Tinnitus (pronounced “TIN-uh-tus” or “tin-NY-tus”) is the perception of sound that does not have an external source.1 It can be perceived in one or both ears, or in the head. Studies indicate that 10-15% of adults are affected, and this percentage increases with age.2
Tinnitus can seriously affect quality of life, interfering with sleep,3,4 hearing, work, and other activities. Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disorder in and of itself, and can have a variety of causes.
Much research has been conducted into effective treatments for tinnitus. While there is currently no cure,1 there are ways to reduce the perception of symptoms and improve quality of life, such as Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, which combines counseling and sound therapy.
A relatively new treatment modality is based on the concept of bimodal neuromodulation. By stimulating two different sensory systems—usually hearing and touch—you can “rewire” the brain to respond differently to tinnitus (i.e., the brain perceives it as less bothersome).
There are currently two devices on the market that utilize this concept: the Lenire device, and the Neosensory Duo. Both have shown promising results in clinical trials.5,6,7
Description of Devices
Lenire
Lenire first became available to the public in April 2023 and is currently the only device that has been granted FDA approval for the treatment of tinnitus.
Lenire operates on the concept of dual, or bimodal, stimulation to soothe tinnitus by combining sound stimulation (delivered through wireless headphones) with mild electrical pulses (delivered through a tongue-tip device worn in the mouth). The sounds presented through the headphones are calming soundscapes that are tailored to your specific tinnitus frequency. The sound is paired with mild, painless pulses delivered to the surface of the tongue. Users have a handheld controller that can adjust timing, volume, and tongue stimulation strength during the treatment. It is recommended that users wear the headphones and tongue tip device twice a day for 30 minutes at a time.
Clinical trials for Lenire have shown promising results.5,6 In a randomized, double-blind study of 326 adults with chronic tinnitus,5 over 81% of participants reported a significant reduction in tinnitus symptom severity after using the device over a 12-week period. Additionally, for over 77% of participants these improvements were maintained for 12 months post-treatment (for specific settings).
Lenire is currently only available through a healthcare professional, such as an audiologist or ENT specializing in tinnitus care. The cost ranges from $3,000-$4,000 USD. For further information, or to find a Lenire provider, visit the official Lenire website at www.lenire.com.
Neosensory Duo
David Eagleman theorized that the use of haptics (technology that uses sensory sensations, like vibrations, to transmit information to the brain) could substitute one sense for another. He invented the Neosensory Duo, a wristband with four motors that vibrates in response to different frequencies. The device is used in combination with sound therapy delivered through headphones and accessed with an app.
The Neosensory device can be ordered directly through the company (Neosensory.com). The wristband is paired with an app for your phone, either Android or iOS. For people with tonal tinnitus, the app sets the tones an octave above and an octave below your tinnitus. Neosensory is working on an update for people with non-tonal tinnitus (e.g. “crickets” or static noise) to expand the stimulation frequencies to make it more customizable, per Izzy Kohler, lead scientist for Neosensory.
It’s recommended that you use the app at least 10 minutes per day, preferably during a time when your tinnitus is at its worst, and in a place with minimal background noise. Unlike Lenire, which targets specific nerve stimulation through tongue-tip pulses, the Neosensory Duo operates by providing an external stimulation to validate real world sounds. In other words, sounds that are really occurring are paired with the sensory vibrations from the wristband, but the tinnitus sounds are not. The theory is that over time, the brain will prune away the neural networks sending false discharges, and the perception of tinnitus will lessen.
Clinical trials for the Neosensory Duo are promising.7 Although small (16 participants), study results indicated that 91% of participants showed some improvement, and 64% showed clinically significant improvement, with TFI (Tinnitus Functional Inventory) score reduction of 13 points or greater.
Neosensory Duo operates on a “rent to own” basis for $249/month. Individuals can try it for two months. If they like it, they can pay two additional payments of $249 to purchase it outright. If they don’t want to continue after two months, they can return the wristband and no further cost is incurred. For additional information, visit the Neosensory Duo website at https://neosensory.com/ear-ringing-management-solution/.
Comparison of Devices
While both devices show promising results in clinical trials, some individuals may find more success with one device or the other. Lenire is the only device that is FDA approved. It requires contact with a hearing healthcare professional to go through a formal tinnitus diagnostic procedure. Lenire is more expensive than the Neosensory Duo and requires a longer time commitment each day (recommended use time for Lenire is 60 minutes/day compared to 10 minutes/day for Neosensory).
The Neosensory Duo is available for order directly through the company and does not require an audiologist or hearing healthcare professional to fit the device. It is available for monthly rental, making it an affordable option. The Neosensory Duo requires the user to set up the device on their own, so for those who want support, Lenire may be the better option.
Ultimately, the decision of which device is best for you is an individual decision based on several factors. Thankfully, more and more research and information is emerging to help guide these decisions.
By Ashley Flagge, AuD, PhD