Ever needed an excuse to pop some pills? For most, we understand that an average Friday night is excuse enough to get on the party prescriptions. Hypothetically though, let’s say you consequently also suffer from a degenerative ear disease that causes constant ringing. In that case, researchers from the University of Auckland may have unearthed a radical medical solution that’ll be music to your much-maligned earholes.

According to the group of researchers, those who suffer from tinnitus will be relieved of their hearing ailments after a dose of MDMA. Daniel Spiegel, of the University of Auckland, noted that “some participants were quite frank and said that after taking ecstasy their tinnitus went away.” Fair dinkum.

Such information was shared at this week’s international conference dedicated to finding a treatment for the condition. Such candid discussion could act as the springboard necessary for trials with illicit substances to begin, potentially in May this year. Senior lecturer Grant Searchfield – a man destined to enter the medical research arena – stated that there were enough reports to support further investigation, adding that “often people with tinnitus will say that ‘I do this’ or ‘I do that’ and it makes my tinnitus better or worse but because we have heard the same story from a number of people, we are beginning to see a pattern and we need to work out what that is.” The disease that purportedly affects 7% of the population, in particular those over 65, has never really been treatable, proving a real annoyance for sufferers.

We’re not sure if MDMA is curing tinnitus sufferers or merely giving them a mega-high buzz that distracts them long enough from the constant buzzing in their ears. The affects of tinnitus aren’t that far removed from the affects of ecstasy – sleepless nights, anxiety, mood swings, depression, exhaustion and stress – so we’re also unsure of how the two correlate. Either way, we’re down for more information. We don’t endorse the use of illicit substances, but maybe it’s time to start feigning some slight hearing defects party people!

Source:Stuff.co.nz