Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Hearing experts from the University of Nottingham are calling for volunteers to take part in research to investigate whether people without tinnitus struggle with concentration when listening to a sound that simulates tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a common hearing-related problem that affects up to 10% of the population. The sensation of noise that people hear is not a real sound in the environment but is often perceived as a ringing, humming, buzzing or even whooshing sound that, in some people, can be very bothersome and distressing.
A common complaint is that tinnitus causes concentration difficulties. This can make it difficult to do things like multitask, think clearly, or pay attention.
The purpose of this new study is for researchers to better understand how people who don’t have tinnitus perform when completing computer-based puzzles in the presence of a meaningless sound that mimics tinnitus.
The study is being led by Dr Derek Hoare from the University’s School of Medicine (funded by National Institute of Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre), and is being undertaken by Nathan Clarke (funded by a Medical research Council PhD studentship).
The new study follows on from a previous investigation of performance on similar tasks by people without tinnitus, with tinnitus, and with bothersome tinnitus. Early results from that study showed that people with bothersome tinnitus had poorer performance on average for certain cognitive tasks.
By seeing people without tinnitus complete these tasks in the presence of a simulated tinnitus, we will be able to see if they perform in a similar manner to people with bothersome tinnitus. This will show us whether the mere presence of a tinnitus sound is sufficient to cause the poorer performance seen in previous studies, or whether other factors associated with having tinnitus are important. This will help improve our understanding of bothersome tinnitus and provide avenues for future treatment, as very few reliable treatment options currently exist.”
Volunteers will be asked to undergo a hearing test, complete questionnaires, and perform some computer-based memory and attention puzzles, while a sound that mimics tinnitus is played in the background. Study participation will take around one and a half hours.
If you are interested in taking part in the study, or would like some more information, please email: nathan.clarke@nottingham.ac.uk
Story credits
More information is available from Nathan Clarke, student investigator at nathan.clarke@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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