Tinnitus — ringing, buzzing, or other phantom sounds in the ears — affects roughly 10-15% of adults. There's no FDA-approved drug for it. Treatment today centers on sound therapy, counseling, and hearing aids when hearing loss is present. Most research targets the brain circuits that generate the phantom sound.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing neuromodulation devices that use paired sounds and electrical stimulation to retrain auditory circuits, drugs that target brain plasticity and nerve signaling, and approaches focused on inner ear repair. Studies also explore whether certain antidepressants or anticonvulsants can quiet the phantom sound by modulating neural activity.
Bimodal neuromodulation
Devices pair sounds with gentle tongue or ear stimulation to reset misfiring auditory pathways. One FDA-cleared device is now available, and trials are refining how timing and intensity affect outcomes.
Inner ear repair
Some trials test regenerating damaged hair cells or synapses in the cochlea, addressing the root cause in cases where tinnitus stems from noise exposure or aging. Early results suggest this may reduce phantom sound in a subset of people.
Potassium channel modulators
Drugs targeting potassium channels in auditory nerves aim to stabilize overactive signaling that may drive tinnitus. Several candidates are in early trials.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on tinnitus severity, duration, whether hearing loss is present, and ruling out treatable causes like earwax or vascular abnormalities.
What types of trials are currently open
- Neuromodulation trials — Testing devices that use sound combined with electrical or magnetic stimulation to retrain the brain's response to phantom sound.
- Drug trials — Testing medications that target neural signaling, inflammation, or plasticity in auditory pathways.
- Inner ear repair trials — Studies testing therapies that aim to regenerate hair cells or repair synapses damaged by noise or aging.
- Behavioral trials — Testing structured counseling or cognitive therapy approaches to reduce distress and improve coping.
- Observational studies — Following people with tinnitus to understand what predicts severity, which subtypes respond to which treatments, and how the condition changes over time.
Recently added Tinnitus trials
Try a treatment to reduce sound sensitivity and increase loudness tolerance
The main goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness, benefits, and post-treatment persistence of an intervention for loudness hyperacusis in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the intervention increase loudness tolerance * Does the intervention reduce symptoms related to loudness hyperacusis Researchers will compare measures related to loudness hyperacusis before, during, and after the intervention. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either one of two groups. One group will receiver the intervention immediately. This group will be evaluated during the 6-month intervention and evaluated for 6 months after the end of the intervention. The other group will be evaluated for 6 months before the intervention and during the 6-month intervention. * Visit the test site once every month over the course of a year for evaluation and intervention activities * Keep a diary of their symptoms and the number of hours per day they engage in the intervention
Try brain training sessions to help reduce ringing in your ears
The broad goals of this project are to apply and validate the therapeutic utility of neurofeedback-guided intervention for tinnitus and its associated psychological sufferings. In this project, the investigators will evaluate whether targeted (non-auditory networks) neurofeedback-based training can restore emotional and cognitive health for individuals with bothersome tinnitus. The investigators will also link individual tinnitus scores with objective brain imaging measures before, during, and after the intervention. The investigators will accomplish these goals by using a combined brain imaging and behavioral experimental framework.
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