

The Bionics Institute is still actively seeking people with tinnitus to take part in their Research here in Melbourne hopefully more people are able to attend as our COVID-19 restrictions ease.

I managed to catch the train into our city today to meet with Mehrnaz and complete the tests required. First up was a hearing test and then the brain imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was undertaken, this took around 30 minutes to complete.

Mehrnaz explained everything in detail and the test is totally non invasive. The Institute is also working on a drug to restore hearing but the time line for this is about 5 years. I will add links below if anyone is interested in reading more.

Scientists working on a drug that could...

Photos of my COVID-19 safe train trip today

 

This isn't related to the Bionics Institute but is about measuring tinnitus. The Hearing Health Foundation is hosting a webinar on April 19, 5PM EST, titled Measuring Tinnitus and Reactions to Tinnitus. The synopsis for the webinar is:

"Tinnitus, the experience of hearing sound without an external, acoustic source, can be measured. Measurements can productively inform the counseling process and guide adjustments of hearing aids and tinnitus sound therapy devices. Tinnitus does not present the same for everyone, and measurements illuminate different causes, symptoms, and potential treatments."​

 

I read that they are working on adding something called optogenetics to existing cochlear implants thus making them even better.

 

They are (researchers)! It's really interesting technology. It's not so much that they are retrofitting existing CIs, it's that they are developing entirely new light based CIs that don't rely on the limitations of electrodes. The "genetics" part is because they plan on locally inserting a gene to help neurons read "light" as sound.

 

Would that not only improve speech intelligibility but range of frequencies covered by the new CI? I know that the range currently isn't too broad.

 

It would. It could stimulate continuously frequencies vs select interspersed regions with electrodes.

 

I keep thinking about this but wouldn't a future bionic ear that can replicate the human ear with HD quality be optimal, and stem cells would be used to regenerate nerves and neurons in people who have damage making them eligible for such an ear or is this science fiction?

 

The Bionics Institute is not only looking into the CI improvements but also does look into things like drugs to restore hair cells or synapses etc.

This is the organisation that got founded by Graeme Clark who invented the devices utilised by Cochlear.

 

A bionic ear is what a cochlear implant is and yes they are definitely working to make them better, including trying to infuse BDNF (for instance) at the time of implantation for better nerve integration and the development of optigenetic devices.

 

This is exciting but also not something I'm as keen on in comparison to non-surgical treatments for the inner ear. I hope one or more of the current crop of treatments in research for hair cell regrowth works to show the way that regenerative biology works and is the way forwards rather than implants.

 

While an interesting idea/study, it should not be used to create false hope or perception that this could be meaningful any time soon, years, or decades.

And it will likely benefit military and disability insurance payers far more than patients.

 

This thread has thousands of views, but nobody decided to financially support The Bionics Institute's tinnitus research. So sad.

https://www.bionicsinstitute.org/Appeal/tinnitus-appeal

 

I'm not motivated to donate to them because they already have lots of money. If they wanted to fund the tinnitus program, they could already fund it, but instead they want tinnitus sufferers' money, many of whom are unemployed or on sick leave. I grabbed the below from their Annual Report.

 

Sorry for delay.

I was there for about 2 hours, but the actual test was about 45 minutes...

 

Are they developing treatments too? I thought they were only measuring tinnitus.

 

Wow. There is something so satisfying, if not useful, about actually getting an objective statement confirming that what you are experiencing is real, significant, and different than the tinnitus most people get.

 

Yes, very interesting. I’d like to get an assessment myself. @DebInAustralia - have you done a THI or TFI and if so, what was your score?

 

When they view our tinnitus: