Audiologist hopeful of new tinnitus therapy device

Detailed summary

A leading clinical audiologist says a new device to help manage tinnitus conditions is likely coming to New Zealand early next year.

A leading clinical audiologist says a new device to help manage tinnitus conditions is likely coming to New Zealand early next year.

Audiologist Duncan Hann says clinical trials overseas have consistently shown good results where people have used the Lenire device to help with tinnitus symptoms.

The device pairs a mild electric pulse to the tongue with sound through headphones - and across a controlled clinical trial, most patients with moderate to bad tinnitus experienced meaningful relief.

Typical tinnitus care involves treating underlying causes and retraining how the brain perceives sound - to try to reduce the impact of the condition.

Duncan says he is continuing to see increasing numbers of people with tinnitus, including neurodivergent children, or those with sound sensitivity issues.

To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:

Opening of the article, excerpted from RNZ. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.