Diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus

The Challenge

Tinnitus, the experience of ringing, buzzing, or other noises without an external source, affects up to 1 in 8 Australians, where tinnitus may severely impact the quality of their life. This can lead to anxiety, depression, social isolation and sleep issues.

Despite its prevalence, there is no objective measure for tinnitus. Current diagnostic methods rely on subjective feedback, which is prone to placebo effects and lacks a solid foundation for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Project Overview 

This project aims to develop an objective measure for tinnitus using a non-invasive brain imaging method called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) which measures changes in blood oxygen levels in the brain. An objective measure will confirm diagnoses, monitor symptoms over time, and identify different types of tinnitus.

Project Outcomes 

• Develop a Clinical Trial Prototype: Create a prototype of an fNIRS-based tinnitus diagnostic device.
• Test Against Current Devices: Evaluate the prototype against currently available fNIRS devices.‍
• Collaborate on Treatments: Partner with groups developing tinnitus treatments to enable clinical trials with an objective test, providing an objective readout of treatment effects.

Measuring Impact

Hearts & Minds measures its impact across six core categories as developed by the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes. Key highlights include:

Advancing Knowledge

• Collaborations: Partnered with the University of Melbourne Audiology Clinic to validate the test in a clinical trial. Patients are tested before and after treatment to measure changes
• Research Publications: The lead researcher, Dr Mehrnaz Shoushtarian, has published research on ‍Detecting whether tinnitus affects one ear or both and Detecting changes in tinnitus severity in the same person‍
• Global sharing: Invited to speak at the Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference in Seoul (May 2025) and the Frontiers Conference in Hobart (Nov 2025).‍

Research Capacity Building

Diverse leadership and talent:

• Led by A/Prof Shoushtarian, a female biomedical engineer, supporting two early-career researchers
• A/Prof Shoushtarian is a member of IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organisation.

Health Impacts

• Better tools: Approved devices will be used in clinics to help diagnose and assess the effectiveness of potential treatments
• Faster access to treatment: Quicker diagnoses mean earlier intervention and less impact on quality of life
• Machine learning integration: Advanced software interprets test results to guide clinicians.

Economic Impacts

• ‍Lower healthcare costs: More accurate diagnosis and treatment could reduce ongoing healthcare expenses and improve productivity.

Informing Decisions

• Smarter treatment plans: Clinicians will have a reliable tool to guide care and future research.

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This work marks a major step towards transforming tinnitus diagnosis and treatment. By replacing guesswork with reliable, measurable data, it has the potential to speed up diagnoses, guide more effective treatments, and improve the daily lives of millions of people living with tinnitus. As the technology advances, it could reshape how clinicians, researchers, and patients tackle this challenging condition.

Funding support from Hearts and Minds Investments, as nominated by Core Fund Manager, Cooper Investors. This content was last updated in August 2025, for further information visit Bionics Institute.