Tinnitus sufferers from the Liverpool city region are taking part in a ground-breaking study which could help millions of people worldwide.
Researchers hope to discover more about why patients with tinnitus or a constant ‘buzzing’ sound in their head can suffer anxiety and, in extreme cases, depression.
A total of 30 people with tinnitus are needed for the study, which will involve having brain scans carried out while they hear sounds and watch images.
The research programme involves experts from the University of Liverpool and the audiology service of Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Walton Hospital and University Hospital Aintree.
The project will explore links between the limbic system (a part of the brain which controls emotions) the brain’s auditory cortex (which receives sounds) and the aural stimulation caused by tinnitus.
Dr Ian Mackenzie, a consultant audiological physician based at Walton Hospital, said: “The new scanning techniques now available enable us to undertake this research, which could make a massive different to the lives of patients with tinnitus across the world.
“The use of the MRI scanner and a magneto-encephalogram machine has never been combined in any research study to explore this field. We are extremely hopeful of a good response to our search for sufferers to join the study, as Merseyside has many people who suffer from tinnitus.
“In older generations, this is explained by our heavy industrial background, which pre-dates much of the health and safety laws. In younger generations, we are increasingly seeing the problems caused by excessively loud music in nightclubs.
“We hope that this research project will help move us a step closer to explaining why people with tinnitus find their emotions affected. If we can do that, then we can do more to help people manage their situation.
“Ironically, many of the anti-depressant medications have tinnitus as a side-effect, so this is really important work for patients with tinnitus.”
The research work is being led by Faten Aldhafeeri, a PhD student at the University, with support from Dr Mackenzie and Dr Vanessa Sluming, also of the University, and Tony Kay, Senior-Chief Audiologist at Walton Hospital.
Faten added: “Our work with patients will take around six months, with the scans taking place at the University of Liverpool’s MARIARC Centre. We’ll then be analysing the data and we hope to publish our findings within two years. We are expecting a lot of international interest in this project.”
Thirty tinnitus patients on the study will have their brain activity compared with 30 volunteers without tinnitus.
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