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TinnitusNCT03759834

Cochlear Promontory Stimulation for Treatment of Tinnitus

A study testing Cochlear promontory stimulation in people with Tinnitus, run by Mayo Clinic at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external noise is present. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates over 50 million - nearly 15% of the general public -experience some form of tinnitus. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Tinnitus
What is being tested?
Cochlear promontory stimulation
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
25 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
4 Jan 2018to 13 Aug 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Normal to moderate sensorineural hearing loss (based on pure tone audiometry (PTA) of 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz) and a word recognition score equal to or greater than 60%
  • Asymmetric or unilateral subjective tonal tinnitus
  • Tinnitus that is disruptive
  • Determined by THI score (in the severe range i.e. ≥56/100)
  • TFI (in the severe range i.e. ≥52/100)
  • Tinnitus VAS (≥ 5/10 )
  • Tinnitus that is intractable, and has not been ameliorated by conventional measures such as a hearing aid or masking
  • Normal contrast-enhanced MRI of the head

Who cannot join

  • Tinnitus present less than 6 months or longer than 12 years; it is permissible to include people who have had intermittent or constant tinnitus longer than 12 years as long as it was not perceived as severe longer than 12 years
  • History of brain or major ear surgery
  • Prior major head trauma
  • Ongoing clinical diagnosis of depression or anxiety; for the purposes of this study, it is permissible to include people who: 1. have a past history of clinically diagnosed depression or anxiety that is no longer currently active; or 2. people who have depressive or anxious symptoms that are thought to primarily result from severe tinnitus
  • Determined by screening using the GAD 7, PHQ8, and HAI-S
  • GAD7 > 9 (indicates clinically significant anxiety)
Show all 12Show fewer
  • PHQ > 9 (indicates clinically significant depression)
  • HAI-S > 25 (hypochondriacal level illness anxiety)
  • Inability to assess, continue or complete trial
  • Currently on regularly scheduled antidepressants, anxiolytics or antipsychotics; for this study, it is permissible to include people who use such medications at lower doses as a sleep aid or for people who intermittently use such medications for situational anxiety (e.g., Ativan before airplane travel)
  • Active use of other tinnitus treatments; for the purposes of this study it is permissible to include people who prefer to use a hearing aid to amplify ipsilateral hearing loss
  • Known pregnancy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Mayo Clinic in Rochester

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Cochlear Promontory Stimulation for Treatment of Tinnitus: Towards Developing an Implantable Device

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external noise is present. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates over 50 million - nearly 15% of the general public -experience some form of tinnitus. Roughly 20 million people struggle with burdensome chronic tinnitus, with 2 million experiencing extreme and debilitating symptoms.

The 2014 Clinical Practice Guideline on tinnitus from the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery summarized the existing state of tinnitus management by stating "A cure for primary tinnitus does not yet exist, and despite claims to the contrary, no method has been proven to provide long-term suppression of tinnitus."

The purpose of this study is to look at the safety and efficacy of cochlear promontory stimulation in the short term relief of tinnitus. The secondary goal of the study is to determine the optimum region(s) of the cochlear promontory in planning for an implantable electrical device for long term tinnitus suppression.

Read the detailed description

Candidate subjects will undergo a temporal bone Computed Tomography (CT) scan, contrast enhanced head Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), audiogram with immittance testing, pitch and level matching of tinnitus, Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing prior to promontory stimulation. Head MRI, DPOAE, audiogram and immittance testing are considered clinically routine for assessment of asymmetric tinnitus. Temporal bone CT, ABR, tinnitus pitch, level matching, masking levels and residual inhibition testing are not standard clinical assessments for asymmetric tinnitus. In addition, subjects will complete the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) questionnaires three separate times within the week prior to promontory stimulation testing. Additional testing for comorbid anxiety and depressive conditions will be a screening Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ8), and short Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-S). The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI) will be administered to provide baseline information. The initial session of promontory stimulation will define optimal stimulation parameters (i.e., location, current level, pulse-width, phase polarity), where maximal tinnitus suppression occurs with minimal or no auditory percept. After these parameters are established, the patient will complete the THI, TFI, and VAS immediately prior to stimulation, during stimulation, and following completion of stimulation at 10-minutes, 1-hour, 24-hours, 48-hours, and 1-week following completion of stimulation. In addition, pitch and level matching of tinnitus will be completed immediately upon completion of each promontory stimulation session. Each patient will undergo three successive treatments separated by 1-week. Prior to each treatment, the patient will receive an audiogram and DPOAE testing to document interval safety. At the conclusion of the study, subjects will be asked about their willingness to undergo surgical implantation of a device capable of long-term scheduled or on-demand electrical stimulation for tinnitus suppression

Conditions
Tinnitus
Being tested
Cochlear promontory stimulation
Medical subject headings
Tinnitus

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Cochlear promontory stimulationDevice

    Promontory stimulation is an established otologic procedure that was initially developed as a diagnostic tool to assess patient candidacy for cochlear implantation. Promontory stimulation is most commonly performed in the outpatient setting on an awake patient by placing a single insulated probe through a topically anesthetized tympanic membrane and applying monopolar current for several seconds to minutes. The initial session of promontory stimulation will define optimal stimulation parameters (i.e., location, current level, pulse-width, phase polarity), where maximal tinnitus suppression occurs with minimal or no auditory percept. Additional stimulation testing visits will confirm these findings.

Study groups in NCT03759834
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Testing ArmExperimentalThere will only be one arm. The patient and investigator will initially be blinded to the "on-off" status of the electrode. The patient will thus serve as an internal control for testing. Once device integrity and possible benefit is confirmed, the patients will undergo non-tactile electrical stimulation to the bone of the inner ear (cochlear promontory) for short term relief of tinnitus via Cochlear promontory stimulation.
Receives: Device: Cochlear promontory stimulation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Short Term Relief of Tinnitus as Measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

    The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) has 25 questions with possible answers of Yes (4 points), Sometimes (2 points), and No (0 points). Scores categories are (1-16: Slight or no handicap - Grade 1), (18-36: Mild handicap - Grade 2), (38-56: Moderate handicap - Grade 3), (58-76: Severe handicap - Grade 4), (78-100: Catastrophic handicap - Grade 5). Total score ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating a worse outcome.

    Measured: Baseline to 4 months

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Optimal Location of Tinnitus Relief

    Location on the cochlear promontory where highest perceived benefit from electrical stimulation

    Measured: Immediately after electrical stimulation procedure (approximately 1 min after stimulation)

  2. Auditory Feedback

    The number of subjects that reported hearing the electrical stimulus (if at all)

    Measured: Immediately after electrical stimulation procedure (approximately 1 min after stimulation)

  3. Tactile Feedback

    The number of subjects that reported feeling the electrical stimulus (if at all)

    Measured: Immediately after electrical stimulation procedure (approximately 1 min after stimulation)

  4. Change in Short Term Relief of Tinnitus as Measured by the Tinnitus Functional Index

    The Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) contains eight subscales (domains), of which seven contain 3 items and one contains 4. The possible responses for each item range from 0 (did not interfere) to 10 (completely interfered). The total score is transformed to a scale ranging from 0 (no interference) to 100 (completely interfered with activities).

    Measured: Baseline to 4 months

  5. Change in Short Term Relief of Tinnitus as Measured by the Visual Analog Scale

    The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Numeric Pain Distress was used for this outcome. The VAS is a 11-item questionnaire assessing pain. Using a scale of 0 (no pain) and 10 (unbearable pain). Total scores range from 0 - 110, lower scores indicating lower pain and higher scores indicating greater pain.

    Measured: Baseline to 4 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted30 Nov 2018
  2. Study start4 Jan 2018
  3. Primary completion13 Aug 2024
  4. Study completion13 Aug 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
25 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03759834
Sponsor's protocol ID
17-004832
Other IDs
PR180961
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
30 Nov 2017
Last updated
10 Sep 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Tunkel DE, Bauer CA, Sun GH, Rosenfeld RM, Chandrasekhar SS, Cunningham ER Jr, Archer SM, Blakley BW, Carter JM, Granieri EC, Henry JA, Hollingsworth D, Khan FA, Mitchell S, Monfared A, Newman CW, Omole FS, Phillips CD, Robinson SK, Taw MB, Tyler RS, Waguespack R, Whamond EJ. Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Oct;151(2 Suppl):S1-S40. doi: 10.1177/0194599814545325.

    PubMed 25273878
  • Tsai BS, Sweetow RW, Cheung SW. Audiometric asymmetry and tinnitus laterality. Laryngoscope. 2012 May;122(5):1148-53. doi: 10.1002/lary.23242. Epub 2012 Mar 23.

    PubMed 22447577
  • Perez R, Shaul C, Vardi M, Muhanna N, Kileny PR, Sichel JY. Multiple electrostimulation treatments to the promontory for tinnitus. Otol Neurotol. 2015 Feb;36(2):366-72. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000000309.

    PubMed 24691511
  • Rubinstein JT, Tyler RS, Johnson A, Brown CJ. Electrical suppression of tinnitus with high-rate pulse trains. Otol Neurotol. 2003 May;24(3):478-85. doi: 10.1097/00129492-200305000-00021.

    PubMed 12806303
  • Watanabe K, Okawara D, Baba S, Yagi T. Electrocochleographic analysis of the suppression of tinnitus by electrical promontory stimulation. Audiology. 1997 May-Jun;36(3):147-54. doi: 10.3109/00206099709071968.

    PubMed 9193732
  • Steenerson RL, Cronin GW. Treatment of tinnitus with electrical stimulation. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999 Nov;121(5):511-3. doi: 10.1016/S0194-5998(99)70048-3.

    PubMed 10547461
  • Mertens G, De Bodt M, Van de Heyning P. Cochlear implantation as a long-term treatment for ipsilateral incapacitating tinnitus in subjects with unilateral hearing loss up to 10 years. Hear Res. 2016 Jan;331:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2015.09.016. Epub 2015 Oct 24.

    PubMed 26433053
  • Tyler RS. Patient preferences and willingness to pay for tinnitus treatments. J Am Acad Audiol. 2012 Feb;23(2):115-25. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.23.2.6.

    PubMed 22353680
  • Arts RA, George EL, Stokroos RJ, Vermeire K. Review: cochlear implants as a treatment of tinnitus in single-sided deafness. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Oct;20(5):398-403. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0b013e3283577b66.

    PubMed 22931903
  • Arts RA, George EL, Chenault MN, Stokroos RJ. Optimizing intracochlear electrical stimulation to suppress tinnitus. Ear Hear. 2015 Jan;36(1):125-35. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000090.

    PubMed 25090456
  • Zeman F, Koller M, Figueiredo R, Aazevedo A, Rates M, Coelho C, Kleinjung T, de Ridder D, Langguth B, Landgrebe M. Tinnitus handicap inventory for evaluating treatment effects: which changes are clinically relevant? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2011 Aug;145(2):282-7. doi: 10.1177/0194599811403882.

    PubMed 21493265
  • Topf MC, Hsu DW, Adams DR, Zhan T, Pelosi S, Willcox TO, McGettigan B, Fisher KW. Rate of tympanic membrane perforation after intratympanic steroid injection. Am J Otolaryngol. 2017 Jan-Feb;38(1):21-25. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2016.09.004. Epub 2016 Sep 28.

    PubMed 27751619
  • Marinelli JP, Anzalone CL, Prummer CM, Poling GL, Staab JP, Tombers NM, Lohse CM, Carlson ML. Electrical stimulation of the cochlea for treatment of chronic disabling tinnitus: an open-label trial towards the development of an implantable device. J Transl Med. 2022 Jan 29;20(1):56. doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03271-4.

    PubMed 35093126

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Cochlear promontory stimulation in people with Tinnitus, run by Mayo Clinic at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 10 Sep 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Short Term Relief of Tinnitus as Measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (time frame: Baseline to 4 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03759834, which also lists 13 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Sep 2025.

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