Auditory Mirror Therapy for Tinnitus

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Disqualifiers: Hearing aids, Drug or alcohol use, Neurological or psychiatric illnesses, Balance or vestibular symptoms, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 weeks

50 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests special earmuffs that switch sounds between ears to help people with chronic tinnitus. The goal is to see if this can reduce their symptoms by changing how their brain processes sounds. Auditory mirror therapy (AMT) involves swapping sounds between ears to reduce tinnitus, similar to mirror box therapy used for phantom limb pain.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

How does Auditory Mirror Therapy differ from other tinnitus treatments?

Auditory Mirror Therapy is unique because it focuses on using sound to create a 'mirror' effect, helping patients gain control over their tinnitus by matching and reducing the perceived loudness of the tinnitus sound. This approach is different from other sound therapies that primarily aim to mask or distract from the tinnitus noise. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Auditory Mirror Therapy for Tinnitus?

Research on similar sound-based therapies for tinnitus, like sound therapy and auditory discrimination training, suggests that using sound can help reduce the perception of tinnitus. These therapies work by helping the brain adapt to or ignore the tinnitus sounds, and some studies have shown significant reductions in tinnitus loudness and severity. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-80 who have been experiencing chronic tinnitus, which means a constant ringing or noise in the ears, for more than three months. It's not specified if there are any specific exclusions other than age and duration of tinnitus.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had ringing in my ears for more than 3 months.

I am either male or female.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo auditory mirror therapy (AMT) for 21 days, 3 hours per day

3 weeks

Daily self-administered sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Auditory Mirror Therapy

Trial Overview The study is testing Auditory Mirror Therapy (AMT) using special earmuffs that flip sounds from one ear to the other. The goal is to see if this can help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Auditory Mirror Therapy Device Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Modified 3M Peltor Tactical 300 Electronic Hearing Protector. The modification consists of connecting the left microphone to the right microphone tab on the circuit board, and vice versa.

Group II: Sham Headphone Device Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Non-Modified 3M Peltor Tactical 300 Electronic Hearing Protector

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

143

Recruited

11,200+

Harvard University

Collaborator

Trials

237

Recruited

588,000+

Citations

1. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sense and Sensibility: A Review of the Behavioral Neuroscience of Tinnitus Sound Therapy and a New Typology. [2021]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigating the Impact of Cognitive Training for Individuals With Bothersome Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Tinnitus: Evaluation of Benefits in a Large Sample of Patients Attending a Tinnitus Clinic. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A matching-to-sample feedback technique for training self-control of tinnitus. [2019]

5. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory discrimination training for the treatment of tinnitus. [2022]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of sound therapy on whole scalp oscillatory brain activity and distress in chronic tinnitus patients. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatments for tinnitus. [2021]