Tinnitus research

Many people who suffer from tinnitus believe that stress is the cause. And first studies indicate that there is indeed a connection. What is lacking is scientific proof.

Finalized three year research project “Influence of emotional stress on auditory functions” Donor: Heinz and Heide Dürr Stiftung

The project “Influence of emotional stress on auditory functions” (for short: “Tinnitus and Stress”) cintrubuted to remedying this lack. It drew on research done by the molecular biology research laboratory of the ENT Clinic and the Tinnitus Center Charité. According to Professor Birgit Mazurek, “All these stress-induced mental changes can also influence auditory phenomena, leading, for example to the development of tinnitus or the exacerbation of an existing tinnitus. In the ear, cortisol causes a massive release of glutamate into the neurons. This ultimately leads to a greater accumulation of calcium, which damages auditory sensory cells and nerve cells in the ear.”

With the “Stress and Tinnitus” project, the Foundation seeked to promote research in this field to develop better individual therapeutic approaches for patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis.

With the help of donations, own resources and projects with our partners, the German Tinnitus and Hearing Foundation Charité was able to provide over €600,000 for research.

Our recent research projects:

• Research on diagnosis and monitoring relevant biomarkers for improving tinnitus treatment: translational approach (started 2015)
• Leukocyte-telomere length in tinnitus patients: Relation to incidence, severity and psycho-social factors (started 2015)
• Multi-case families with tinnitus. Identification, selection and genetic analysis for a better understanding of the sources of tinnitus (started 2015)
• Objective auditory nerve function test as a predictor for successful treatment of patients with severe hearing impairment and cochlear implant treatment (started 2016)

The German Tinnitus and Hearing Foundation Charité would like to thank their donors and their partners for their financial contribution to the research and therapy projects.