Tuning in to tinnitus research

Hong Kong-born Flinders graduate Boaz Mui (MAUD ’22) was at the end of a Master’s degree in Audiology and like many university graduates, began the hunt for a clinical position.

The prospect of extending his university stay and pursing the next step in his research career – a Higher Degree by Research – he admits was daunting.

Completing the most important part of the doctoral research degree – a thesis of up to 100,000 words – while completely achievable would be a big challenge, particularly with English being Boaz’ second language.

But there was something about delving into a world of fresh knowledge and continuing his research into the hearing condition tinnitus that he just couldn’t shake.

“I was hesitant in applying for a HDR (higher degree by research) because of the dreadful word count of the thesis!” he says. “So just like every other graduate, I started looking for jobs and thought I might study a PhD after a few years of clinical work. But it just didn’t feel right.

“I kept ruminating on doing a PhD and so I sought advice from my teaching staff and, of course, my supervisor (Professor Raj Shekhawat). They have been very supportive and reassuring, and so I thought, if this is where my passion lies, why not give it a go?”

Boaz begun his PhD journey at the beginning of 2022 after securing a scholarship awarded by UK start-up company Oto Health Ltd, which builds digital therapeutics such as smartphone apps for tinnitus, a condition described as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or humming sound in the head or ears.

Professor of Audiology, Dr Raj Shekhawat, left, and Flinders HDR student Boaz Mui.

Oto Health Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Jameel Muzaffa, and Dr Jimmy Chan, Senior Director of New Zealand digital health company The Clinician, are on Boaz' supervisory panel, as well as Flinders Associate Professor Niranjan Bidargaddi and primary supervisor Prof Raj Shekhawat.

Over three years, Boaz will investigate the accuracy of online hearing assessment apps, as well as the efficiency of Oto Health’s own tinnitus smartphone app.

Oto Health’s tinnitus app, called Oto, uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which is one of the most clinically proven effective treatments to lower the severity of tinnitus.

Both hearing loss and tinnitus affects one in six Australians (around 3.6 million people) and can impact a person’s quality of life, causing them frustration and lack of sleep and, in severe cases, depression and anxiety.

There is no cure nor treatment that offers long-term relief for tinnitus, however, management strategies include psychological therapy such as CBT to reduce the stress and anger associated with experiencing the condition.

Boaz says while hearing health services are traditionally delivered face-to-face, they can create barriers for those who find it inconvenient to visit clinics in-person.

“Especially since the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a shift in clinical practice from in-person to online (telehealth),” he says.

“There are now apps that allow self-assessment of hearing levels and apps that may help reduce the impact of tinnitus, but their accuracy and efficacy are still yet to be validated.