DID YOU KNOW....





Study Reports Impact on Selective Attention, Long-Term Memory.



Individuals with chronic, moderate tinnitus do more poorly on demanding
working memory and attention tests than those without tinnitus,
according to a recent study.



Individuals with chronic, moderate tinnitus do more poorly on demanding
working memory and attention tests than those without tinnitus,
according to a recent study. However, on less complex tasks, no
significant differences were found, suggesting that tinnitus has no
effect on tasks that involve more involuntary, automatic responses.



"Tinnitus and Its Effect on Working Memory and Attention," appears in
the just released Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. The
study adds to the growing body of research on the relationship between
tinnitus and cognition, demonstrating an association between tinnitus
and reduced cognitive function. The research has important implications
for helping people with tinnitus approach new or difficult tasks that
require strategic and conscious control.



"We wanted to learn more about the ways in which chronic tinnitus
disrupts cognitive performance," said Susan Rossiter, a former research
Masters student at the MARCS Auditory Laboratories and University of
Western Sydney, South Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. "Our goal is
to use this knowledge to develop management strategies that will help
minimize this disruption."



"Ms. Rossiter's research project was our first foray into tinnitus,"
said fellow researcher and Associate Professor Catherine Stevens of the
MARCS Auditory Laboratories. She added, "Our most recent research has
also investigated other important variables such as depression and
hearing loss."



Dr. Gary Walker, also of the MARCS Auditory Laboratories added, "Our
ultimate goal is to use this knowledge to develop management strategies
that will help minimize disruption."



Thirty-eight people participated as subjects. Nineteen, who were ages
34-63 years, came from English-speaking backgrounds, and had constant,
moderate to severe tinnitus made up the experimental group. The control
group also had 19 participants.

They matched individuals in the experimental group by age, educational
level, occupation, and verbal IQ.



Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of auditory
stimulation. Described as a "ringing in the ears" or "buzzing"

or "whooshing" sound, it can be temporary, intermittent, or permanent.
Although its exact cause is often unknown, tinnitus can be a symptom of
hearing loss, allergies, or exposure to loud noise or ototoxic
medicines. Past research has shown that it can be accompanied by
anxiety, insomnia, problems with auditory perception, and poor general
and mental health.











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