Tinnitus (ear ringing) and soft laser therapy – What do the studies say?

What is tinnitus and what causes it?

Tinnitus is not a standalone disease but a symptom — a sound perceived in the ear or head that has no external source. The sound is heard only by the affected person and is not detectable by others.

I wrote a comprehensive guide on the causes, types and all treatment options for ear ringing: Tinnitus (ear ringing) – Causes, types and treatment options

Possible causes of tinnitus

• Noise exposure – long-term exposure to loud noise (concerts, industrial noise, headphones set too loud)
• Aging – age-related hearing loss (presbyacusis)
• Inner ear circulatory problems – atherosclerosis, blood circulation issues
• Ear diseases – Ménière’s disease, otosclerosis
• Neck and jaw problems – muscle tension, cervical spine issues
• Medications – side effects of some painkillers, antibiotics
• Other – high blood pressure, thyroid problems, stress

Determining the exact cause is important, because treatment options depend on it.

How might soft laser work for tinnitus?

The theoretical basis for soft laser therapy in tinnitus treatment includes the following:

• Improved microcirculation – laser light may support blood supply to the inner ear
• Support for cellular metabolism – helping ATP production in inner ear cells
• Anti-inflammatory effect – if an inflammatory component is present
• Nerve regeneration – supporting auditory nerve function

The method has been researched since the 1990s at various European centers (Austria, Germany, Denmark), and some clinical experiences showed favorable results — especially in cases where circulatory disturbance underlay the tinnitus.

What do the current findings show?

Many studies have been conducted over the past 25 years on soft laser treatment for tinnitus. The results are not uniform, but important patterns emerge — particularly for circulation-related ear ringing.

Short-term improvements are observed

Several studies have shown that a short laser course lasting days or weeks can reduce tinnitus intensity in a portion of patients. Improvements are typically most noticeable toward the end of the treatment series or immediately after it. In some patients the noise quiets, in others the disturbing impact on daily life diminishes.

This aligns with the known biological effects of soft laser: the light supports cellular energy production and can favorably affect local blood flow in the inner ear.

The effect may fade over time

An important lesson from existing studies is that improvement is not necessarily durable after the course ends. Summary analyses show that favorable changes seen in the weeks after treatment can fade within 3–6 months in some cases.

The likely explanation is simple: if the laser supports microcirculation but treatment stops, the original state can return. This is similar to stopping physiotherapy — muscle strength and flexibility also decrease gradually.

What about regular, ongoing use?

This question is the most important for home treatment — and also the biggest gap in our current knowledge.

Most trials tested short courses (1–6 weeks) and then measured the result. No controlled trial has specifically examined what happens if someone uses the laser regularly over the long term — for example 2–3 times per week for months.

Some clinicians with decades of experience recommend regular home use and report favorable outcomes from their patients. However, these are clinical observations, not controlled studies. For medicine this remains a "promising but unproven" area.

Devices suitable for tinnitus treatment

If you want to try the method, you need a device that can deliver enough energy into the ear canal:

• Personal Laser L400 – 400 mW, 808 nm, design ideal for ear treatment
• Energy Laser L500 Pro – 500 mW, 808 nm, higher power

Both devices are CE-certified, registered as medical devices, and their design allows direct ear canal treatment.

Treatment procedure – Phase 1: Acupuncture points

The first step is treating acupuncture points around the ear. This is based on traditional Chinese medicine and, according to experience, may support the effectiveness of the treatment.

Treatment parameters

Treatment points

Treat the points shown in the figure below in order, delivering 4 Joule on each:

Place the treatment head perpendicular to the skin and hold it there for the required time. The device emits a beep every 10 seconds.

Treatment procedure – Phase 2: Ear canal treatment

The second phase aims to support blood circulation in the inner ear. The laser light is directed directly into the ear canal.

Important preparations

• Thoroughly clean the ear canal (remove earwax)
• DO NOT use a focusing attachment – remove it if present
• Wear the protective goggles provided with the device
• Treat in a comfortable seated position

Treatment parameters

Technique

When directing into the ear canal, move the device slowly and continuously. Tilt it by a few degrees and trace small circles with the tip — this ensures the energy is distributed evenly over the inner ear instead of concentrating on a single point.

What might you feel during treatment?

Some patients report the following sensations during treatment:

• Mild warming
• Crackling sounds
• A "conch shell"-like sound

In clinical practice these are generally interpreted as positive signs, possibly indicating increased blood circulation.

Treatment protocol and expectations

Recommended frequency

• 2–3 times per week
• Start with the minimal dose. On acupuncture points 4 J (i.e. 10 seconds/point), in the ear canal 20 J (i.e. 50 seconds)
• If there is no response after 1–4 treatments, gradually increase the ear canal illumination

When to expect results?

If the method is effective for you, effects typically start to appear after 5–10 treatments. Clinical experience indicates most changes around 15–20 treatments, although this varies widely between individuals.

Why continue treatment?

Studies show that improvement after a single course (a few weeks of treatment) can fade over time. This suggests that soft laser therapy for tinnitus is not a one-time cure but rather a maintenance treatment — similar to how physiotherapy must be continued to maintain benefits.

Therefore — if you experience improvement during the treatment — it is worth continuing maintenance sessions once or twice a week. The biggest advantage of home devices is that you do not need to visit a clinic each time; you can incorporate treatment into your daily routine.

Realistic expectations

Be realistic about expectations:

• It does not work for everyone — tinnitus can have many causes, and soft laser is primarily promising in circulation-related cases
• Complete disappearance is rare — symptom reduction is the more likely outcome
• Maintenance treatment is likely necessary to sustain effects
• The optimal protocol is not fully clarified yet — your individual experience is decisive
• The method is safe, so it may be worth trying alongside medical treatment

Special case: Cervical (neck) origin tinnitus

If tinnitus is caused by neck problems (e.g. whiplash injury, muscle tension, jaw issues), it is worth combining treatments:

• Treatment of the mastoid (bone behind the ear): 4–8 Joule
• Treatment of the neck musculature
• Massage in the neck-shoulder region

Adjunct methods

Soft laser therapy can be used alone or combined with other methods. Consider the following:

Ginkgo biloba

Some experts recommend combining soft laser with Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo may support circulation. Recommended dose: 200 mg extract daily.

Vitamin B12

Israeli studies have found low B12 levels in many tinnitus patients. If you are deficient, supplementation may be useful.

White noise

Tinnitus often causes sleep problems. White noise (e.g. a radio tuned between stations at low volume) can distract from the ringing and help with falling asleep. This is a simple, testable method.

Other applications of soft laser

Soft laser therapy can support the treatment of many other conditions and complaints. For an overview of all home-use applications read the Soft Laser Therapy at Home – Treatment of Diseases article.

If you are not familiar with the basics of soft laser therapy, start with the Comprehensive Guide to Soft Laser Therapy article.

Recommended soft laser devices

Devices suitable for tinnitus treatment:

• Personal Laser L400 – 400 mW, ideal for ear treatment
• Energy Laser L500 Pro – 500 mW, higher power

Our full soft laser range →