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PRESS RELEASE: 14 November 2005

Breakthrough tinnitus research acknowledged in national awards

David Baguley

A scientist based at Addenbrooke's Hospital has come runner-up in the prestigious Department of Health CSO (Chief Scientific Officer's) Healthcare Science Awards for his innovative research into treatment for tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of noise in the ear or head, which is generated inside the body rather than coming from outside. About 1 in 100 people experience serious problems with long-term, established tinnitus.

David Baguley, Consultant Audiological Scientist, picked up the award at a ceremony in London today. Speaking about his success, David said: "This award is a fantastic acknowledgement of the work of the Cambridge Tinnitus team, and also very welcome affirmation of the need for UK research into troublesome tinnitus."

David's award in the 'Innovation in Research' category acknowledges a breakthrough in treatment for tinnitus by using drug therapy. He explains: "Traditionally, tinnitus has been poorly understood and little therapy has been available. However, we have known since the 1930s that using lidocaine, a local anaesthetic, intravenously inhibits tinnitus in the majority of people, but this is short-term and can include some serious side effects. By taking a group of patients with tinnitus who had had surgery for a rare tumour of the hearing nerve, and in whom this nerve had been cut, we found that intravenous lidocaine was able to inhibit tinnitus in these patients, and must therefore have been acting in the brain, as the ear was surgically disconnected.

"This points the way towards drug treatments for the condition, giving great impetus to the search for a compound that will have the same effect upon tinnitus in the brain as lidocaine, but without the side effects. Whilst this research does not yet provide us with a drug treatment for tinnitus, it is a major signpost in that direction, and hence should be an encouragement for the many people troubled with tinnitus”.

Addenbrooke's audiology department, where David is based, is home to one of the best-established tinnitus clinics in the UK. The clinic offers patients modern therapeutic approaches, and its staff are active in research into the condition and the training of many therapists both in the UK and Europe. The range of treatments currently on offer there for the condition include tinnitus retraining therapy, counselling, relaxation, sound therapy or hearing aids, depending on the needs of the individual.

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For further information, or to set up an interview/filming with David Baguley please contact Emma Oram, Press Officer.

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.