VNS implant might fix the ringing in your ears
By Sean Hollister 
posted May 25th 2010 11:41PM
posted May 25th 2010 11:41PM
Earlier this decade, doctors discovered that by shocking the vagus nerve -- one of twelve nerves connected directly to the brain -- they could attempt to treat chronic hiccups, epilepsy and severe depression. Now, a startup called Microtransponder believes such a device can help reduce tinnitus, too. Technology Review now reports the company's RFID-like, externally-powered implant could stimulate the vagus nerve while doctors play particular tones for those suffering ringing ears, slowly attuning the patients to frequencies other than the one that ails them. As with all new medical procedures, we don't expect to see this one on the market anytime soon, but the firm does claim it's just raised $10 million in funding and will pursue FDA clearance accordingly. Until then, you'll just have to try less invasive procedures, or simply restrain yourself from turning that volume dial to 11. Ch'yeah right!
But then how will I know when someone is talking about me?
@Goaliegeek
As much as I love technology, I draw the line at implants of any kind.
@Goaliegeek
but will it stop the voices in my head?!
please, make them stop!
@CaryHiroyuki Tagawa
I wouldn't go that far. If I need a pacemaker one day, I want one. An implant that saved many lives.
@Goaliegeek
I know it may seem like a funny subject and also many of you say you would never get anything under your skin but just imagine what it would be like to have a high pitch whine in your head/breain/mind, for some people quite loud and also several differnt frequencies at the same time. Imagine you can never, ever take arest from it. It's there when you wake up and there when you try to go to sleep. For some people it's so loud that they can't even hear other people talking. One guy was so desperate for a moment of silence that he had the nerves connecting his ears to his breain severed because he'd rather have total deafness than the constant screetching in his head (when he woke up from the surgery he was totally deaf allright but the screetching was still there). imagine that then think again if you would 'never' have anything inplanted under your skin.
There's worse, not only does tinitus rob you of 'ever' being able to enjoy silence or even quiet again but it also has a secondary effect in that your brain mistakenly thinks there is danger and activates the drug that your brain usually releases for fear/high anxiety. It flows steadily and constantly 'always'. Trust me, if you experienced Tinitus for even a week you would not be so blase about cranking up the music.
I'm lucky, got Tinitus after an ear infection about three years ago and apart from an initial gush of anxiety chemicals from my brain that left me near suicidal I got control of it by neutralizing it with endorphines from constant exercise. If im outside or leave the pc on while i sleep (i'm downloading anyway) then i can mask the sound most of the time as its not too loud.
Stories like this give me hope though.
@CaryHiroyuki Tagawa My brother has one of these implants fro his epilepsy and it has saved his life. so the assertion that you would draw the line at implants may come back and bite you in the but when you realize that a pacemaker or some other implant might save your life. but maybe you are simply to narrow minded to realize how much technology blesses all of our lives.
@Poita
I leave my PC on for the same reason. Cheers.
My tinnitus started at age 5 with double ear infections. The sound is constant and quite invasive. If this would reduce (or eliminate!) the constant ringing in my ears, I would be ecstatic!
@Editors of Engadget: Not all ringing in the ears is due to listening to headphones too loudly. Do some research before accusing us of damaging our own hearing.
OOOH sign me up!
Ch'yeah right!
11 here I come..
I have ringing in my ears a little bit after that little stunt I did involving me riding a scooter down a mountain road with no brakes and ending up in a crash. I would gladly welcome that.
I've had ringing in my ears ever since getting out of the community pool in second grade and trying to get the water out of my ears. Strangely enough it changes frequency when an electronic device in the room is turned on. I don't know if this would cure such an odd ailment, but definitely something of interest for me.
Stuff like this is fantastic !
Welcome to the future...
Ppppppllllleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I mean,
LOOK HOW LOUD I HAVE TO YELL SO I CAN HEAR MYSELF OVER MY TINNITUS.
@SoulinEther
wow, i didnt notice till now how narrow minded engadget readers are
well except for the fanboys.
@Jordo1234 - It's a joke dude, calm down. My grandfather could have used something like this, I'll probably need one eventually...
@Jordo1234 uhm, perhaps my tone threw you off. I have tinnitus. I have had tinnitus since I could remember hearing. While I don't mind living with it (loud fans and the hum of a refrigerator keep my sanity intact), I would certainly not mind if I could just hear... silence.
@SoulinEther
Ah sorry, the interweb has a bad way of portraying tone, ^^"
Sorry mate.
could it double up as an earpiece for my iPhone?
@djlee1999 There'll be an iPhone/iPod dock option :P
So, I don't have to listen to Pearl Jam at low volume anymore?
@Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is not meant to be played at low volumes.
good god, id never let them put shit under my skin. thats just asking for trouble.
Why am I not surprised half the commenters are simply fear mongering about a new technology?
stimulate the vagus... bowchicabowwow!
DEUS EX IRL FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHO'S WITH ME????
@Johnny Rockets
The Omar FTW!!!
I got Tinnitus one night out of the blue. I rarely hear it anymore, mostly I hear it when someone brings up the subject, or I am in a really quiet room. other than that it is background noise 99% of the time my brain ignores. Much like my wifes bitching.
@b0nes I "hear" ya bruther. I have had it for about 4 years now. The pitch does seem to chnage a bit with climate - when a front moves through the pitch gets higher/louder. But I have pretty much tuned it out as far as bothering me. After the first year, I got used to it. Funny, I actually like sleeping on my good ear so I don't hear anything at night when I sleep.
Not sure I would go to the trouble of this though.
@bubbatex
Haha so true, when the crickets are chirping I just roll onto the good ear
What BS. Anyone who listens to what a psychiatrist says isn't worth listening to.
I thought ringing in the ears was brought on by drinking too much alcohol... Now I can implant something that will prevent it? Awesome!!!
Pete Townshend - there's hope for you! Who concert dead ahead!
Slightly higher voltage also completely eliminates distracting brain waves.
@MFPrice
yeah but you can't say that won't be effective against chronic hiccups, epilepsy, tinnitus and severe depression
Good if it works because there is no cure to tinnitus at the minute, but isn't an ounce of preventation better than a ton of cure?
A lot of tinnitus cases can be prevented by reducing exposure to loud noise, wearing earplugs or reducing ambient noise when using noise reducing headphones helps with this; plug - http://www.minerva-hearingprotection.co.uk/noise-reducing-headphones.html
Ironically I got my tinnitus at a Deftones gig....
I don't think I'd go as far as to get an implant unless I was 100% sure that it would fix it (mine sometimes varies in my right ear when it is exposed to loud noise - it is hell, when it is just a static tone I don't mind it so much). I used to have to sleep with the TV on, but these days I've been doing just fine! It's still there, as loud as ever but I'm dealing with it fine.
Good luck to all others who have this condition and stay safe!
Well, my Doctor tells me this procedure might help with my Epilepsy, however it looks a BIT invasive. Plus, I never have any warning signs to when the seizure is coming on. That diagram really puts it in perspective. Thanks engadget!