Electrical Stimulation — The Magical Cure We've All Been Waiting for?

There are quite some activity around treating tinnitus with electrical stimulation.

First out and already on the market we have Lenire that sends electrical stimulation via the tongue:

Lenire — Bimodal Stimulation Treatment by Neuromod

Then we have Susan Shore and the University of Michigan tinnitus device. Her work involves stimulation via the face and neck:

New University of Michigan Tinnitus Discovery — Signal Timing

And now lately this UCI research initiative. An innovative implantable device that is placed behind the eardrum to get optimal stimulation of the cochlea. As I understand it, it is not as invasive as the typical cochlear implant because the device just stimulates from the outside:

UCI — Acoustic and Electrical Stimulation for the Treatment of Tinnitus

Finally, we have this electrical acupuncture. The study does not seam to be to scientific though:

Neuropuncture — An Effective Treatment Method for Patients with Subjective Tinnitus

What do you think? Is electrical stimulation something to hope for in the next coming years?

 

I doubt that the real cure for tinnitus would come from this approach.

I'm more hopeful in stem cells or other type of regenerative medicine.

 

I just wish there were some more regenerative options on the horizon. In the shorter perspective I think this is what we have to hope for.

 

I think electrical stimulation / neuromodulation might suppress the tinnitus, but maybe not cure it.

But that's fine for me.

 

Yes, but I'm rather reluctant to try these approaches, they seem like hit and miss.

There are people here who got worse after Lenire, for instance.

I know stem cells are kind of a shot in the dark too, but at least I've never seen anyone reporting deterioration after trying them.

 

I think the UCI system is very promising. In principle, the cochlea is stimulated with a basic frequency, just like an invasive CI does. The test results were promising. The function of the system was proven with the "Tinnelec" system a few years ago.

 

If these treatments are promising, why do we go to doctors and not talk about them?

What's the point of having treatments if doctors don't give them to patients?

Are they already available?

 

The Tinnelec study is from 2011 and was carried out in Hanover / Germany. The project did not continue - perhaps for economic reasons. Why should a CI manufacturer want to replace its € 16,000 system with a € 5,000 device? No interest...

I hope UCI finishes the project and it is available soon.