What the research says

Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity

Okamoto H, Stracke H, Stoll W, Pantev C · PNAS, 107(3):1207–1210

An early influential study that found daily listening to music with a notch at the tinnitus frequency reduced perceived loudness and corresponding auditory cortex over-activity after 12 months. It provided the neurological rationale for notch therapy through lateral inhibition.

Clinical trial on tonal tinnitus with tailor-made notched music training

Stein A, Wunderlich R, Lau P, et al. · BMC Neurology, 16:38

A larger randomized controlled trial (n=100, 3 months, 2 h/day) that did not find a significant effect on the primary outcome (tinnitus distress on the Tinnitus Questionnaire). A secondary measure — tinnitus loudness at follow-up — did show a significant reduction. A reminder that results vary.

Tailor-made notched music training versus tinnitus retraining therapy: a randomized controlled trial

Tong J, Feng Y, Chen B, et al. · Ear & Hearing, 44(4):670–681

This RCT (n=112) compared notched music training directly against tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). TMNMT showed advantages over TRT in reducing tinnitus loudness and functional/emotional disturbance, with better compliance. Encouraging, though both groups improved.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus

Fuller T, Cima R, Langguth B, Mazurek B, Vlaeyen JW, Hoare DJ · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1:CD012614

The most rigorous review on tinnitus management: a Cochrane meta-analysis of 28 RCTs (2,733 participants). CBT consistently reduces tinnitus-related distress and improves quality of life, though it does not reduce the perceived loudness of the sound itself. This is why Nunapp combines sound therapy with relaxation and mindfulness.

Impact of spectral notch width on neurophysiological plasticity and clinical effectiveness of tailor-made notched music training

Wunderlich R, Lau P, Stein A, Engell A, Wollbrink A, Rudack C, Pantev C · PLOS ONE, 10(9):e0138595

A technical study examining whether the width of the frequency notch (1 octave vs. ½ vs. ¼) affects outcomes. Notch width did not have a significant influence on behavioral or neural effects, suggesting the therapy works within a range of filter parameters.