How the Lenire Tinnitus Treatment Is Changing Lives in Los Gatos
Millions of Americans deal with that frustrating ringing in their ears. For about 20 million people, it's a daily burden, and roughly 2 million find it so debilitating they struggle with basic activities. We're excited to be the first clinic offering Lenire Tinnitus Treatment in the San Jose area, serving folks throughout Los Gatos, San Jose, Saratoga, Campbell, Santa Cruz, Cupertino, and Santa Clara.
What's Tinnitus Anyway?
You know that annoying ringing, buzzing, or whistling sound that nobody else can hear? That's tinnitus. The vast majority of cases (over 99%) are "subjective" - only you can hear it. Rarely, there's "objective" tinnitus that others can actually hear, usually from blood flow or muscle issues.
Tinnitus can come from lots of things:
- Too much loud noise
- Hearing loss
- Wax buildup
- Meniere's Disease
- Otosclerosis
- Certain health conditions
- Hitting your head or neck
Though we can't "cure" tinnitus yet, we can definitely help manage it. Since everyone's experience is different, treatment needs to be personalized.
Lenire: A Fresh Take on Tinnitus Relief
Lenire is shaking things up in the tinnitus world. This FDA-approved device works differently than past treatments. It uses "bimodal neuromodulation" - a fancy way of saying it stimulates two different nerve pathways at once: your hearing nerves (with sound) and your tongue's nerve (with tiny electrical pulses).
What's in the Lenire Kit?
The system has three main parts:
- Tonguetip: Sits comfortably in your mouth and sends mild electrical stimulation to your tongue
- Bluetooth Headphones: Play special sounds designed to work with the tongue stimulation
- Controller: Lets you control everything and adjust settings
By combining sound with gentle tongue stimulation, Lenire helps retrain your brain to pay less attention to the tinnitus sounds.
The Science Stuff
Lenire isn't just another gimmick - it's backed by serious research. It's actually the first device specifically FDA-approved for tinnitus. In big clinical trials, 83% of patients said they'd recommend it to others. The treatment works with your brain's natural ability to rewire itself (neuroplasticity), forming new connections that reduce tinnitus awareness.
How We Use Lenire at Our Office
We've created a step-by-step approach for Lenire treatment:
1. First Visit: Getting to Know Your Tinnitus
We'll start with:
- A complete hearing test
- Questions about your specific tinnitus experience
- Information about how tinnitus works
- A plan tailored just for you
2. Fitting Day
If Lenire looks right for you, we'll:
- Set up your device based on your hearing profile
- Show you how to use everything
- Watch you try it before you take it home
- Help you understand what to expect
3. Check-ins
You'll come back for up to three follow-up visits where we:
- Retest your hearing and tinnitus if needed
- Tweak your device settings for best results
- Give tips for home use
- Update your management plan
4. Ongoing Support
After you complete the initial program, we'll help you continue using Lenire at home for lasting benefits.
Real People, Real Results
Many of our patients report significant improvements after using Lenire. They tell us:
- The constant noise bothers them less
- They can focus better
- They're sleeping better
- They feel less anxious about their tinnitus
- They enjoy restaurants and gatherings again
What's great is that Lenire doesn't involve drugs or surgery - it's something you can use in the comfort of your own home.
Might Lenire Work for You?
While many people see good results with Lenire, tinnitus is tricky and affects everyone differently. We need to meet with you and run some tests to see if it's a good fit for your situation.
Dr. Marni Novick, who started our practice in 2014, wears hearing aids herself and understands firsthand what it's like to deal with hearing issues and tinnitus. This personal connection drives our caring approach.
Beyond Just Lenire
We believe in using all the tools available to help with tinnitus. Besides Lenire, we might recommend:
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
- Ways to manage stress
- Seeing an ear specialist for a medical check
- Working with a psychologist for additional support when helpful
We also use Real Ear Measurements during hearing evaluations to make sure any technology fits your specific hearing needs perfectly.
Ready to Tackle Your Tinnitus?
If you're tired of that constant ringing in your ears, give us a call. We'll start with a thorough assessment to understand your specific symptoms and find the best approach for you - whether that's Lenire or something else.
You can find us at 340 Dardanelli Lane, Suite 22, in Los Gatos. Just call (408) 540-7128 to set up your appointment. Let's work together to quiet that noise and get you enjoying life again.
