Limitations
tinnitus
TINNITUS
This study had some limitations. It is likely that participants were excited at the prospect of a treatment for their symptoms and were searching for any possible sensations; thus, a placebo effect is certainly possible. However, we believed that electrical stimulation that was titrated for each participant was the most optimal parameter for this type of study or treatment to minimize the effects. Additionally, per anecdotal reports, the novelty of the study diminished relatively quickly, and the daily procedure of cleaning, applying, and sitting quietly for 30 minutes of treatment, removing, and cleaning became monotonous for many participants. It is possible that the placebo effect accounted for some of the observed benefit in addition to the unimodal and bimodal treatment effects. However, since we saw a significant difference in tinnitus reduction between the active and control treatment groups vs the sham treatment group in the initial phase of the trial, it is likely that the active treatment was the main driver of therapeutic benefit.