Chronic primary pain, now classified as a disease in its own right by the World Health Organization, may have a root cause that lies beyond inflammation and nerve sensitization. A new hypothesis from researchers Muhammad Khatib, Dror Robinson, and Mustafa Yassin proposes that chronic pain originates from a disruption in the body’s bioelectromagnetic coherence—the organized,…
Hyperacusis Defined: Increased Central Gain in the Auditory Pathway Hyperacusis is a decreased tolerance to sound
Hyperacusis, Pain, and Headache: An Intricate Brain Connection In a study of 234 patients with chronic tension-type headache, 20%—roughly one in five—al…
A study of 40 glass factory workers has found a significant, though modest, link between workplace social support and reduced auditory disability. While occupational stress did not show a clear connection to vestibular symptoms like dizziness, the perceived burden of hearing difficulties decreased when workers felt more supported by colleagues and supervisors. Key Takeaways Higher…
Key Takeaways Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are significantly associated with higher levels of emotional empathy (β=0.272). Increased emotional empathy is linked to greater severity of misophonia symptoms. Emotional empathy acts as a partial mediator between ACEs and misophonia, explaining about 25% of the total effect. The study suggests misophonia treatment should consider emotional and developmental…
A study of 40 glass factory workers has found a specific link between workplace social support and the perception of auditory disability. While occupational stress itself did not show a strong connection to vestibular problems, the level of support from colleagues and supervisors was significantly associated with how much hearing difficulties impacted daily life. Key…
Key Takeaways A bibliometric analysis of 262 studies confirms a strong, bidirectional link between subjective tinnitus and anxiety disorders. The United States led research output, with Gerhard Andersson being the most cited and prolific author. Current research hotspots focus on prevalence, severity, and the use of specific assessment tools like the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. The…
Hyperacusis Causes and Mechanisms: The Neural Link to Pain and Headache One in five patients diagnosed with chronic tension-type headaches also meet cli…
A Cortical ‘Volume Knob’ for Loudness Could Reshape Hyperacusis Treatment Parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory neurons (PVNs) in the auditory cortex act as…
Key Takeaways Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a common non-vestibular cause of dizziness in ENT clinics, easily confused with vestibular migraine and PPPD. The key to diagnosis is identifying the trigger: POTS dizziness is posture-dependent, vestibular migraine is triggered by sensory stimuli, and PPPD is worsened by motion and complex visual scenes. A simple…
Key Takeaways Coordinated Reset (CR) stimulation, a method that desynchronizes abnormal brain rhythms, can now be delivered with a new, potentially safer “reduced” protocol. Using a subset of stimulation channels (“m-out-of-n” CR) instead of all channels requires higher stimulus intensity at low frequencies but lower intensity at high frequencies to be effective. This reduced approach…
Tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external source, involves far more than the ear. Research now shows its development and persistence are driven by maladaptive changes in the brain, a process with striking similarities to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. A review by J L Liu and Peng Liu consolidates this view, proposing…
