A combination of sound and electrical stimulation can reduce tinnitus symptoms by 50%.
The relentless ringing or buzzing in the ears, often without any external cause, can severely diminish the quality of life for the 10 percent of U.S. adults who suffer from severe tinnitus. However, a new treatment using both sound and electrical stimulation could offer hope to those affected.
One likely cause of tinnitus is the overactivity of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) in the brainstem, where auditory signals are integrated with other sensory inputs. This suggests that tinnitus isn’t solely an issue with the brain’s auditory system. In fact, up to 80 percent of those with tinnitus have a somatic form, meaning the noises are influenced by head or neck movements. In a recent clinical study, Susan Shore from the University of Michigan and her team developed a novel technique that significantly reduced tinnitus symptoms. “This study provides hope for many patients,” says Berthold Langguth, a tinnitus expert from the University of Regensburg, Germany, who was not involved in the research.
Shore’s team devised a “bisensory” therapy involving headphones and two externally placed electrodes, which delivered a combination of sound and electrical stimulation aimed at reducing overactivity in the DCN. The stimulation was tailored to match each participant’s tinnitus profile. The trial included 99 participants with somatic tinnitus, who used the prototype device for at-home treatment.
During the first phase of the study, participants in the treatment group received the therapy for 30 minutes daily over six weeks, while the control group used the same setup but without the electrical stimulation, receiving only acoustic input. The electrical impulses were undetectable, so participants were unaware of their group assignment.
After a six-week break, the study entered its third phase, with both groups switching treatments for another six weeks. Results after the first phase showed a significant reduction in tinnitus for the experimental group, with participants reporting their tinnitus as half as loud on average. Improvements continued even during the break, with effects lasting up to 36 weeks. “This method shows great potential,” says Langguth. Shore is now focused on advancing the therapy through the approval process and making it widely available.
The relentless ringing or buzzing in the ears, often without any external cause, can severely diminish the quality of life for the 10 percent of U.S. adults who suffer from severe tinnitus. However, a new treatment using both sound and electrical stimulation could offer hope to those affected.
One likely cause of tinnitus is the overactivity of the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) in the brainstem, where auditory signals are integrated with other sensory inputs. This suggests that tinnitus isn’t solely an issue with the brain’s auditory system. In fact, up to 80 percent of those with tinnitus have a somatic form, meaning the noises are influenced by head or neck movements. In a recent clinical study, Susan Shore from the University of Michigan and her team developed a novel technique that significantly reduced tinnitus symptoms. “This study provides hope for many patients,” says Berthold Langguth, a tinnitus expert from the University of Regensburg, Germany, who was not involved in the research.
Shore’s team devised a “bisensory” therapy involving headphones and two externally placed electrodes, which delivered a combination of sound and electrical stimulation aimed at reducing overactivity in the DCN. The stimulation was tailored to match each participant’s tinnitus profile. The trial included 99 participants with somatic tinnitus, who used the prototype device for at-home treatment.
During the first phase of the study, participants in the treatment group received the therapy for 30 minutes daily over six weeks, while the control group used the same setup but without the electrical stimulation, receiving only acoustic input. The electrical impulses were undetectable, so participants were unaware of their group assignment.
After a six-week break, the study entered its third phase, with both groups switching treatments for another six weeks. Results after the first phase showed a significant reduction in tinnitus for the experimental group, with participants reporting their tinnitus as half as loud on average. Improvements continued even during the break, with effects lasting up to 36 weeks. “This method shows great potential,” says Langguth. Shore is now focused on advancing the therapy through the approval process and making it widely available.