It’s one of life’s cruel ironies that when the world around you is silent, your head may be roaring. That relentless ringing, buzzing, clicking or whistling that no one else can hear is called tinnitus, and for millions of Americans, it’s the unwelcome soundtrack of their lives.
For most, it’s a faint background hum, but for others, it’s an intrusive, obsessive inescapable sound that drowns out concentration, sleep and peace of mind. The condition can lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia and social withdrawal, as sufferers grow desperate for a moment of quiet that never comes.
Happily, the Lenire device – a brand new, FDA-approved, bimodal neuromodulation system for tinnitus treatment that combines sound therapy via headphones with gentle electrical stimulation to the tongue – brings relief for many severe cases.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, tinnitus affects roughly 27 million people in the United States. The cause isn’t always clear, but researchers believe it happens when the brain perceives a phantom sound it can’t identify and then becomes fixated on it, trying in vain to solve the mystery.
“Because the brain can’t distinguish the sound, it becomes the focus of attention,” explained Dr. Sheila Case, AuD, CCC-A, founder of Intracoastal Hearing Center. “Even though it’s an auditory sensation, it all occurs in the brain. Up until recently, we’ve managed tinnitus by changing medications, removing impacted earwax, or, in cases of hearing loss, fitting the patient with a hearing aid. Hearing what they want to hear often helps reduce what they don’t.”
Tinnitus isn’t a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying issue. It might follow exposure to loud noise, head trauma, medication side effects or simply the aging process. Yet for those who live with it daily, the cause matters less than the constant intrusion it brings.
Many patients describe it as feeling “trapped inside their own heads,” Dr. Case said. “They can’t escape the noise. It affects their mood, sleep and quality of life. Some say it makes them feel like they’re going crazy, because others can’t hear what they’re hearing.”
The next level of treatment is sound therapy, which adds background noise to help the brain disengage from tinnitus. Something as simple as a fan, soothing music, or a white noise machine can redirect attention away from the inner noise. Some patients benefit from masking devices similar to hearing aids that provide continuous white noise or custom tones designed to train the brain to ignore tinnitus over time.
But for those with debilitating tinnitus, breakthrough technology is offering new hope. The Lenire device, the first FDA-approved, clinically trialed, dual-mode tinnitus treatment, combines sound therapy with gentle tongue stimulation to retrain the brain’s response to tinnitus.
“This is life-altering for those suffering from severe tinnitus,” said Dr. Case. “Lenire reached out to me last July after receiving FDA clearance and selected my clinic to offer this technology. After extensive training, I can now provide this option to qualified patients.
“Lenire works through the principle of neuroplasticity – the brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself. Lenire helps the brain retrain the way it reacts to tinnitus,” Dr. Case explained.
“It delivers gentle, customized sound through headphones along with mild electrical pulses to the tongue. This combination helps your brain pay less attention to tinnitus, making it less noticeable and bothersome over time.”
While the device itself is standardized, each program is fully customized to the individual’s tinnitus profile.
“My practice follows the Lenire Three-Step Treatment Plan,” Dr. Case said. “We start with an initial tinnitus assessment to determine how it’s affecting the patient’s daily life. Then we perform an extended frequency hearing test to measure pitch, loudness and frequency, along with any hearing loss. We also do an oral exam to ensure the patient can use the tongue stimulator. If they qualify, we fit them with their personal device to take home.”
Patients use Lenire twice a day for 30-minute sessions in a quiet, relaxing setting for 12 weeks.
“The Lenire is programmed specifically for each patient,” Dr. Case added. “I always have them complete a session in the office before leaving.
“Commitment is key with twice-daily treatments over a 12-week period delivering the best results. In Lenire’s clinical trials, 91 percent of patients who completed the 12-week program reported significant improvement. Even those who had previously tried sound therapy alone saw major benefits. And there were zero side effects.”
After completing the treatment, Dr. Case schedules follow-up visits to assess progress and adjust the program as needed. Some patients find their tinnitus symptoms subside permanently and discontinue use, while others continue sessions because they find them relaxing and therapeutic.
“Tinnitus used to be something we could only manage, not truly treat,” Dr. Case said. “Now, for the first time, we can actually help retrain the brain. It’s giving people hope who thought they’d never have a moment of silence again.”
For the millions haunted by their own internal chorus, the doctor’s words are a sound worth hearing.
Dr. Sheila Case is a Doctor of Audiology, a University of Florida graduate and founder of Intracoastal Hearing Center, an independent locally owned audiology practice located at 522 21st St., Vero Beach. For an appointment call 772-567-2811.
