Low Level Laser for Tinnitus

46 tinnitus patients went into this randomised placebo controlled study (it does not say if it was blinded in this abstract). The laser power was 5 mW and the wavelength 650 nm which is very low power for this condition, treatments were 20 mins daily for 3 months. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores improved in the entire sample after treatment but more significantly in the group receiving low-level laser. From the point of view of clinical classification, approximately 61% of irradiated patients had tinnitus severity decreased by one class, in comparison to 35% of the placebo group. A stronger laser might have done better.

Effectiveness of combined counseling and low-level laser stimulation in the treatment of disturbing chronic tinnitus.

Cuda D, De Caria A.

Department of Otolaryngology, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy. d.cuda@ausl.pc.it

We recruited 46 adult patients affected by disturbing tinnitus lasting for at least 3 years. All were treated with a combined counseling protocol constituting hypnotherapeutic and muscle relaxation techniques. We randomly assigned 26 patients to the group receiving low-level laser stimulation treatment and 20 to the placebo group. The laser power was 5 mW and the wavelength 650 nm. The irradiation lasted 20 minutes daily for 3 months. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire was submitted at the beginning and at the end of treatment. The THI scores improved in the entire sample after treatment but more significantly in the group receiving low-level laser stimulation. From the point of view of clinical classification, approximately 61% of irradiated patients had tinnitus severity decreased by one class, in comparison to 35% of the placebo group.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=DetailsSearch&Term=19205171[uid]

Int Tinnitus J. 2008;14(2):175-80
PMID: 19205171