Using mild cooling to relieve tinnitus symptoms
Official title: Noninvasive therapeutic hypothermia for tinnitus
Funded at Restorear Devices, LLC · NIH-11184989 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new, gentle cooling treatment to help adults with tinnitus feel better by using a special device, and it aims to find a non-drug option for those struggling with this bothersome condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Restorear Devices, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 17, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $307,962 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DC022211-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184989 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who experience chronic tinnitus symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tinnitus caused by factors unrelated to cellular damage or those who do not respond to non-invasive treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of non-invasive mild therapeutic hypothermia to alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus, a condition that affects many adults and can severely impact quality of life. The approach involves applying a novel device, ReBoundTM, to deliver mild cooling to the inner ear, targeting cellular pathways that may help reduce the loudness and severity of tinnitus. Patients will be monitored for changes in their symptoms using validated assessment tools, providing insights into the effectiveness of this treatment. The goal is to offer a new, non-pharmaceutical option for those suffering from chronic tinnitus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new non-invasive treatment option for patients suffering from debilitating tinnitus.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of therapeutic hypothermia is a novel approach for tinnitus, similar methods have shown promise in other areas of auditory treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Restorear Devices, LLC
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: King, Curtis Scott — Restorear Devices, LLC
- Study coordinator: King, Curtis Scott
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how stress and arousal relate to tinnitus using eye and skin signals
Researchers will test whether easy-to-measure signals like pupil size and skin conductance can reflect how distressing tinnitus feels in adults, especially Veterans.
-
Understanding why age-related hearing loss and tinnitus happen in diverse groups
A study aims to find genetic reasons behind age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in African ancestry and Latino populations.
-
Subjective and Somatic Tinnitus: Finding Objective Brain Signals with a Special fNIRS Scan
This grant tests a brain-imaging approach to identify objective brain signals in people with tinnitus, including those whose phantom sounds change with jaw or head movements.
-
Hormones, gut bacteria, and blood markers linked to tinnitus in women
This study looks at how hormones, gut microbes, and metabolic signals relate to the start and possible remission of tinnitus in women.
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Understanding age-related hearing loss and tinnitus in diverse communities
This project looks for genetic changes linked to age-related hearing loss and ringing in the ears using large whole-genome datasets, focusing especially on people of African and Latino backgrounds.
-
Diagnosing and treating tinnitus linked to head, neck, or jaw problems
This project develops a screening test and a physical-therapy treatment for people—especially Veterans—whose tinnitus changes with head, neck, jaw, or eye movements.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.