Researcher Receives Grant to Develop Implantable Tinnitus Treatment Device

It was announced today that a team of Wayne State University researchers have been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a 3-D neural probe. It is hoped that this implantable device will suppress tinnitus. Tinnitus currently affects 50 million Americans and more than 250 million worldwide. Many sufferers prefer natural tinnitus treatment, so a minimally or non-invasive treatment would most likely be received well.

Yong Xu, associate professor and associate research director of otolaryngology said of the project…”Our recent work has shown that electrical stimulation is a promising method to suppress tinnitus, once we better understand the mechanisms underlying electrical and chemical stimulation-induced suppression, we will be fully focused on advancing the engineering fabrication to create a minimally, or even non-invasive medical device for diagnosis and treatment.”