A new study led by Newcastle University suggests that a sound-based therapy may reduce the loudness of tinnitus, the perception of ringing or buzzing in the ears, by an average of 10 per cent. The therapy uses modified sounds and synthesized musical notes to target the brain’s auditory processing regions, which are thought to play a role in tinnitus.
The online, blinded, randomised trial involved 77 participants who listened to the tailored sounds for one hour daily over six weeks. While some experienced improvements greater than the average, others saw no change.
Researchers believe the therapy works by altering “patterns of activity” in brain cells that respond to sound. Dr Will Sedley, co-lead of the study, explained: “Key to the success of the technique is constantly changing the volume or frequency of sound at each frequency, but doing it differently at each one. It’s like getting a crowd of people to talk at different times rather than chant together, making it easier for the brain to ignore the noise.”
The reduction in tinnitus loudness lasted for at least three weeks after the therapy ended. A placebo version, using sounds outside the tinnitus frequency, showed no effect.
Dr Sedley added that the approach could treat multiple forms of tinnitus and has “potential for widespread rollout” via smartphones and headphones.
The study received funding from the Masonic Charitable Foundation, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). Ralph Holme, RNID’s director of research, called the results “highly promising.”
“Most current therapies focus on helping people manage the condition, which is valuable,” Holme said. “This new method targets the sound itself and the source of tinnitus perception. With potential smartphone access, treatment could be available with just a few swipes.”
Researchers are now seeking additional funding to develop the therapy into a user-friendly software platform for global distribution and to explore integrating it into music and everyday sounds.
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