The Effectiveness of Microcurrent Stimulation Combined with Sound Therapy for Tinnitus Relief

[Vadimus]

Another clinical trial where they combined audio with electric stimulation.

Abstract
Various stimulation-based rehabilitation approaches have been proposed to alleviate tinnitus. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a rehabilitation approach that simultaneously provides microcurrent and sound stimulation for tinnitus relief. Twenty-eight participants with chronic sensorineural tinnitus were randomly assigned to one of two groups based on the rehabilitation approaches (sound therapy-only group and combined microcurrent and sound therapy group). Each participant underwent sound therapy or simultaneous stimulation for approximately 2 h daily for 3 months. The effectiveness of the rehabilitation approaches was determined based on changes in the Korean version of the tinnitus primary function questionnaire (K-TPFQ) and visual analog scale for loudness (VAS-L) scores at baseline, 1.5 months, and 3 months. For the K-TPFQ scores, both groups exhibited a large effect of rehabilitation; however, for the VAS-L scores, the simultaneous stimulation group demonstrated a large effect of rehabilitation, whereas the sound therapy group exhibited a small effect. Therefore, a rehabilitation approach that combines sound stimulation with microcurrent stimulation can improve response and perception in tinnitus.

→ The Effectiveness of Microcurrent Stimulation Combined with Sound Therapy for Tinnitus Relief: A Preliminary Study

 

[Nick47]

Yep. It seemed effective in a few patients, although the bimodal stimulation was only slightly more effective than sound only, so some doubt on clinical significance in my mind.

Electrical current was applied in front of the ear (preauricular) over the trigeminal ganglion, so perhaps it was stimulating several nerves that branch off it.

 

[RBajaj]

Isn't this just like Dr. Shore's device? Why are all the hopes pinned on Dr. Shore's device when they're all pretty much doing something similar?

 

[Nick47]

Isn't this just like Dr. Shore's device?

It is bimodal, yes, however I did not read anything on signal timing, which is important for the Auricle device. And the placement of the electrodes was in slightly different places.