The ‘‘noise’’ of tinnitus and the vagaries of perception

Abstract

Multiple suspected etiologies for tinnitus encourage the development of multiple rehabilitation approaches. Loud noises, drugs, hearing loss, ear infections, tumors, Meniere’s, head injuries, and TMJ have been cited, among many others, as potential causes. Even high impact exercise and stress are suggested culprits. A full understanding of the phenomenon is still, however, a long way off. Once all known remediable sources have been attended to, why should a remaining noise in the ear (measured as perceived at a particular loudness level) cause such severe psychological consternation in so many sufferers while others barely notice it exists? What mechanisms may be involved in the alteration of perception following successful rehabilitative procedures such as masking, hearing amplification, cognitive behavioral perceptual retraining, or hypnotherapy? This presentation will focus on changes induced by hypnosis which typically lead to a significant decrease in the perceived loudness level of the tinnitus and a significant increase in psychological well being. What is known of the science and art of hypnosis will be explored in an attempt to explain this often achieved metamorphosis in perception. Video clips from hypnotherapeutic sessions with correlated perceptual aftermaths will complement a review of scientifically known facts about the disorder.