Avenue for Future Tinnitus Treatments

With prevalence rates of 10% to 20% of the population, tinnitus represents a major global burden. Tinnitus prevalence grows with age and has increased in the past decades, presumably owing to an increased exposure to loud sounds. Although most patients can cope adequately with their tinnitus, nearly 1 out of 10 (ie, in 2%–3% of the total population) experiences severe tinnitus that can be accompanied by frustration, annoyance, anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction, insomnia, stress, and emotional exhaustion—all of which lead to a substantial decrease in quality of life and an enormous socioeconomic burden