Tinnitus: New Study Emerges for Treatment Options

Tinnitus is categorized as a constant presence of noise in your ears—whooshing, ringing, or buzzing—that doesn’t come from external sources. Twenty-five million American adults deal with tinnitus, but many people don’t realize how much it affects hearing and overall health.

A 2023 study shows that tinnitus can lead to increased levels of depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms like headaches and fatigue. For many tinnitus sufferers, the sound is so distractingly loud that it takes away from their everyday lives.

The study also found that roughly 40 percent of people with tinnitus showed those higher levels of depression and anxiety, compared to 27 percent of people without tinnitus. Tinnitus can be isolating, frustrating, and worrisome to deal with alone, with or without treatment.

However, there are several treatment options to help tinnitus, including a recent experimental treatment that’s succeeded in reducing symptoms for people with severe tinnitus.

The study involved 99 participants with somatic tinnitus, and researchers gave them various forms of therapy, combining acoustic input with nondetectable electric stimulation. In the two groups studied, tinnitus was shown to decrease by half—around six decibels (dB).

While this groundbreaking treatment hasn’t been approved for use yet, researchers involved expressed hope that it’ll be approved soon. The results speak for themselves—decreasing symptoms with noninvasive treatment is a tall order, but one that’s entirely possible.

Tinnitus does not currently have a cure; treatment to manage symptoms is what many people with tinnitus must rely on. Thankfully, there are plenty of dedicated researchers and audiology professionals working hard to find ways to help manage tinnitus through various methods.

Other treatments for tinnitus include earwax removal, white noise generators, hearing aids, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other forms of sound therapy available through audiology clinics, like the Lenire sound therapy that West Coast Hearing & Balance Doctors offers.

How West Coast Hearing & Balance Center Can Help

If you’re searching for a way to alleviate your tinnitus, you’re in the right place. Our team are privileged enough to be trained with Lenire, the latest and greatest in tinnitus treatment.

By combining advanced sound therapy with gentle tongue stimulation, Lenire retrains the brain in a noninvasive manner to change its perception of the ringing, buzzing, or whooshing associated with tinnitus.