Tinnitus, often described as a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears, affects approximately 10-15% of the global population (nearly 1.5 billion people), with no definitive cure currently available. For many, tinnitus is a secondary condition, arising from underlying issues such as hearing loss, ear infections, or stress.
All too often, patients have been led to believe nothing can be done. However, the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgeons have recommended one way to properly and directly treat tinnitus…prescription grade hearing aids from a specialist.
While traditional hearing aids are often not the first choice of those with tinnitus, these unsuspecting patients are led to believe, often by the internet, that other solutions provide direct tinnitus treatment: supplements, snake oils, tinnitus retraining therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy may all come up in your online search.
However, science has time and again, either provided no support, or support as a secondary method only to the direct stimulation of the ear-to-brain nervous system. Another supplemental tool for tinnitus relief is Lenire® developed by Neuromod Devices, which stands out as a bimodal neuromodulation device that limited audiologists are adopting for secondary tinnitus treatment.
Lenire employs bimodal neuromodulation, a form of technology that simultaneously stimulates two sensory pathways to induce neuroplastic changes in the brain. The device combines auditory stimulation through Bluetooth headphones with mild electrical pulses delivered to the tongue via a component called the Tonguetip. This dual stimulation targets the auditory and trigeminal nerves, aiming to reduce the brain’s hypersensitivity to tinnitus sounds.
By fostering adaptive neuroplasticity, Lenire helps patients perceive tinnitus as less intrusive, improving their quality of life. Clinical trials, such as TENT-A2 and TENT-A3, have demonstrated significant efficacy, with 91% of compliant participants in TENT-A2 reporting sustained improvement in tinnitus severity after 12 weeks, and 70.5% of those with moderate or worse tinnitus in TENT-A3 showing clinically meaningful relief after six weeks of bimodal stimulation compared to sound-only therapy.
Unlike NeuroTechnology™ Tinnitus Treatment Plans endorsed by Dr. Keith Darrow, which provide direct and ongoing treatment for tinnitus and may encompass a broader, integrative approach combining various neurotechnological interventions, Lenire is a standalone device prescribed by trained audiologists. Its appeal lies in its non-invasive
nature and at-home usability, requiring two 30-minute sessions daily over a typical 12-week period. Audiologists assess patients’ tinnitus profiles, customize device settings, and monitor progress through follow-up visits. This targeted approach makes Lenire suitable for secondary tinnitus relief (for those 10% of patients who direct and comprehensive NeuroTechnology™ treatment plans does not provide relief), as it addresses the neurological perception of tinnitus rather than the underlying cause.
Some audiologists opt for Lenire without adopting comprehensive NeuroTechnology™ plans due to its FDA approval, robust clinical evidence, and practicality. The device’s approval in 2023, based on trials showing 79.4% of participants experiencing significant improvement, provides confidence in its efficacy as a short term psychological relief tool.
However, Lenire is not universally adopted. Its cost, ranging from $4,000 to $5,000, and lack of insurance coverage make it more expensive than affordable and comprehensive direct NeuroTechnology™ Tinnitus Treatment Plans that have been scientifically proven and recommended as the American Medical Association to directly treat the underlying cause of tinnitus.
Despite these challenges, Lenire represents a significant advancement in tools created to provide indirect relief for tinnitus patients, offering emotional hope and control to patients that need a little extra relief beyond their audiologist recommend treatment plan.
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