Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Tinnitus
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with tinnitus? 23 human studies have investigated VNS for tinnitus, including 2 systematic reviews, 2 RCTs, and 10 controlled trials, published between 2012 and 2026, with 8 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), implanted (iVNS), and transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
2 systematic reviews · 2 RCTs · 10 controlled trials · 5 observational studies · 3 narrative reviews · 1 case report
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 2Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 2Randomised controlled trials
- 10Controlled clinical trials
- 5Observational & cohort studies
- 3Narrative & scoping reviews
- 1Case reports & series
Stimulation Method
- 17taVNS
- 5iVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
8 of 23 studies (35%) published since 2022.
The studies
23 studies · strongest evidence firstEffects of Non-Invasive Neuromodulation of the Vagus Nerve for Management of Tinnitus: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Fernández-Hernando et al. · Journal of clinical medicine · 2023
systematic reviewstcVNSTinnitus treatment by vagus nerve stimulation: A systematic review
Stegeman et al. · PloS one · 2021
systematic reviewstaVNSMeniere Disease treated with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation combined with betahistine Mesylate: A randomized controlled trial
Wu et al. · Brain stimulation · 2023
RCTstaVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation Paired with Tones for the Treatment of Tinnitus: A Prospective Randomized Double-blind Controlled Pilot Study in Humans
Tyler et al. · Scientific Reports · 2017 · n = 30
RCTsiVNSPilot evaluation of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in chronic tinnitus: clinical outcomes and DTI insights
Gedik Toker et al. · European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology · 2026 · n = 13
controlled trialstaVNSEffectiveness of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus: an interventional prospective controlled study
Raj-Koziak et al. · International journal of audiology · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSEffectiveness of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on salicylate-induced tinnitus
Rezapour et al. · Neuroscience letters · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSEffects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation paired with tones on electrophysiological markers of auditory perception
Rufener et al. · Brain stimulation · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSStress and Tinnitus; Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation Attenuates Tinnitus-Triggered Stress Reaction
Ylikoski et al. · Frontiers in psychology · 2020 · n = 171
controlled trialstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation paired with tones for tinnitus suppression: Effects on voice and hearing
Kochilas et al. · Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2020
controlled trialsiVNSFeasibility and Safety of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired with Notched Music Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus
Shim et al. · Journal of Audiology & Otology · 2015 · n = 30
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation modulates tinnitus-related beta- and gamma-band activity
Hyvärinen et al. · Ear and hearing · 2015
controlled trialstaVNSFeasibility, safety and efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in chronic tinnitus: an open pilot study
Kreuzer et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2014 · n = 50
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in tinnitus: a pilot study
Lehtimaki et al. · Acta Otolaryngologica · 2013 · n = 10
controlled trialstaVNSTinnitus perception in patients after vagal nerve stimulator implantation for epilepsy
Wichova et al. · American Journal of Otolaryngology · 2018 · n = 20
observational studiesiVNSCharacteristics of Stimulus Intensity in Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Tinnitus
Suk et al. · The journal of international advanced otology · 2018
observational studiestaVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation reduces sympathetic preponderance in patients with tinnitus
Ylikoski et al. · Acta Otolaryngologica · 2017 · n = 97
observational studiestaVNSPairing sound with vagus nerve stimulation modulates cortical synchrony and phase coherence in tinnitus: An exploratory retrospective study
Vanneste et al. · Scientific Reports · 2017 · n = 18
observational studiesiVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation: retrospective assessment of cardiac safety in a pilot study
Kreuzer et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry · 2012 · n = 24
observational studiestaVNSRole of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in alleviation of tinnitus in normal hearing subjects
Aly et al. · European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025
narrative reviewstaVNSCurrent status of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for tinnitus: a narrative review of modern research
Wu et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2024
narrative reviewstaVNSDirect and Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Tinnitus: A Scoping Review
Yakunina & Nam · Frontiers in Neuroscience · 2021
narrative reviewstaVNSSafety and efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation paired with tones for the treatment of tinnitus: a case series
De Ridder et al. · Neuromodulation · 2014 · n = 10
case reportsiVNS
Registered trials — results pending
1 registered protocol with no published results yet. Listed for context; not counted in the evidence total.
Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) in the treatment of tinnitus: protocol for an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Lin et al. · 2024 · protocol