- A new app, MindEar, provides relief to people with tinnitus by leveraging cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, meditation, and sound therapy.
- An initial clinical trial showed that nearly two-thirds of users saw an improvement after 16 weeks.
- Tinnitus is not a condition, but a symptom, characterized by the perception of ringing or noise when none is present.
- Underlying causes can include stress but also more serious issues.
Tinnitus, a common symptom in which the brain perceives sound even in quiet environments, affects about 10 percent of adults in the United States.
While most cases are mild, some people can experience debilitating symptoms that can significantly diminish their quality of life.
Its underlying causes are multifaceted, ranging from general ear conditions to stress to head injuries, and that can make it tricky for doctors to treat.
A team of researchers has developed a smartphone app, known as MindEar, that could help provide relief to those with tinnitus. The app is available now and researchers say an early clinical trial has shown promise in helping people overcome their symptoms.
“It’s a big challenge to provide help to the millions of people who are currently struggling,” Dr. Fabrice Bardy, an audiologist at Waipapa Taumata Rau at the University of Auckland in New Zealand as well as the lead author of the trial and co-founder of the app, told Medical News Today.
“What is really encouraging, I think, is finding ways to leverage technology to allow people who are experiencing distressing tinnitus to get access to help,” he said.
Rebecca Lewis, an audiologist and audiology director of the Adult & Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today that tinnitus isn’t actually…
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