A groundbreaking real-world study published in Nature Communications Medicine has demonstrated remarkable success rates for tinnitus patients treated with Lenire, the first FDA-approved bimodal neuromodulation device of its kind. The study found that 91.5% of patients experienced clinically meaningful reductions in tinnitus symptoms after completing a 12-week treatment protocol.
The retrospective chart review, titled "Retrospective chart review demonstrating effectiveness of bimodal neuromodulation for tinnitus treatment in a clinical setting," analyzed outcomes from 220 patients with moderate to severe tinnitus who received treatment at the Alaska Hearing and Tinnitus Center (AHTC) between May 2023 and June 2024. This makes it one of the largest real-world analyses of tinnitus treatment ever published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Significant Clinical Improvements
The study revealed that after just six weeks of treatment, 78% of patients had already achieved clinically meaningful reductions in tinnitus symptoms. By the end of the standard 12-week treatment protocol, this figure rose to 91.5%, demonstrating the progressive effectiveness of the therapy.
"Publication of this data in Nature Communications Medicine underscores how effective Lenire can be for tinnitus patients when they receive guidance from an experienced tinnitus care professional," said audiologist and AHTC founder, Emily E. McMahan, Au.D., who co-authored the paper. "I am confident we have entered an important new era of tinnitus care."
These real-world results align with and even exceed the outcomes observed in Lenire's controlled clinical trials, including the TENT-A3 trial that was instrumental in securing FDA De Novo approval in March 2023.
How Lenire Works
Lenire employs bimodal neuromodulation, which involves the simultaneous stimulation of two neural pathways for therapeutic purposes. The device delivers sequences of audio tones through wireless headphones while simultaneously providing mild electrical stimulation pulses to the surface of the tongue via a proprietary component called Tonguetip®, which contains 32 electrodes.
Under the supervision of qualified healthcare professionals such as audiologists or ENT surgeons, patients typically use the device at home for two 30-minute sessions daily over an average treatment period of 12 weeks. The timing, intensity, and delivery of the stimuli are controlled by a handheld controller that patients are trained to use.
Addressing a Widespread Condition
Tinnitus, commonly described as "ringing in the ears," is a complex neurological condition that causes the perception of sound when no external source is present. It affects an estimated 25 million American adults and is particularly prevalent among veterans, with more than 3.2 million veterans receiving compensation for tinnitus-related disability in 2024. In fact, tinnitus remains the most prevalent service-connected disability compensated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Fifteen percent of the global adult population experiences tinnitus, with many seeking better treatment options," noted Dr. Ross O'Neill, founder and CEO of Neuromod Devices and Lenire's principal inventor. "These results show Lenire is successful treating tinnitus in real-world clinical settings."
Expert Perspectives
Professor Hubert Lim, Ph.D., from the University of Minnesota and Chief Scientific Officer at Neuromod, who co-authored the paper, emphasized the significance of the findings: "To achieve real-world positive results that are better than what were observed in our previous controlled clinical trial that led to FDA authorization for the Lenire treatment is a major advancement for the tinnitus field. Publication of Lenire's real-world data in a top-tier scientific journal further validates Lenire's bimodal neuromodulation as a treatment option for tinnitus patients."
The study used the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), the most widely used clinical standard for measuring tinnitus impact, to assess outcomes. A clinically meaningful reduction was defined as at least a 7-point improvement on the THI scale, which ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater tinnitus severity.
Availability and Future Research
Lenire is currently available through specialized tinnitus clinics across the United States and Europe, as well as through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. According to the researchers, the AHTC results represent just the first in a series of planned real-world evidence publications that will draw from data collected from thousands of patients treated with Lenire.
Neuromod Devices, the company behind Lenire, was founded in 2010 and specializes in developing neuromodulation technologies for underserved patient populations with chronic and debilitating conditions. The company maintains offices in Ireland and the United States.
For tinnitus sufferers who have struggled with limited treatment options, these results offer new hope. The high success rate in real-world settings suggests that bimodal neuromodulation could become a standard approach for managing this challenging condition that affects millions worldwide.
