"At least 17 percent of the population over 40 years of age in the country suffers from tinnitus and most of them believe it cannot be cured," he says.

Dr Kumar has been treating Tinnitus patients for last four years and is presently working in Durgapur, West Bengal. He is in city to participate in the 58th conference of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India going on at Scientific Convention centre in King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

"There are many causes of tinnitus that include allergy, blood pressure and blood circulation problems, diabetes, thyroid disease, injury to head, neck, side effects of medicines or perforation in the ear drums," Dr Kumar said.

He said tinnitus comes from damage to the microscopic nerve ending of the inner ear. Injury to these nerves may also lead to hearing loss.

A recent research has revealed that auditory cortex area of the brain is involved in the production of tinnitus.

On the clinical side of the problem Dr Kumar says Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) was first evolved at Yale University in 1980. But in India this therapy is yet to be taken up by the doctors.

The benefit of TRT is that it does not make harmful side effects after treatment and it does not include any surgery of drugs.

Since tinnitus causes psychological problems, like sleeping disorders, its treatment includes psychological therapy.

TRT aims at reaching a point where the patient is no longer aware of their tinnitus. "If successful tinnitus should become like a refrigerator running in the home," he said.

Dr Prakash said that people working in high noise area like factory of the industrial area are more prone to get tinnitus problem.

The conference on Friday included a special lecture on ‘Robotic Assist for Endoscopic Transphenoid Approach to the Pituitary,’ by Dr Cherie ANN Nathan of USA.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1592118,0015002500010002.htm