[sas86 (OP)]

Have a safe and happy Christmas to all at the Naked Scientists. Really informative and reassuring stuff.

At the moment, tinnitus is treated using psychological and listening therapies. Has anyone investigated the factors behind the constant ringing and has gained a greater understanding of them so that a cure could be found in the not too distant future?

[charles1948]

Pardon?

[sas86 (OP)]

What are the prospects for curing tinnitus and eliminating it completely? At the moment, there is mitigation with hearing therapies.

[charles1948]

What are the prospects for curing tinnitus and eliminating it completely? At the moment, there is mitigation with hearing therapies.

Do we definitely know whether tinnitus is caused by some physical fault in the ear itself, or is it a fault in the auditory receiving and processing centres in the brain?

[Colin2B]

Do we definitely know whether tinnitus is caused by some physical fault in the ear itself, or is it a fault in the auditory receiving and processing centres in the brain?

The most common cause is damage to the cilia in the inner ear usually caused by exposure to loud noise.
Some medications can cause it, upsetting the nerves and brain receptors as can physical damage to neck or skull. Ear canal blockage, which can cause pressure build up in the inner ear, is another cause.
There are many other physical causes and treating the cause is the best way to cure it.
Unfortunately there is no current way to repair damaged cilia, so prevention is the best treatment.

[OokieWonderslug]

My entire life I've had tinnitus. I've never had one second of silence in my life. It just keeps getting worse. I'm in my early 50's and figure it'll be all I hear eventually. I'm also profoundly hard of hearing and the combination can be maddening. And the worst part? I've never met anyone suffering from the same things. What causes it? I was born with it. And no, there's no effective cure.  Either deal with it or evacuate your skull.

[vhfpmr]

I've found that what works for me is habituation, it's there all the time, so I don't notice it unless I'm thinking about it.