Participants required for new tinnitus study

July 27, 2007

It drove Beethoven barmy and almost cracked up Captain Kirk. For some it is merely an irritation; for others, constant torture. It's tinnitus – ringing in the ears – and researchers at the University of New England are beginning a new study to see if they can do something about it.

The study will involve participants working through a self-help manual that will guide them through a series of strategies to help relieve the impact of tinnitus. The techniques are based on cognitive-behavioural therapies that aim to reduce sufferers' sensitivity to the condition, rather than treating the physical symptom.

Professor Bill Noble, who is involved in the study along with Dr John Malouff and Dr Nicola Schutte, said that while there was no cure for tinnitus, people could learn to live with it without getting distressed.

"Most people who suffer chronic tinnitus don't get distressed," Prof Noble said, "but there is a proportion of people who get very distressed. They may feel anxious or worried that something is going wrong inside their head. It can interfere with their hearing and make it impossible for them to relax."

As much as two per cent of the Australian population suffered from distressing levels of tinnitus, Prof Noble said.

"What we're trying to learn is whether these techniques – which have proven reasonably effective when supervised by a psychologist in the course of psychotherapy – can be equally effective when people practise them by themselves."

The study will run over four months and will require participants to read a self-help manual and complete a number of questionnaires. People from anywhere in Australia can enrol in the study; travel is unnecessary. In all, Prof Noble and his colleagues hope to attract about 300 participants.

Prof Noble said: "Because this is a treatment study, participants will not only be helping us learn more about tinnitus and how to treat it, but also potentially benefiting from the treatment themselves."

People interested in participating in the study should contact research assistant Liz Temple at etemple2@une.edu.au or leave a message on (02) 6773 2928.

Press contact: Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771.

Posted by Leon Braun at July 27, 2007 11:07 AM