Every person with chronic tinnitus desires a cure for the phantom sounds affecting their quality of life. Unlike the mild and temporary symptoms of tinnitus that appear after loud noise exposure or ear blockages, chronic tinnitus is a much different experience.
Some people with chronic tinnitus suffer every day, but not in silence. The sounds they hear can affect their personal and work life, making it harder to function and find enjoyment in even the most basic things. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for tinnitus, but with more funding and research, experts are much closer to a cure than a decade ago. This gives hope to the millions of tinnitus patients worldwide dealing with its negative psychological symptoms.
"Treble Health helped me turn down the sound of my tinnitus. Now I can breathe, and get on with my life!"
"Treble Health helped me turn down the sound of my tinnitus. Now I can breathe, and get on with my life!"
– Elisa
Book a free consultation to learn which Treble Health solution is right for you. Join Elisa and thousands more who have found lasting tinnitus relief.
Red light therapy has been making waves in the tinnitus community as a possible long-term tinnitus treatment. This isn’t a new technology, as red light therapy has been used for things like skin conditions to pain reduction. What is new, however, is the application for those with tinnitus. A novel approach by researchers in Beijing, was explored in a 2024 study suggesting that mid-infrared photons may help to rewire the auditory brain and reduce tinnitus.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy, or low-level light therapy (LLLT) is a type of light-based treatment that uses electromagnetic waves that are invisible to the human eye. Also known as photobiomodulation, this treatment approach works via the absorption of red/near-infrared light energy. LLLT can reduce oxidative stress in targeted areas of the body, and improve the production of ATP, cell signaling, and growth factor synthesis.
Using “light to heal people” is not as far-fetched as it would have sounded 50 years ago. Red light therapy has been studied extensively since the 70s, and today has several applications in several industries. This type of light therapy is especially popular in the beauty industry as an anti-aging treatment. It has been found in expensive medical spa treatments to at-home devices.
Besides beauty treatments, LLLT is used heavily for photorejuvenation, where lasers are used to speed up post-surgical healing and for pain management. This isn’t the same as other types of high-energy light therapy, which can heat and destroy tissue. Unlike those lasers, LLLT is low-energy, but just enough to have an effect on cell functions. This is also why red light therapy devices don’t need FDA approval.
Tinnitus and Red Light Therapy
Tinnitus affects millions worldwide, about 10-15% of the population, with 1 in 10 experiencing severe or chronic symptoms. Most people know of tinnitus as a ringing sound in the ears, but it can present itself in many forms. Tinnitus can sound like marching, roaring, whispering, clicking, whooshing, or even religious music! This can happen in one or both ears, but it isn’t just a hearing disorder as previously thought.
If tinnitus was merely a problem with the ears, then hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other traditional treatment approaches would fix every case. Tinnitus isn’t the same as “hearing things” or auditory hallucinations that are common in psychosis or schizophrenia. Experts believe tinnitus is caused by abnormal neural activity in a part of the brain referred to as the auditory cortex. Here, the auditory system within the brain creates familiar sounds as a reaction to the absence of hearing or a disturbance in auditory function.
Tinnitus is a symptom of a known or unknown medical condition and is not considered a disease or condition itself. The cause of this disturbance is sometimes obvious, as with hearing loss, head and neck trauma, or ear infections. Other times, the cause isn’t always as clear, and may be caused by conditions such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or an acoustic neuroma, which is a benign tumor that grows on the 8th cranial nerve.
A deeper look at tinnitus mechanisms suggests a link to specific potassium ion channels called KCNQ2, which regulate neuron excitability in the auditory brain. Whenever there are abnormalities in these potassium channels, the hyperactivity can lead to tinnitus symptoms as well as neurological conditions.
Potassium is also an essential mineral for the cochlea, the spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear responsible for transmitting sound signals to the auditory nerve and eventually the brain. Potassium helps maintain the electrical charge in the cochlea’s hair cells, which are critical for hearing. If there is a shortage or deficiency of potassium in the body, this can disrupt balance, which can lead to hearing loss, vertigo, and a condition known as Ménière’s disease.
What The Science Says
Researchers in Beijing believe using mid-infrared protons is a promising treatment approach for tinnitus without the negative side effects of prescription drugs. In a recent study using animal models, the scientists utilized specific frequencies to modulate neuronal excitability by directing the light at the auditory cortex. These photons then activated the KCNQ2 channels, reducing the hyperactivity in the auditory cortex (that was believed to be linked to tinnitus). Their results demonstrated that mid-infrared light, when precisely targeting the auditory cortex, was able to activate the KCNQ2 channels.
Mid-infrared photons have wavelengths between 3-8 µm which means they can penetrate deeper into tissue than visible light. This is a safer, non-invasive way to deliver therapy, such as wound healing, pain management, and PTSD treatment. They are also used to reduce the spread of certain types of cancer. Light therapy is an external delivery, meaning it’s delivered through devices like lasers or LEDs that are directed at areas like the scalp or external head regions.
Most studies of this kind have used animal models, and have not yet used human subjects. In these studies, researchers induce hearing loss in animals by exposing them to loud noise, estimating the pitch of tinnitus based on hearing loss, and observing the animal’s reactions to specific sound frequencies. For example, if an animal has tinnitus at a particular pitch, stopping that sound can elicit a startle response. The researchers in this study observed significant suppression of tinnitus-like behaviors in the mice.
Optogenetics, or using light to control the activity of neurons and other cells in living tissue, unlike other methods such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), offers precise control over neuronal firing. This makes it an even better option for treating tinnitus. However, further research is needed to test its efficacy in human subjects. Animal models are an important first step, but results may differ based on the type of tinnitus. The study also focused on noise-induced tinnitus, so the results aren’t applicable across the board. But, this is useful information for those seeking non-invasive alternatives to pharmacological or sound-based therapies.
Once human trials begin, red light therapy could revolutionize tinnitus care, offering precise, targeted relief. Eventually, this technology might even be accessible at home through user-friendly devices. These findings may also lay the groundwork for developing potassium-based medications to target excitatory neurons in the auditory cortex, which could provide relief from the physiological and psychological effects of tinnitus. Researchers also envision a future where patients could undergo a simple outpatient procedure involving light application to their auditory cortex to alleviate tinnitus.
Our patients are always looking for things they can do to get better results. While tinnitus treatment today uses various tools and techniques that are effective, there’s room for new complementary or potentially better treatments. Mid-infrared photons offer an exciting new avenue for tinnitus research by addressing neuron hyperactivity in the auditory cortex which is a key driver of tinnitus. More research is needed, however, this development is worth following.
Proven tinnitus treatments
Tinnitus can sometimes go away on its own, but when it lingers, it can have a real life-changing impact. Though there’s no known cure for tinnitus, there are treatments that do provide varying levels of relief, and peace of mind.
The experts at Treble Health recommend these proven tinnitus treatments:
- Seeking medical treatment– Tinnitus has several known and unknown causes. When the cause is known, then the tinnitus symptoms are usually easier to treat. Generally, treating the underlying medical condition should also treat the tinnitus. This may include minor procedures such as earwax removal, taking medication, surgery, and physiotherapy.
- Sound therapy– This may involve using sound to mask internal tinnitus sounds, adding sound to silent spaces, or using sound to relax and calm the mind. Sound therapy can take a variety of forms, and there are endless sound options to choose from, from traditional white and pink noises, to nature sounds, environmental sounds, and music. Sound therapy may be delivered using a sound generator, or through a wearable device.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)– CBT or traditional talk therapy is most useful for reducing the psychological effects of tinnitus on patients. This can, in turn, reduce the severity of other symptoms, keeping the mind and body calm whenever they flare up.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)– TRT combines sound therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to form a ‘gold standard tinnitus treatment’. The purpose of this therapy is to retrain the brain to have less of a negative reaction to the tinnitus to help patients with chronic tinnitus live a full life alongside the phantom sounds.
- Hearing aids– Many people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. An audiologist can conduct a comprehensive hearing test to detect any sign of hearing loss. Once prescribed hearing aids, this may lead to a reduction in tinnitus. Many hearing aids today come with tinnitus features, and can address both conditions at once.
- Lifestyle changes– Making lifestyle changes is always good advice when dealing with any type of health condition and for an overall better quality of life. This may mean giving up vices like smoking or drinking, and making dietary changes. Lifestyle changes also include being more active, reducing stress, and building more social connections.
Tackle Tinnitus With The Treble Health Team
Light therapy has shown a lot of promise in treating a wide range of health conditions and symptoms, including tinnitus. This non-invasive treatment offers hope to individuals seeking relief from the persistent and often distressing effects of tinnitus. But, like many of these experimental treatments, they’re not yet at the level where the average tinnitus patient can access them.
Tackling tinnitus without help isn’t easy. Sign up for a free 20-minute consultation with the experienced audiologists at Treble Health, and get started on a customized plan for the ringing in your ears. Having expert support goes a long way. Take back your life with help from leading tinnitus specialists.
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