A worldwide research team has discovered that a smartphone app can significantly reduce the distressing effects of tinnitus within a few weeks.
The MindEar app features cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and sound therapy to help the brain tune out bothersome tinnitus sounds.
It gives hope to millions of people (one in four) dealing with tinnitus—a condition impacting hearing, mood, concentration, sleep, and sometimes leading to anxiety or depression—especially those who face long waits for treatment or can not afford specialised support.
Researcher Suzanne Purdy explained that while traditional cognitive behavioural therapy is helpful for tinnitus, it usually requires the expertise of a trained psychologist.
“That’s expensive and often difficult to access,” she said.
In the first trial with 30 sufferers, nearly two-thirds saw a “clinically significant improvement.”
Lead researcher and MindEar co-founder Mr. Fabrice Bardy added two-thirds saw an improvement after only 16 weeks.
“This was shortened to only eight weeks when patients additionally had access to an online psychologist,” he said.
“One of the most common misconceptions about tinnitus is that there is nothing you can do about it; you just have to live with it. This is simply not true. Professional help from those with expertise in tinnitus support can reduce the fear and anxiety attached to the sound patient’s experience.”
The research team spanning Australia, New Zealand, France, and Belgium, plans to conduct more significant clinical trials in the UK with the University College London Hospital.
Unravelling the Mechanism: The Science Behind Its Effectiveness
Cognitive-behavioural therapy aims to help people focus through a training program, allowing the mind and body to suppress stress hormones and responses to sounds, ultimately reducing the brain’s focus on tinnitus.Michael Maslin, a New Zealand lecturer, clarified that while cognitive-behavioural therapy does not change the tinnitus sound, it helps manage symptoms by altering how the sound is perceived, making it less threatening.
He mentioned combining treatments, like cognitive-behavioural therapy and mindfulness, is more effective for alleviating tinnitus than using each therapy alone.
He explained using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for tinnitus helps in accepting sounds without trying to change thoughts or avoid unwanted sounds.
Further, he noted the effectiveness of the “chatbot” app function.
“There is also promise in an engaging conversational agent or a ‘chatbot’ which delivers cognitive-behavioural therapy in a conversation-like manner and allows users to work through complex situations with guidance from a virtual coach,” he said.
Concerns Over Limitations in Tinnitus Treatment
However, a medical research institute in Melbourne is concerned about the current limitations in treating tinnitus, as the existing methods only control symptoms and may not always be effective.Bionics Institute Lead researcher Mr. Mehrnaz Shoushtarian said there is currently no straightforward test to diagnose or measure the severity of tinnitus, making it difficult for doctors to help those affected.
She helped develop a test to measure the severity of tinnitus, emphasising that there are other impactful technologies for the physical condition besides apps.
“We have developed a test that can distinguish between mild and severe tinnitus with 87 percent accuracy using light technology to read brain activity that is analysed using artificial intelligence,” she explained.
“Our aim is to provide clinicians with a reliable diagnostic test to assess if a treatment is working and also give researchers the information about brain activity in tinnitus needed to develop new treatments.”
Bionics Institute CEO Robert Klupacs stated that the test is a prime example of excellent bioengineering innovation.
“Dr Shoushtarian’s team uses a technology called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive brain imaging technique that measures blood oxygen changes in the brain,” he said.
“Her team has shown that we can diagnose tinnitus with incredible accuracy in a small clinical study. We are now seeking funding to develop a portable version with easy-to-use software that can be trialled for use in clinics in Australia and around the world.”
