Good news for those suffering from tinnitus. New international research has shown that using a device that acts on the affected areas of the brain can reduce the effect of the ringing sound.
“It’s not a miracle cure, but it is a very interesting tool alongside existing treatments,” says ENT specialist Dr. Michael Boedts, who contributed to the study published in Nature Communications.
About 30 percent of Belgians deal with a form of tinnitus, where the brain produces a sound that isn’t present externally. The number of people with tinnitus has been steadily rising for years. This incessant ringing affects all age groups, but the severity of symptoms varies significantly among individuals. Sometimes the ringing sound is temporary and goes away on its own; others experience minimal disruption from the sound, but for a third group, it becomes a bothersome, constant disturbance often accompanied by anxiety, stress, and sleep problems.
Increased alertness
“Various factors can play a role in the onset of tinnitus, such as hearing damage from noise exposure, anatomical abnormalities, chronic conditions, stress sensitivity, etc., but it is usually also a symptom of a continuous overload of your system. Because people remain in a state of increased alertness for long periods, the brain adapts to this new tense state through the mechanism of brain plasticity. When an additional trigger occurs, such as a viral infection, an emotional shock, or exposure to a loud noise that triggers tinnitus, it can lead to the brain permanently remaining in that heightened state of alertness. As a result, tinnitus can become permanently established in your brain,” explains Dr. Boedts (AZ Maria-Middelares and the Listening Clinic).
Bimodal stimulation
For years, scientists have been looking for ways to resolve this phenomenon. With existing treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, osteopathy, or addressing hearing loss, tinnitus often becomes much less disruptive, thus easier to live with, but it remains present nonetheless. Through treatment with a medical device (from Lenire) that sends both sound and electrical stimuli to specific brain areas, researchers have now succeeded in taking it a step further. “This so-called bimodal brain stimulation was conducted on 112 people with tinnitus who did not have hearing damage and were not anxious or stressed. For 6 weeks, they used the device twice a day that delivers sounds and electrical stimuli through both the tongue and the ears to stimulate the affected brain areas. By calming the brain area that produces the tinnitus sound, the plasticity of the brain is reactivated, gradually evolving towards a better state with less tinnitus. Essentially, these brain areas are recalibrated.
The results were very remarkable. In two out of three participants, there was a significant improvement in tinnitus. An earlier study had already shown that these results persisted even after 1 year.”
Combination with existing treatment
Dr. Boedts sees this approach primarily as a complement to existing treatments. “We have now established a protocol where we first address tinnitus through traditional therapies. By treating muscle tensions and anxieties, many issues are already resolved. If tinnitus still remains too prominent afterward, there is now an additional tool available. Bimodal stimulation works best when individuals are first calmed down and then engage in brain stimulation for 6 weeks.” The device, which costs around 3000 euros, has already received approval in the U.S., and there is already an audiology practice in our country offering it.
In the long term, Dr. Boedts expects that bimodal treatment—via sounds and electrical stimuli—will further evolve into multimodal stimulation, where brain areas are influenced by various types of stimuli, potentially not only for tinnitus but also for other issues.
Promising developments in tinnitus treatment have emerged from recent international research, highlighting the potential of bimodal brain stimulation as a complementary therapy.
Tinnitus, characterized by the perception of sound without external stimuli, affects about 30% of the Belgian population, with rising incidence across age groups. While some experience temporary or manageable symptoms, a significant proportion faces severe disturbances that often lead to anxiety, stress, and sleep issues.
Understanding Tinnitus
The onset of tinnitus can stem from various factors, including noise-induced hearing loss, anatomical abnormalities, chronic illnesses, and prolonged stress, often resulting in a state of heightened alertness. This condition prompts the brain to adapt, leading to persistent tinnitus when triggered by incidents like infections or loud noises.
Breakthrough with Bimodal Stimulation
Researchers have focused on innovative treatments for tinnitus, beyond conventional methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy and osteopathy. Bimodal stimulation, utilizing a medical device to deliver both sound and electrical stimuli to specific brain regions, has been shown to significantly reduce tinnitus symptoms in about two-thirds of participants in a study involving 112 individuals without pre-existing hearing loss or anxiety.
Integrating New Methods with Existing Therapies
Leading ENT specialist Dr. Michael Boedts emphasizes that bimodal stimulation should be seen as a complement to traditional therapies that address underlying tension and anxiety. A comprehensive approach begins with managing these foundational issues before the addition of bimodal treatment.
The device, priced at approximately €3,000, has already gained approval in the U.S., and its availability is expanding in Belgium. Future expectations suggest that bimodal therapy could evolve into multimodal stimulation, targeting various brain regions with diverse stimuli to potentially address more than just tinnitus.