Low power laser therapy is an effective adjunct for chronic tinnitus

A randomised double-blind study published in The Journal of Laryngology & Otology was designed to "evaluate effectiveness of 5 mW laser irradiation in the treatment of chronic tinnitus." In the course of their investigation "A 5 mW laser with a wavelength of 650 nm, or placebo laser, was applied transmeatally [shone in the ear] for 15 minutes, once daily for a week." (This is the kind of laser in use here.) The results of this intervention were "The loudness, duration and degree of annoyance of tinnitus were improved, respectively, in up to 48.8, 57.7 and 55.5 per cent of the patients in the active laser group. No significant improvement was observed in the placebo laser group." The authors conclude: "Transmeatal, low power (5 mW) laser irradiation was found to be useful for the treatment of chronic tinnitus." The percentages of improvement make sense considering that roughly half of tinnitus is due to neurodegeneration in brain audio processing areas rather than a degenerative disorder of the inner ear which is treated by the laser.