Newcastle trial tests early non-invasive brain stimulation to halt tinnitus progression

A Newcastle University study is testing a non-invasive brain stimulation technique to stop tinnitus at its onset. Transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS, is being used on patients whose tinnitus has developed within the past two months in an effort to prevent the condition from becoming permanent.

Tinnitus affects about 7.6 million people in the United Kingdom, with around 1.5 million experiencing severe symptoms and no cure. The trial, launched in July, has enrolled six volunteers so far, with about 94 more expected over the next two years. All participants developed tinnitus recently, within two months of joining. Half of participants receive ten 40-minute sessions of tDCS followed by sound therapy, while the other half receive a sham treatment with only a faint current.

The technique involves placing two electrodes—one on the forehead and another at the back of the head—to deliver a steady, low current to brain areas involved in processing sound and touch. The cap is soft, similar to a swimming hat, and the current is about two milliamps, only slightly stronger than a standard AA battery. The treatment is painless and brief, and is thought to retrain abnormal brain activity that produces the phantom ringing.

“When tinnitus develops, nerve cells in the auditory system start firing when they shouldn’t. Those signals are then interpreted by the brain as sound. What we want to do is retrain the brain cells around the tinnitus to stop, or at least reduce, the amount they keep firing or activating,” said Dr Will Sedley, a neurologist at Newcastle University. Early results are encouraging: of the first five participants to complete treatment, four reported their tinnitus was significantly better and quieter by the end. Researchers caution that it is not yet possible to tell whether this reflects a true treatment effect or spontaneous improvement, but the early signals are far stronger than typically seen in similar trials.

Researchers note that DBS, a surgical approach that implants electrodes deep in the brain, has shown occasional tinnitus improvements in some patients. However, DBS carries risks such as bleeding and infection and remains experimental for tinnitus. By contrast, tDCS offers a non-invasive option that could be more widely deployed if proven effective.

In the meantime, scientists acknowledge that certain lifestyle measures can help ease tinnitus. Mindfulness training has been linked to reduced symptoms in a 2024 study, while another study found that people who exercise more than two-and-a-half hours weekly saw improvements. Some foods and substances—salt, alcohol, caffeine, and salicylates found in certain plant-heavy foods—may worsen symptoms for some individuals. The Newcastle team is still recruiting volunteers and hopes to narrow the window between onset and intervention if the approach proves successful. “Tinnitus research has progressed rapidly in the past few years,” said Dr Umashankar. “Our work helps us understand why it persists and how we can stop it in its tracks. I’m really hopeful this can become a new reality.” Anyone interested in signing up for the tDCS trial should go to newcastletinnitus.org/acute-tinnitus-research