Be a Part of the Tinnitus Solution

Joining tinnitus and hyperacusis trials and studies is about more than finding a cure—it’s about building the foundation for better understanding, diagnosis, and treatment. Every participant contributes valuable insights that help researchers and clinicians uncover the complexities of tinnitus, refine therapies, and potentially improve the quality of life for millions. Even when a study doesn’t lead directly to a cure, patient participation brings us one step closer to meaningful progress.

While the American Tinnitus Association does not endorse specific researchers or studies, or approve the safety or science of studies, we are committed to sharing information about investigations to advance our shared vision of silencing tinnitus and improving the quality of life for millions affected by unwanted sound.

It is the responsibility of individuals to carefully evaluate the potential risks, benefits, and time commitments of participating in any investigation. Staying fully informed and seeing a trial through to completion is crucial to ensure robust and reliable data, ultimately helping drive meaningful progress in tinnitus research and treatment.

If the below studies are not applicable to you, please see clinicaltrials.gov for more information about tinnitus and hyperacusis investigations that are currently recruiting in the United States and beyond.

Clinical Trial Enrolling Veterans and Others with Blast, Noise Exposure, TBI, or Concussion

If you live near Miami, Orlando and Detroit and your tinnitus is related to blast exposure, noise exposure, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or a concussion, you may be interested in joining a clinical trial. Researchers are working to determine whether a medication called Etanercept can significantly reduce tinnitus severity in people with these specific histories.

You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are 18 years of age or older
  • Have tinnitus associated with blast and/or noise exposure, OR with a TBI or concussion
  • Able to commit to approximately 14 study visits over a four-month period
  • Meet additional medical criteria, which the study team can review with you

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, the study team encourages you to contact them.
What participation involves.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Etanercept (the study drug) or a saline solution (placebo) through weekly injections. You’ll also complete questionnaires, hearing tests, a medical exam, and tinnitus evaluations. Visits range from one to three hours, and you may stop participating at any time.

Risks and benefits
As with any research study, there are potential benefits and risks to consider. The study team will walk you through details of the trial before you decide. You also reserve the right to withdraw at any point.

Enrollment is open at three locations:

  • Wayne State University — Detroit, MI 48202 (6135 Woodward)
  • AdventHealth — Celebration, FL 34747
  • University of Miami — Coral Gables, FL 33124

To learn more, contact:

Jamal Chehab, RN
Telephone: 313-577-5495
Email: tinnitustrial@wayne.edu

Additional information is available on ClinicalTrials.gov (study identifier and link: NCT04066348).

U.S. Biomarker Tinnitus Study Recruitment

University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign,
Principal investigator: Fatima Husain, PhD
Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Lab: 217-333-7561
Email: tinnitus@illinois.edu

University of Texas – Austin
Principal investigator: Julia Campbell, PhD, AuD
Central Sensory Processes Lab
Email: CSPLab@utexas.edu

Why Participate?

By joining this study, you’ll contribute to the development of a clinically applicable tool that may provide an objective, data-driven way to diagnose tinnitus. This could pave the way for personalized treatments, reducing reliance on trial-and-error management interventions and improving outcomes for those living with tinnitus.

What’s Involved?

Participants will undergo non-invasive tests that measure brain activity in response to sound.
The study involves two sessions:

  • Session 1: An audiologic and/or tinnitus evaluation lasting up to 2 hours.
  • Session 2: EEG testing lasting up to 4 hours.

Who Can Participate?

Healthy participants, between the ages of 18 and 70 years old, across a range of hearing profiles, including:

  • Normal hearing without tinnitus
  • Hearing loss without tinnitus
  • Normal hearing with tinnitus
  • Hearing loss with tinnitus

Current Tinnitus Research

PubMed — PubMed.gov
PubMed®comprises more than 32 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites. To search for tinnitus-related research, type “tinnitus” into the search bar.

PLOS ONE — https://journals.plos.org
PLOS is a nonprofit, Open Access publisher empowering researchers to accelerate progress in science and medicine by leading a transformation in research communication. To search for tinnitus-related research, type “tinnitus” in the search bar at the top right of the page.