About this trial
This study tests whether pairing non-invasive stimulation of the greater occipital nerve (NITESGON) with an attentionally demanding auditory frequency discrimination training task reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related distress. One hundred adults with chronic tonal tinnitus will be randomised to one of four groups in a 2×2 factorial design: real versus sham NITESGON and active versus passive listening during auditory stimulation. Participants complete eight sessions across four weeks, with outcomes assessed at baseline, end of treatment, 28 days post-treatment, and 6 months post-treatment.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults aged 18-80 years
Continuous subjective tinnitus for >3 months and ≤5 years
Predominantly tonal tinnitus (unilateral or bilateral)
Screening THI score 28-76
Disqualifiers
Objective tinnitus or predominantly somatic tinnitus
Pulsatile tinnitus
Evidence of conductive hearing loss (abnormal otoscopy or tympanometry)
Pure-tone audiometry exclusions: >40 dB HL at any frequency 250 Hz-1 kHz OR >80 dB HL at any frequency 2-8 kHz in either ear
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Real NITESGON
- Sham NITESGON
- Active Listening
- Passive Listening (Control)