New Treatment Can Reduce Tinnitus By Half

Woman at peace; new treatment tinnitus concept

The majority of people with tinnitus have what's know as the "somatic" form. That's when the noises you hear are generated or otherwise affected when you move your head or neck.

In a Scientific American article, science journalist Anton Benz refers to a recent clinical trial, in which audiologist Susan Shore of the University of Michigan and colleagues used a new procedure to significantly alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus.

Benz says the researchers developed a “bisensory” treatment.

It consists of an "in-ear headphone and two externally attached electrodes that delivered a combination of acoustic and electric stimuli to reduce activity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN)."

The way is works is that "precisely timed sounds alternated with weak electrical pulses that activate touch-sensitive nerves, aimed at steering damaged nerve cells back to normal activity," according to the University of Michigan's Fast Forward Medical Innovation page.

Study participants "received a portable device developed and manufactured by in2being, LLC, for in-home use,” Shore explains. “The devices were programmed to present each participant’s personal tinnitus spectrum, which was combined with electrical stimulation to form a bi-sensory stimulus, while maintaining participant and study team blinding.”

After six weeks their tinnitus was significantly reduced (perceived to be only half as loud), with the effect lasting up to 36 weeks. The longer the treatment, the greater the reduction in the participants tinnitus symptoms. Treatment can be done at home and takes 30 minutes a day.

Ultimately, says Shore, the "study paves the way for the use of personalized, bi-sensory stimulation as an effective treatment for tinnitus, providing hope for millions of tinnitus sufferers."

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