Notched Noise Therapy for Tinnitus Relief

Notched Noise Therapy for Suppression of Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NIH-funded research Durham VA Medical Center · NIH-11191393

This project explores a special sound therapy called Notched Noise Therapy to help Veterans who experience ringing in their ears, also known as tinnitus.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDurham VA Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11191393 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many Veterans experience tinnitus, a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, which can be quite bothersome. This project is looking into a specific type of sound therapy, called Notched Noise Therapy, which uses specially designed sounds to help reduce the perception of tinnitus. The idea is that by listening to these sounds, the brain's activity related to tinnitus might be quieted. We are conducting a controlled comparison to see how effective this continuous sound immersion therapy is for improving tinnitus loudness and reactions.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this work are Veterans experiencing tinnitus, especially those for whom it is a service-connected disability.

Not a fit: Patients whose tinnitus is not related to the specific neural activity targeted by notched noise therapy may not receive benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could offer an accessible, evidence-based treatment to reduce the loudness of tinnitus for many individuals.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown some benefit of notched noise therapy, and this project aims to further confirm its effectiveness with continuous exposure.

Where this research is happening

Durham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.