Pathophysiology-Based Treatments for Tinnitus

Dirk De Ridder, MD, PhD leads the new University of Otago academic neurosurgery research unit in New Zealand and is one of the world-leading researchers on tinnitus. He is the co-director of the Tinnitus Research Initiative Foundation and scientific adviser for the American Tinnitus Association. He developed the cutting-edge technique of electrical auditory cortex stimulation for tinnitus.

Although much progress has been made, tinnitus remains a scientific and clinical enigma. The condition is very common, and although many patients are not unduly troubled, others find the disorder life-changing. In this talk we outline current knowledge of tinnitus, and critically assess established and emerging treatment approaches.