A new study by a Korean medical team has shown that peripheral hearing damage is the main cause of tinnitus in the early stages of the disease. Over time, the reorganization of the central nervous system and neuroplasticity changes, in which the brain changes its own neural circuits, have a greater impact on the perception of tinnitus.

GangNeung Asan Hospital said Thursday that a research team led by Professor Park Jung-mee of the Department of Otolaryngology recently won the best poster award at the 15th World Tinnitus Society Congress, the first of its kind in Korea for a study that analyzed the relationship between the frequency at which tinnitus symptoms occur and the frequency at which hearing loss is maximized over time.

Tinnitus, a condition characterized by hearing sounds in the ear without any external sound stimulus, is common. Still, the mechanisms of its occurrence are not yet clearly understood. In particular, the relationship between the frequency of hearing loss and the frequency at which tinnitus is perceived is characterized by its complexity.

Professor Park and her colleagues found that in the early stages of tinnitus, the match between the two frequencies is high but tends to decrease over time.

It suggests that peripheral auditory damage is the primary cause of tinnitus in the early stages. Over time, however, central nervous system reorganization and neuroplasticity changes in the brain play a greater role in tinnitus perception.

“Our study suggests the need for a personalized approach to tinnitus treatment that considers the duration of tinnitus symptoms,” Professor Park said. “We are excited about the potential for future advances, as it lays the groundwork for developing sophisticated therapies based on central nervous system changes.”