NonTraditional Tinnitus Rehabilitation Techniques

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Non-Traditional Tinnitus Rehabilitation Techniques
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Ginkgo Biloba

• Derivative of the Ginkgo Biloba Leaf
• Possibly toxic
• Not prescribed in the US
• The most widely prescribed medication in Europe,
  particularly France and Switzerland

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Ginkgo Biloba

• Commonly prescribed for
• Early Stage Alzheimers
• Vascular Claudication
• Vascular Dementia
• Vascular Tinnitus

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Ginkgo Biloba

• Sierpina et al. 2003
• 1121 Subjects
• Used interview and questionnaire
• Failed to show any clinical benefit from Gingko
  Biloba

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Ginkgo Biloba

• Meyers 1986
• 103 subjects
• Shows when given in appropriate doses does
  significantly decrease tinnitus perception
• Meyers 1986
• Longitudinal study 259 subjects
• Specialist evaluation showed significant number
  of patients with improvement

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Ginkgo Biloba

• Holgers 1994
• 100 Subjects broken into two groups
• Found no difference between the groups
• It is suggested that the dosage levels werent
  high enough
• Morgenstern 1997
• 99 patients
• Control group showed no change
• Ginkgo biloba group showed a 39-42 dB SL
  perceptual decrease

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Ginkgo Biloba

• Juretzek 1998
• 60 Subjects
• Found significant intensity reduction with ginkgo
  biloba group compared to control group
• Contraindication of ginkgo biloba
• diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, palpitations,
  weakness, skin rashes, restlessness, nausea and
  or vomiting

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Internet Pills

• There has been no significant scientific trial of
  internet or over the counter pills
• Almost all contain GBE or EGB
• Or significant amounts of Flavanoids or Terpenoids

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Soft Laser

• Hahn 2001
• 120 subjects
• Aim the laser at the cochlea
• Increases oxidation
• 50.8 of the patients showed a decrease by 20-25
  dB SL in perceived tinnitus
• Problems with the study

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Caroverine

• Prescription medication (one of many)
• Inserted into the round window of the cochlea
  through a small catheter
• Only legal in a few European and Asian countries

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Caroverine

• Denk Ehrenberger 1997
• Suggested to the German and Swiss media that 200
  patients had a reduction in tinnitus
• Domeisen, Holtz, and Hausler noticed the claim
• 30 subjects
• No reported benefit

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Caroverine

• Denk Ehrenberger stated that the trial by
  Domeisen, Holtz, and Hausler was done wrong
• Denk Ehrenberger still prescribe this
  medication for tinnitus
• Report findings in the near future

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Other Techniques

• Hypnosis
• Mason et al. 1996
• 86 subjects two groups
• No difference between control group and test
  group in objective assessment
• 44 reported a perceived decrease in tinnitus in
  subjective assessment

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Anecdotal Treatments

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Treatment
• (no clinical trials)

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Anecdotal Treatments

• Reported as a tinnitus treatment
• Tested on individuals with sudden sensori hearing
  loss
• Showed the same rate of improvement for tinnitus
  as hearing loss
• Most likely not good for tinnitus treatment

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Anecdotal Treatments

• Accupuncture
• Biofeedback
• TMJ