Break through tinnitus treatment

By Mary Malik

A common symptom of damage to the ear and hearing system is tinnitus. Tinnitus can be defined as noise heard that has no external cause. It can sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring and more, can be constant or intermittent, and is unique to each person affected.

“Tinnitus is present in about 80 percent of persons living with hearing loss but can also occur with normal hearing,” says Sarah Curtis, Au.D., founder of Sounds of Life Hearing. “It is a benign sensation in the body and cannot hurt you or make hearing worse, however, it can be bothersome.”

Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are treatments and rehabilitative strategies. Hearing aids can help alleviate symptoms for those with hearing loss, but those with tinnitus and no hearing loss often feel out of options.

“In April 2023, the US FDA approved the use of the Neuromod Lenire tinnitus treatment device,” Dr. Curtis says. “It was first rolled out to a small number of practices, and 30 more were added in September, including Sounds of Life Hearing Center.”

Dr. Curtis says the Lenire works by bimodal neuromodulation. The person with tinnitus listens to sounds through headphones and simultaneously has a Tonguetip electric stimulator creating impulses on the tip of the tongue. This helps the brain to reframe its reaction to the tinnitus and can make it non-bothersome after approximately 12 weeks of one-hour daily treatment sessions.

“If you’re bothered by tinnitus, we recommend a hearing evaluation by an audiologist experienced in tinnitus diagnosis and rehabilitation,” Dr. Curtis says. “At our practice, if Lenire is appropriate, it can be part of your treatment plan.”

Sounds of Life Hearing Center is located at 8007 Auburn Road, Suite 1, in Concord Township. For more information call 440-579-4085 or visit SoundsOfLifeHC.com.