Annual Tinnitus Report 2026

Annual Tinnitus Report 2026

The Annual Tinnitus Report 2026 (ISSN 2978-8676) provides a comprehensive, independent overview of global scientific and clinical progress in tinnitus research published between November 2024 and October 2025. Drawing on the analysis of 446 peer-reviewed studies, expert interviews, and international perspectives, the report maps emerging themes, treatment advances, research gaps, and future directions across tinnitus, hyperacusis, and related auditory conditions.

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Editorial: Annual Tinnitus Report 2026: Why This Report Matters (pp. 3–5)

The Editorial sets out the purpose, scope, and philosophy of the Annual Tinnitus Report. It explains why an independent, global synthesis is needed, how the literature was reviewed, and how scientific progress, clinical reality, and lived experience must be interpreted together to guide future tinnitus research and care.
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Global Patterns in Tinnitus Research, 2025 (pp. 6–8)

This article maps worldwide tinnitus research output over a twelve-month period, analysing publication volume, geographic distribution, and dominant themes. It highlights where scientific momentum is concentrated, which topics dominate the literature, and how global collaboration is shaping the evolving tinnitus research landscape.
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Tinnitus Is Waking Up the Dragon: Where Ancient Culture Meets the Frontier of Brain and Vascular Science (pp. 9–16)

An in-depth exploration of China’s rapid rise as a global leader in tinnitus research. The article examines vascular mechanisms, neural circuitry, precision sound therapy, and national research strategy, arguing that China’s scale and focus may shape many of the next decade’s tinnitus breakthroughs.
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The Eagle Rises: USA Tinnitus Research Is Closing In (pp. 17–22)

This article reviews the distinctive trajectory of tinnitus research in the United States, highlighting its emphasis on population studies, veteran health data, scalable clinical interventions, and service-delivery models. It contrasts public-health driven research with mechanistic approaches seen elsewhere.
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The Foundations of a Cure: Basic Research in a Shifting Policy Landscape (pp. 23–27)

Professor Richard Salvi reflects on the critical role of basic auditory and animal research amid changing funding and policy priorities. The article argues that progress toward a cure depends on renewed investment in mechanistic science, improved models, and integration with translational pipelines.
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Epidemiology and Population Studies: A Global Picture of Risk and Vulnerability (pp. 28–32)

Synthesising 146 studies, this section presents tinnitus as a population-level, multisystem condition influenced by mental health, sleep, metabolic factors, ageing, and noise exposure. Anxiety emerges as a key predictor of worsening tinnitus, challenging narrow ear-centred disease models.
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Clinical Interventions and Treatment Approaches (pp. 33–40)

A comprehensive review of 132 intervention studies covering CBT, digital therapies, hearing technologies, neuromodulation, pharmacology, surgery, and multimodal care. The article shows that tinnitus distress is highly treatable, particularly through CBT and integrated care pathways.
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The Psychoacoustic Lens: The Future of Tinnitus Assessment (pp. 41–44)

In this interview, Professor Brian C. J. Moore warns that tinnitus research risks stagnation if psychoacoustic measurement continues to decline. He argues that precise characterisation of the tinnitus percept remains essential for linking mechanisms to treatment response.
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Pulsatile, Venous and Structural Tinnitus (pp. 45–49)

This article establishes pulsatile tinnitus as a distinct and often curable subtype. Reviewing 55 studies, it demonstrates how structured imaging can identify vascular and structural causes, with targeted surgical or endovascular treatment frequently leading to near-complete resolution.
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Precision Medicine for Tinnitus: An Interview with Professor Zhao Han (pp. 50–53)

Professor Zhao Han outlines a precision-medicine framework integrating vascular diagnostics, personalised sound therapy, emotional regulation, and ageing research. He argues that accurate stratification determines whether tinnitus becomes persistent or remains clinically manageable.
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Measurement, Prediction and Methods (pp. 54–58)

This section reviews advances in tinnitus measurement, prognostic modelling, and machine-learning approaches. It highlights the shift toward multidimensional profiling and the growing importance of sleep, anxiety, and distress as predictors of treatment outcome.
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Brain and Neural Mechanisms (pp. 59–62)

Synthesising 46 studies, this article presents tinnitus as a distributed brain network condition involving altered connectivity, impaired inhibition, and limbic-auditory interactions. It reviews emerging neural biomarkers that may inform stratified and personalised treatment approaches.
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Basic Auditory, Animal and Cellular Models (pp. 63–66)

This section examines tinnitus at its biological roots, including synaptopathy, inhibitory failure, stress-sensitive pathways, and molecular targets. Findings from animal models suggest tinnitus-related neural changes are plastic and potentially reversible.
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Rewiring Tinnitus Science: Molecular Signals, Networks and Mechanism-Driven Care (pp. 67–69)

Professor Marlies Knipper argues for renewed focus on molecular and thalamic sensory-gating mechanisms. The article connects cochlear synaptic changes to large-scale brain networks and calls for shared biomarkers to enable personalised tinnitus and sound-intolerance care.
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Audiology, Measurement and the Future of Tinnitus Care in India (pp. 70–74)

An interview with Dr Prashanth Prabhu examining tinnitus research and clinical care in India. The article highlights gaps in assessment tools, service infrastructure, and national coordination, while emphasising the need for precise differentiation of tinnitus subtypes.
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Precision Neuromodulation and the New Tinnitus Neuroscience (pp. 75–78)

Professor Hui Wang describes a precision neuromodulation model using EEG-guided rTMS tailored to individual neural signatures. The article illustrates how deep phenotyping can guide targeted intervention and reduce chronicity.
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From Earth to Sound: Living with Tinnitus (pp. 79–82)

Centred on artwork by Eleanor Ponté, this reflective contribution explores tinnitus as lived experience rather than pathology. It illustrates adaptation, resilience, and meaning-making, showing how art can communicate dimensions of tinnitus beyond clinical metrics.
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Organisational Developments in the UK and USA (pp. 83–85)

This section reviews major developments in tinnitus governance, professional standards, and advocacy. It highlights evolving training frameworks, service models, and the growing role of professional bodies in shaping patient-centred tinnitus care.
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CBT-Hear Training and Certification Programme (pp. 86–90)

An overview of the CBT-Hear framework, a structured, multi-level training and certification pathway designed to expand access to evidence-based psychological care for tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia within stepped-care models.
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TRI Conference 2026: Scientific Vision and Programme Overview (pp. 91–94)

A preview of the 20th Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference in Berlin, outlining its focus on mechanistic discovery, biomarkers, psychosomatic processes, and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance personalised tinnitus research.
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The 4th World Tinnitus Congress and XV International Tinnitus Seminar (pp. 95–97)

An introduction to the London 2027 congress themed From Mechanism to Meaning. The article presents the 11-track scientific framework and distinguished lectures designed to integrate auditory science, psychology, and clinical innovation.
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Final Words by Hashir Aazh (pp. 98–99)

The concluding reflection situates tinnitus research within a global collaboration landscape. It argues that future progress depends on integrating mechanistic science, clinical realism, and human meaning across cultures and disciplines.
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Invited Commentary

Annual Tinnitus Report 2026: Overview

Don McFerran, ENT Surgeon (retired) and President, Tinnitus UK (Supplement, pp. 1–3)

In this invited commentary, Don McFerran offers a personal reflection on the Annual Tinnitus Report, highlighting its breadth, international scope, and clinical relevance. He emphasises steady scientific progress, growing collaboration, and the need for more precise, compassionate, evidence-based tinnitus care.
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