Brain Imaging of Tinnitus

Completed

Conditions studied: Hearing Disorder

In brief

This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare brain function in three groups of people: hearing-impaired people with tinnitus; hearing-impaired people without tinnitus; and people with normal hearing and without tinnitus. Also known as "ringing in the ears," tinnitus is the false sensation of sounds. Adults between 30 and 65 years of age who meet the following criteria may be eligible for this study: * Mild to moderate hearing loss who have experienced tinnitus daily for at least 1 year * Mild to moderate hearing loss who have never or rarely experienced tinnitus * Normal hearing who have never or rarely experienced tinnitus Candidates are screened with a medical history and questionnaires. Participants have a detailed hearing test to measure hearing and the nature of tinnitus. In a second visit, subjects have a brief physical examination, followed by MRI scanning. MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of body tissues and organs. For this procedure, the subject lies on a table that can slide in and out of the scanner (a narrow cylinder), wearing earplugs to muffle loud knocking and thumping sounds that occur during the scanning process. The subject may be asked to lie still for up to 8 minutes at a time. During the MRI, the subject performs computer-based tasks that involve listening to sounds. Another hearing test is done after the MRI.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00359931

Run by

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

People needed

58

Starts

2006-07-28

Expected to finish

2016-03-07

Last updated by the study team

2017-10-06

Who can join

Age: 30 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• Subjects who have pacemakers, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses or shrapnel fragments.
• Subjects incapable of giving informed consent.
• Subjects with a positive pregnancy test.
• Children below the age of 18 years.
• Subjects with hyperacusis or misophonia (hyper-sensitivity to loud noises).
• Subjects with mood disturbances such as depression or anxiety.
• Subjects with a history of temporomandibular joint problems or who present symptoms of pain and tenderness of the temporomandibular joint on examination.
• Subjects may be excluded for the following reasons that may cause difficulty with interpretation of the imaging data:
• Subjects with mental or physical illnesses, other than tinnitus that may cause problems with participation in the study.
• Subjects with current uncontrolled hypertension, or significant past history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes melitus.
• Subjects with a history of head trauma with loss of consciousness, epilepsy, seizures, a history of chemotherapy (neurotoxic or ototoxic) and other medical conditions that may alter cerebral functioning.
• Subjects who are taking or have a history of taking recreational drugs or alcoholism.
• Subjects with unilateral or asymmetrical hearing loss who have not had (or cannot provide documentation of) comprehensive neuro-otologic workup will be excluded.

Where it is running

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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