Red Light Therapy for Tinnitus: What the Research Shows
Red light therapy for tinnitus has small but mostly encouraging evidence: a 2024 review found tinnitus improved in 20 of 26 human studies compared with no light. It is best seen as an add-on to hearing care, not a cure. Most trials placed a small laser inside the ear canal, while home use means light on the skin at the side of the head. Below: the reviews, trial settings, jaw and neck links, red light therapy for ears after noise, safety, warning signs and a panel set-up.
Key takeaways
- A 2024 systematic review found tinnitus improved in 20 of 26 human studies of red or near-infrared light, compared with no light. Nikookam, 2024
- In a 2013 double-blind trial, light over the bone behind the ear eased noise-related tinnitus more than placebo, straight after the course and at 3 months. Mollasadeghi, 2013
- In a 2017 trial of 46 people with jaw-related tinnitus, 810 nm and 1064 nm lasers once a day for 10 days lowered tinnitus scores, while the placebo group's change was not significant. Demirkol, 2017
- In a 2023 double-blind trial of 107 adults, 15-minute sessions of 660 nm light gave a larger drop in tinnitus handicap scores than 6-minute sessions. Panhoca, 2023
- The NHS says tinnitus after a head injury, or with sudden hearing loss or vertigo, needs A&E or 999. NHS
Does red light therapy for tinnitus help?
For some people it may ease how loud or bothersome tinnitus feels, and most studies point that way. The evidence is small and varied, so treat light as an add-on to hearing care rather than a cure.
Mayo Clinic says tinnitus "affects about 15% to 30% of people." Mayo Clinic The American Tinnitus Association notes there is "no scientifically proven cure for most cases of chronic tinnitus". ATA Every option, light included, aims to lower the burden.
| Review | What it covered | Main finding |
|---|---|---|
| Nikookam, 2024 (tinnitus) | 26 human studies with 1,483 people, plus 2 animal studies | Tinnitus improved in 20 of the 26 human studies |
| Ferreira, 2021 | 7 randomised trials | All reported some significant improvement; results varied between trials |
| Nikookam, 2024 (hearing loss) | 17 studies, mostly in animals, 1 in people | Better hearing outcomes with 800 to 830 nm and longer exposure |
The 2024 tinnitus review called the results "generally positive and superior to no photobiomodulation therapy". Nikookam, 2024 Photobiomodulation is the research term for red and near-infrared light acting on cells. The most common wavelength was 650 nm, used in 12 studies.
Some studies in the 2024 review compared light with no treatment, rather than with a switched-off device. A 2020 meta-analysis limited to 11 placebo-controlled trials with 670 people did not find a clear difference and judged that more data were needed. Chen, 2020 That is why a home routine is best judged with your own written scores.
Should red light go inside the ear for tinnitus?
No: at home, light should only fall on the skin at the side of the head, never into the ear canal. Most clinic trials used a thin laser probe placed in the ear canal, a route called transmeatal, which is a different set-up from any home device.
The 2024 review describes two routes. Nikookam, 2024
- Transmeatal: a probe in the ear canal sends light across the eardrum. Most trials used this route.
- Mastoid: light on the skin over the bone just behind the ear.
The review cites earlier work finding that the behind-the-ear route delivered less light to the inner ear. The closest evidence for outside use comes from the 2013 trial in noise-exposed workers, which applied light behind the ear and found more improvement than with placebo. Mollasadeghi, 2013 Never put a light, probe or device into the ear canal at home.
What settings did the tinnitus light trials use?
The trials below used red light at 650 to 660 nm or near-infrared at 810 or 1064 nm, for 6 to 20 minutes per session. Sessions ran two or three times a week, or daily, and courses lasted 10 days to 8 weeks.
| Study | Who | Light | Time | Schedule | Where applied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panhoca, 2023 | 107 adults with long-term tinnitus | 660 nm laser, 100 mW | 6 or 15 minutes | Twice a week, 4 weeks | Inside the ear canal |
| Mollasadeghi, 2013 | Male workers with noise-related hearing loss | Laser | 20 minutes | Every other day, 20 sessions | Over the bone behind the ear |
| Demirkol, 2017 | 46 people with jaw-related tinnitus | 810 nm or 1064 nm laser | Not stated | Daily, 10 days | Not stated |
| Eladl, 2022 | 40 adults with neck-related tinnitus | 650 nm laser, 5 mW | 20 minutes | 3 a week, 8 weeks | Not stated |
In the 2023 trial, longer in-ear sessions did better than short ones. Panhoca, 2023 The group given a switched-off device also improved, which shows how much attention and expectation shape tinnitus scores.
Trial lasers send a small beam into one spot, while a panel spreads light over a wide area, so laser doses do not convert into panel minutes. See cold laser therapy vs red light therapy. What carries over is the pattern: red with near-infrared, regular sessions, for at least 4 weeks.
Can red light therapy help tinnitus linked to jaw (TMJ) problems?
This is one of the more encouraging areas: in a trial of people with jaw-related tinnitus, near-infrared lasers lowered tinnitus scores, while the placebo group's change was not significant. Jaw problems are a known cause of tinnitus, so this group has a clear target.
Mayo Clinic says "Issues with the TMJ can cause tinnitus." Mayo Clinic The jaw joint sits just in front of the ear. A 2018 review of 25 studies found tinnitus in a median of 42.3% of people with jaw disorders, against 12% of people without. Skog, 2018
In the 2017 trial, 46 people with tinnitus in both ears and a jaw disorder had 1064 nm laser, 810 nm laser or placebo once a day for 10 days. Demirkol, 2017 Scores fell in both laser groups and held at one month.
Our guide to red light therapy for TMJ covers the jaw evidence. Turning the side of your head toward a panel lights the jaw joint and the area around the ear together.
Does red light help tinnitus that changes when you move your neck or jaw?
Tinnitus that shifts when you clench, turn your head or press on your neck is often called somatic tinnitus. In one trial of neck-related tinnitus, light combined with neck exercise gave larger improvements than light with usual care.
In the 2022 assessor-blinded trial, 40 adults aged 45 to 55 had 650 nm light for 20 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks. Eladl, 2022 Half also followed a supervised neck exercise programme. That group ended with tinnitus rating scores about 2 points lower than the group without exercise.
Both groups had light, so the trial shows the value of adding exercise. A physiotherapist is a good first stop for neck stiffness; our red light therapy for neck guide covers neck set-up.
Can red light therapy for ears help ringing after loud noise or hearing loss?
The closest human evidence is a trial in workers with noise-related hearing loss, where light behind the ear eased tinnitus more than placebo, with the effect weakening by 3 months. For hearing loss itself, the research is mostly in animals.
Mayo Clinic notes that loud noise "can bend or break the hairs" in the inner ear. Mayo Clinic About 9 in 10 people with tinnitus have some noise-related hearing loss.
The 2013 trial enrolled male workers aged 30 to 51. Mollasadeghi, 2013 They had 20 sessions of 20 minutes, every other day. Loudness and handicap scores improved more than with placebo.
In rats exposed to loud noise, 808 nm light through the eardrum helped hearing recover. Lee, 2016 A 2024 review of 17 hearing studies, only one in people, found the best results with 800 to 830 nm. Nikookam, 2024 This is early research.
Protect your hearing first, with ear protection at loud events and at work. Hearing loss that came on suddenly in the past 30 days should be seen within 24 hours, according to NICE. NICE, 2020
How many sessions before you notice a change in tinnitus?
Trials ran 8 to 24 sessions over 10 days to 8 weeks, and measured changes up to 3 months later. A home routine is best judged after about 4 weeks.
In the 2024 review, 4 studies found benefits that lasted 2 to 4 weeks after the course. Nikookam, 2024
- Before you start: rate loudness and bother, each from 0 to 10.
- Each week: rate them again at the same time of day.
- At 4 weeks: compare, and continue only if your log shows progress.
Tinnitus varies with sleep, stress and quiet rooms, so a written log is fairer than memory.
Is a red light panel near the ear safe for your eyes and skin?
Yes, if you wear the supplied goggles, keep your eyes closed and sit side-on so the panel never faces you. The 2024 review reported no immediate adverse events, and two studies noted minor reactions such as itching or red spots.
If your tinnitus gets louder, your hearing changes or you feel dizzy, stop and see your GP. Put the goggles on before the light comes on and keep them on until the timer stops. Near-infrared is invisible, so your eyes give no warning; our guide to red light therapy goggles explains why closed eyes alone are not enough. Keep the panel on continuous light, because flicker can trigger seizures in photosensitive epilepsy; see pulsed vs continuous red light therapy.
Our precautions rule the panel out:
- Pregnancy: while pregnant, breastfeeding or preparing for pregnancy.
- Seizures: epilepsy or seizures triggered by light.
- Thyroid: a thyroid condition or thyroid medication, as a panel at ear level also lights the neck.
- Medicines: photosensitising medication, so if you take any medicine, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.
- Skin: broken skin on the area, sunburn on the body in the past 2 weeks, or Fitzpatrick skin types V or VI.
If you wear hearing aids or a cochlear implant, ask your audiologist before using light near them.
When is tinnitus a reason to see a doctor first?
Get help straight away if tinnitus follows a head injury or comes with sudden hearing loss or a spinning feeling. See a GP urgently if it beats in time with your pulse, and get one-sided or constant tinnitus checked before trying light.
- Emergency: the NHS sends these cases to A&E or 999, and says "Do not drive to A&E." NHS
- Within 24 hours: hearing loss that came on suddenly in the past 30 days. NICE, 2020
- Urgent GP: pulsing tinnitus, which Mayo Clinic says is usually linked to blood vessel conditions. Mayo Clinic
- As soon as possible: tinnitus with numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg.
- Ear infection signs: ear pain with fever, discharge or swelling needs a doctor, and light should stay away from that ear.
- Medicines: Mayo Clinic lists NSAIDs, some antibiotics and water pills among medicines that can worsen tinnitus. Talk to your prescriber rather than stopping a medicine yourself.
What helps tinnitus alongside red light?
A hearing check, sound therapy, hearing aids where there is hearing loss, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are the standard options. Light fits in as an add-on to that care, not a replacement.
- Hearing evaluation: the 2026 US guideline update says "Every patient with tinnitus should receive a comprehensive hearing evaluation." AAO-HNSF, 2026
- Talking therapy: NICE recommends digital CBT first, then group therapy, then individual CBT. NICE, 2020
- Sound: sound therapy and avoiding total silence, which the NHS lists with relaxation and a sleep routine. NHS
How do you use a Kivorla panel for tinnitus?
Hang or stand the panel with its centre at ear level, put the goggles on, close your eyes and sit side-on at about 6 inches. Run red and near-infrared in continuous mode for 10 to 15 minutes per side, about three times a week, and judge it at four weeks.
Use the panel, not the mask: the mask is a full-face shell with an eye opening and does not reach the ears or the jaw joint. See our mask vs panel comparison.
The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel carries 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%. Its red channels sit close to the 650 to 660 nm used in many tinnitus trials, and its 810, 830 and 1060 nm channels close to the trial lasers.
- Position: hang it on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws, centre at ear level as you sit, or stand it upright on the floor.
- Aim: sit side-on, so the ear, the jaw joint in front of it and the bone behind it face the panel. Never aim it straight at your face, and never put any light into the ear canal.
- Eyes: goggles on before you switch on, eyes closed; start and stop with the controller.
- Channels: 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm on; 630, 660 and 670 nm on; 480 and 590 nm at their lowest; pulse off.
- Timer: 10 to 15 minutes per side. If no time is set, the panel stops at 5 minutes. The surface stays at or below 40°C.
The trial lasers gave low power to small spots. To stay closer to that range, turn the channels down from 100%, use a shorter timer (it starts at 1 minute), or step back to 12 inches. Leave at least 6 hours between 30-minute sessions.
Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Read the precautions before ordering. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.
Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices, and are not intended to treat tinnitus or hearing loss. See a GP or audiologist for new, one-sided, pulsing or worsening tinnitus, and keep any hearing aids, therapy or treatment you have been advised.