Evaluating High-Frequency Nerve Conduction Block for Tinnitus Treatment Using SEF Model

Abstract

Tinnitus is defined as "unwanted auditory perception of internal origin, usually localized, and rarely heard by others. Tinnitus is a sensibly experienced ringing sensation in the auditory system, which occurs without the presence of an actual auditory stimulation". Nowadays many researchers focused on finding a method for treatment of tinnitus. Although they report many different treatments, none of them are reported to be the certain cure of tinnitus. As tinnitus is caused by spontaneous activity of nerve fibers that sometimes its source cannot be detected, using means of electric stimulation for blocking auditory nerve fiber can be useful method for preventing tinnitus to be felt by patients. In this paper we focused on this point and tried to illustrate different aspects of that. First of all, we developed a computational model of fiber based on SEF fiber model. After we studied effects of different parameters such as wave shape, frequency, amplitude, fiber diameter and its distance from electrode, on experiment result and finally discussed result of computer simulation and come to conclusion.