The co-founder and former chief scientific officer at Benson Hill Biosystems, Thomas Brutnell is the founder of Viridis Genomics Consulting and serves as the Vice President of Gateway Biotechnology. As President of Viridis Genomics, he consults for both industrial and academic agricultural biotechnology communities. At Gateway, Thomas Brutnell oversees a research program focused on repurposing FDA-approved drugs that will prevent and treat noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus, including drugs that are derived from natural plant products.
According to Mayo Clinic, roughly 15 to 20 percent of people suffer from tinnitus, a sensation of hearing sound without the presence of an external source. Most often, this is a ringing sound, but some people experience chirping, hissing, humming, whistling, or another constant sound. Tinnitus may affect one ear or both, and can either be constant or intermittent.
Nearly everyone who has been exposed to extremely loud noise may experience short-lived tinnitus. For example, attending a loud concert can cause short-lived tinnitus, as can taking certain medications. This type of tinnitus goes away after the trigger is removed. However, about 50 to 60 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic tinnitus, or tinnitus that last more than six months. It is particularly common in people over the age of 65. Strong evidence suggests that hearing loss is a preconditioning event for tinnitus. This is particularly troubling considering the prevalence of earbuds among children who often listen to excessively loud music and thus may be setting themselves up for tinnitus later in life.
Tinnitus treatments are currently very limited. No FDA approved drugs are available on the market and the best therapies available currently utilize some form of behavioral therapy often in combination with sound therapy. These therapies are designed to help alleviate stress associated with tinnitus.
According to Mayo Clinic, roughly 15 to 20 percent of people suffer from tinnitus, a sensation of hearing sound without the presence of an external source. Most often, this is a ringing sound, but some people experience chirping, hissing, humming, whistling, or another constant sound. Tinnitus may affect one ear or both, and can either be constant or intermittent.
Nearly everyone who has been exposed to extremely loud noise may experience short-lived tinnitus. For example, attending a loud concert can cause short-lived tinnitus, as can taking certain medications. This type of tinnitus goes away after the trigger is removed. However, about 50 to 60 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic tinnitus, or tinnitus that last more than six months. It is particularly common in people over the age of 65. Strong evidence suggests that hearing loss is a preconditioning event for tinnitus. This is particularly troubling considering the prevalence of earbuds among children who often listen to excessively loud music and thus may be setting themselves up for tinnitus later in life.
Tinnitus treatments are currently very limited. No FDA approved drugs are available on the market and the best therapies available currently utilize some form of behavioral therapy often in combination with sound therapy. These therapies are designed to help alleviate stress associated with tinnitus.
