Audiology/Otolaryngology/Tinnitus

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Expert: Daniel J. Bosnyak, PhD - 11/13/2009


Question
I have had a high pitched tinnitus for a month at this point.  I saw an ENT and he said that he didn't find anything out of the ordinary.  The left ear has been feeling full and fluttering (so I can hear my voice in and out).  Does this sound viral?  I had a few episodes of tinnitus in the 90's that went away.  Have also had labrynthitis many years ago.  I am so hoping that this is also temporary.  

Answer
The "feeling full and fluttering" sounds possibly like eustachian tube dysfunction.  Have a look at this answer: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Audiology-Otolaryngology-963/Fluttering-sensation-ear... .  As for the tinnitus, it appears to have come on as a result of the partial hearing loss that you are experiencing.  The tinnitus will likely go away once the hearing goes back to normal.

Audiology/Otolaryngology

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Daniel J. Bosnyak, PhD

Expertise

I am a neuroscientist and experimental psychologist who specializes in the study of Tinnitus (ringing of the ears). Our laboratory focuses on trying to understand what causes the tinnitus sensation, which we believe is an important first step in developing a cure for this debilitating illness. We believe that in many cases the sensation is generated as a result of changes in brain organization resulting from mild or moderate hearing loss, a phenomenon known as 'cortical plasticity' and akin in some ways to phantom limb pain. Although we do not offer treatment for tinnitus patients at this time, I do attend most of the worldwide conferences on Tinnitus and I am aware of most of the recent advances in treatment methodologies. Our research has been supported by the American Tinnitus Association, the Canadian Institute for Health Research and the Tinnitus Research Initiative.

Experience

As a research scientist and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University I have been studying tinnitus and associated phenomena for several years.

Publications
Bosnyak, D. J., Gander, P. E., & Roberts, L. E. (2007). Does auditory discrimination training modify representations in both primary and secondary auditory cortex. New Frontiers in Biomagnetism. International Congress Series (pp. 25-28). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science. Roberts LE, Moffat G, Baumann, M, Ward LM, and Bosnyak DJ (2007). Residual inhibition functions overlap tinnitus spectra and the region of auditory threshold shift. Journal of Research in Otolaryngology. Roberts, L.E., Moffat, G., & Bosnyak, D. J. (2006). Residual inhibition functions in relation to tinnitus spectra and auditory threshold shift. Acta Otolaryngologica, 126, 27-33 Bosnyak D.J., Leone A.M., Gander P.E., Roberts L.E. (2007). Responses in the primary auditory cortex in tinnitus sufferers after induction of residual inhibition by masking sounds. Annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, Toronto, May 23-25.

Education/Credentials
MCMASTER UNIVERSITY PhD, Psychology, 2003. Hons B.A., Psychology, 1994, Summa Cum Laude

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