A recent study conducted by the Optics and Photonics Research Center in Brazil has revealed that low-level laser therapy is the most effective treatment for tinnitus. Over the course of a four-week trial, researchers discovered that laser acupuncture and transmeatal low-power laser stimulation surpassed other treatments in terms of efficacy. These findings hold significant promise for establishing laser therapy as a standard treatment protocol for tinnitus.
Tinnitus, a condition that affects approximately 750 million people worldwide, has been the subject of numerous therapies. However, the study conducted by Brazilian scientists affiliated with the Optics and Photonics Research Center (CEPOF) found that low-level laser therapy and photobiomodulation outperformed other known treatments for tinnitus. The study’s results were published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.
CEPOF, a Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Center funded by FAPESP and hosted at the University of São Paulo’s São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP) in Brazil, led the research effort.
Tinnitus, commonly characterized as a ringing or hissing sound in the ears, is considered a symptom rather than a disease. While not life-threatening, it can be unpleasant and, in severe cases, incapacitating. Tinnitus can arise from various causes, including earwax buildup, inadequate blood flow to the inner ear, brain damage, or bruxism. Currently, there are no standardized treatments or FDA-approved drugs available.
Vitor Hugo Panhóca, a researcher at CEPOF, explained, “Tinnitus is a prevalent symptom among the general population, and it is treated with a wide range of methods, including ear lavage, local anesthetics, antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and sedatives, each yielding different results. After encountering consistent laser therapy outcomes in scientific literature, we decided to compare the main treatments and seek better solutions to this problem.”
Over a four-week period, Panhóca and his team conducted trials on over 100 men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who were experiencing idiopathic (with no apparent cause) and refractory tinnitus. The participants were randomly divided into ten groups, and alternative and complementary treatments were tested. These treatments included laser acupuncture, flunarizine dihydrochloride, Ginkgo biloba, low-level laser stimulation of the internal auditory canal or meatus (transmeatal stimulation), as well as combinations of vacuum therapy, ultrasound, G. biloba, and flunarizine dihydrochloride.
The patients received eight treatment sessions twice per week. They underwent clinical evaluations before the start of treatment, after the eighth session, and two weeks later. The evaluations utilized a “tinnitus handicap inventory questionnaire” consisting of 25 questions, including an 11-question functional subscale that assessed mental, social, occupational, and physical limitations caused by tinnitus.
The study found that the best outcomes were observed in patients treated with laser acupuncture alone and transmeatal low-power laser stimulation alone. In the latter case, the results improved even further when the irradiation time was increased from 6 minutes to 15 minutes. Combinations of laser therapy with vacuum therapy or G. biloba, laser acupuncture alone, and flunarizine dihydrochloride alone also demonstrated lasting therapeutic effects.
Panhóca explained, “The positive effects include anti-inflammatory action and relaxation. We believe laser therapy can enhance peripheral blood flow, which may be a primary factor in many cases, while also stimulating the proliferation of inner ear cells and collagen production.”
Although this CEPOF study is not the only one demonstrating the effectiveness of laser therapy for tinnitus, it represents a significant step toward developing a standardized protocol. Dentists, ear, nose, and throat specialists, speech therapists, and other medical practitioners who treat tinnitus patients can benefit from this protocol, as it provides guidance on the number of sessions and treatment intensity, which have shown significant variation in the existing literature.
Panhóca emphasized the importance of understanding how successful therapies work, stating, “This knowledge will help us focus on the most effective approaches in future studies. It is part of the learning curve when innovating in health treatments like this.” He also stressed the need to investigate the long-term effects of laser therapy.
The study received support from FAPESP through a postdoctoral scholarship awarded to Fernanda Rossi Paolillo. Collaborative efforts involved researchers from Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital in São Carlos, the University of Central São Paulo (UNICEP), and the Integrated Therapy Center in Londrina (Paraná state), Brazil, as well as the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about tinnitus treatment
What did the study find regarding the most effective treatment for tinnitus?
The study conducted by the Optics and Photonics Research Center in Brazil found that low-level laser therapy, including laser acupuncture and transmeatal low-power laser stimulation, was the most effective treatment for tinnitus compared to other therapies tested.
How many people are affected by tinnitus worldwide?
Approximately 750 million people worldwide are affected by tinnitus, according to a European study that analyzed patient data over five decades.
Are there any standard treatments or FDA-approved drugs for tinnitus?
Currently, there are no standard treatments or drugs approved by the FDA specifically for tinnitus. The available treatment options vary and often yield different results.
How were the patients in the study evaluated?
The patients participating in the study underwent clinical assessments before the start of treatment, after the eighth session, and two weeks later. These evaluations utilized a “tinnitus handicap inventory questionnaire” consisting of 25 questions to assess the impact of tinnitus on various aspects of their lives.
What were the best outcomes observed in the study?
The study found that the best outcomes were observed in patients treated with laser acupuncture alone and transmeatal low-power laser stimulation alone. The positive effects of these treatments included anti-inflammatory action, relaxation, increased peripheral blood flow, and stimulation of inner ear cell proliferation and collagen production.
More about tinnitus treatment
- Journal of Personalized Medicine: The article reporting the study’s findings on the effects of red and infrared laser therapy in patients with tinnitus.
- Optics and Photonics Research Center (CEPOF): The research center in Brazil that conducted the study on tinnitus treatment.
- University of São Paulo’s São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP): The hosting institution for CEPOF, where the study was conducted.
- FAPESP: The funding agency that supported the study through a postdoctoral scholarship.
- European study on tinnitus: A study analyzing patient data from five decades to provide insights into the prevalence and impact of tinnitus worldwide.
3 comments
wow this study says low-level laser therapy is like the BEST treatment for tinnitus that’s so cool!! omg 750 mil ppl have this it’s insane!!! and no approved drugs or nothin smh. like finally some real progress in treatment tho!
I’ve been dealing with tinnitus for years, so this study caught my attention. It’s interesting how laser therapy is showing such promising results. Can’t wait for more research and to see if this treatment becomes more widely available.
so this study shows that laser acupuncture & laser stimulation are the way to go for tinnitus treatment. i always knew lasers were amazing, but now they’re saving ears too? impressive stuff!