| Name of treatment |
Neuromonics © |
|
Type of treatment |
Physical device |
|
Claims for treatment |
Reduce tinnitus symptoms by tailored acoustic stimulus targeting the effects of auditory deprivation, and reducing the involvement of the limbic and autonomous nervous system. |
|
How treatment is delivered |
In-ear sound generation device with counselling elements that incorporate elements of CBT. |
|
Potential negative consequences |
Regarded as safe and pleasant to use[1] |
Evidence offered: |
|
|
Papers available |
PubMed database has 13 papers with both Neuromonics and tinnitus as a keyword. One paper is a review[2]. |
|
Conclusions drawn |
Although clinical trials of this device show positive results, the quality of the studies is low, with weak blinding and risk of bias. A proof for the claims of neurophysiological effects is still lacking.2 |
Quality of evidence[3] |
A- |
|
Does the BTA recommend this treatment? |
No, until more high-quality evidence is available |
|
BTA opinion on this treatment: |
Independent evidence of the effectiveness of Neuromonics © for tinnitus management is lacking. |
|
Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment? |
Yes, provided study is of high quality and fully independent. |
|
Verdict: Safety – is this treatment harmful? |
Regarded as safe |
|
Verdict: Efficacy – does this treatment work? |
No evidence of effectiveness |
[1] Davis PB, Paki B, Hanley PJ. Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment: third clinical trial. Ear Hear. 2007 Apr;28(2):242-59.
[2] Hoare DJ, Adjamian P, Sereda M, Hall DA. Recent technological advances in sound-based approaches to tinnitus treatment: a review of efficacy considered against putative physiological mechanisms. Noise Health. 2013 Mar-Apr;15(63):107-16. doi: 10.4103/1463-1741.110292.
[3] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands
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Tinnitus_and_neuromonics_June_2019.pdf
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Updated 29 June 2019
