Med Lasers.
2022 Dec;11(4):195-200. 10.25289/ML.22.038.
Efficacy of low-level light therapy for tinnitus: a narrative review
- Choi JE
1,2
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
- KMID: 2537592
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.25289/ML.22.038
Abstract
- Low-level light therapy (LLLT) has been investigated to reduce tinnitus severity, but it remains controversial whether LLLT can effectively alleviate tinnitus. Here, I reviewed the efficacy of LLLT on patients with complaints of tinnitus. The PubMed database was searched to find relevant articles. Ten randomized control trials (RCTs) involving 588 patients were included. Of these ten RCTs, four studies reported different levels of improvement in tinnitus symptoms; the other six found no significant effect. The study shows that the therapeutic effects of LLLT on tinnitus remain controversial and that reports on the topic are inconsistent.
