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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
A Protocol for Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy in Mice
Published on: November 18, 2018
The effect of photobiomodulation on tinnitus: a systematic review
Yasmin Nikookam1, Nawal Zia1, Andrew Lotfallah1
1Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Objective:
To establish outcomes following photobiomodulation therapy for tinnitus in humans and animal studies.
Methods:
A systematic review and narrative synthesis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The databases searched were: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials ('Central'), ClinicalTrials.gov and Web of Science including the Web of Science Core collection. There were no limits on language or year of publication.
Results:
The searches identified 194 abstracts and 61 full texts. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting outcomes in 1483 humans (26 studies) and 34 animals (2 studies). Photobiomodulation therapy parameters included 10 different wavelengths, and duration ranged from 9 seconds to 30 minutes per session. Follow up ranged from 7 days to 6 months.
Conclusion:
Tinnitus outcomes following photobiomodulation therapy are generally positive and superior to no photobiomodulation therapy; however, evidence of long-term therapeutic benefit is deficient. Photobiomodulation therapy enables concentrated, focused delivery of light therapy to the inner ear through a non-invasive manner, with minimal side effects.
