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An overview of animal models of tinnitus. Tinnitus, or the phantom perception of sound, is one of the great unsolved problems of otology. It is present in all patients with hearing loss and, in approximately 5-10% of individuals, it has a significant impact on quality of life. Progress in the treatment of tinnitus has been limited by a lack of animal models that can be used to study the neurophysiology of tinnitus and to examine prospective treatment. In the last ten years, several physiological and behavioural animal models of tinnitus have been developed that have significantly increased our understanding. The next ten years will see the application of these models to drug development and electrical stimulus approaches to curing tinnitus.