Measuring tinnitus objectively? Initial TIDE results
30.10.2026
Will we soon be able to measure tinnitus objectively?
International TIDE study shows promising results
An international research project, which includes the participation of BRAI3N in Ghent, has taken a significant step forward in the search for an objective method to detect tinnitus.
Initial results show that brain activity can provide valuable information regarding the presence of tinnitus and potential differences between patients.
Tinnitus: a sound that no one else hears
People with tinnitus hear sounds that do not originate from an external source. This can be a ringing, hissing, buzzing, or whistling sound.
For some, these sounds are barely bothersome. For others, they can have a major impact on concentration, sleep, emotions, and daily functioning.
One of the greatest challenges in tinnitus care is that we currently cannot directly demonstrate tinnitus with a validated clinical test or objectively determine its intensity.
As a result, doctors and researchers are largely dependent on what patients themselves experience and report.
But what if we could identify tinnitus by the way our brains function?
That is the central research question of the international Tinnitus Detection (TIDE) Consortium.
An international collaboration with BRAI3N
The TIDE Consortium brings together researchers from seven research centers across five countries.
The project is supported by the American Rainwater Charitable Foundation and aims to develop a reliable, objective method for detecting tinnitus.
BRAI3N in Ghent is also part of this international research network.
The Belgian research group at BRAI3N is led by Prof. Dr. Dirk De Ridder, with the collaboration of Sarah Rambour.
Prof. Dr. Sven Vanneste, affiliated with Trinity College Dublin, and his research team also play a key role within the international consortium.
In total, the scientists studied more than 560 participants, including both people with chronic tinnitus and those without.
In addition to brain activity, factors such as hearing loss, tinnitus symptoms, anxiety, and sound sensitivity were also examined.
On September 17, 2026, the initial results were presented at the international Tinnitus Research Initiative Conference in Berlin.
What did the scientists investigate?
The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the brain's electrical activity.
Three different approaches were investigated:
1. How do the brains react to a brief silence in sound?
The researchers studied how a short interruption in background noise affects the brain's response to a subsequent sound.
In participants with tinnitus, a reduced suppression of this response was found.
2. What happens when an expected sound does not occur?
Our brains are constantly predicting which stimuli we can expect.
The study found differences in brain responses to unexpectedly missing sounds in people with tinnitus.
3. What happens when the brain is at rest?
Using an EEG measurement during rest, the researchers investigated how different brain regions communicate with each other without any sounds being presented.
This last method, in particular, yielded promising results.
Brain networks may make tinnitus identifiable
By combining the EEG measurements with machine learning, the researchers were able to recognize patterns associated with the presence of tinnitus.
The analysis of brain activity at rest yielded the best results.
Based on brain activity, the model was able to distinguish between people with and without tinnitus with promising accuracy. (AUC of approximately 0.80. This is a scientific measure of how well a method can distinguish between two groups. A value of 0.50 corresponds to chance; a value of 1.00 means a perfect distinction).
This is an important step in the development of an objective method for measuring tinnitus.
It was striking that the most significant differences were not found exclusively in brain regions involved in hearing.
The researchers also found increased functional connectivity within the frontoparietal network.
This network is involved in, among other things, attention and information processing.
This finding aligns with the understanding that tinnitus is not just a problem of the auditory system, but is linked to the activity and interaction of various brain networks.
Three potential neurophysiological tinnitus profiles
A second interesting finding is that tinnitus may not manifest in the brain in the same way for everyone.
By combining the results of the three EEG experiments, the researchers identified three preliminary neurophysiological patterns in people with tinnitus.
These patterns could point to different biological forms of tinnitus.
This is particularly relevant for the further development of personalized treatments.
If we better understand which brain networks are involved in an individual patient, it may eventually help to tailor treatments more precisely.
The three identified patterns still need to be further investigated and independently confirmed.
Why is this research important for tinnitus treatment?
At BRAI3N, we operate from the understanding that tinnitus is linked to the functioning of brain networks.
At BRAI3N, we apply targeted neuromodulation to influence the activity of brain networks involved in tinnitus and its processing. With this, we aim to reduce tinnitus symptoms and their impact on daily life.
The TIDE study aligns with this neuroscientific approach.
The development of an objective EEG-based biomarker could eventually offer significant possibilities:
- Helping to determine the presence of tinnitus more objectively.
- Recognizing different neurophysiological tinnitus profiles.
- Better tracking the evolution of tinnitus.
- Evaluating the effects of treatments more objectively.
- Supporting the development of targeted, personalized treatments.
Current results do not yet mean that tinnitus can be reliably diagnosed with an EEG today.
However, the research represents an important step in that direction.
Bringing science and patient care closer together
The TIDE project shows what becomes possible when international research groups combine their expertise and data.
By analyzing measurements from various centers in a standardized way, researchers were able to determine whether the results hold up outside of a single laboratory.
The initial findings are encouraging and provide a foundation for further scientific development.
For BRAI3N, participating in this research is a key part of our mission: carefully translating scientific insights into clinical practice.
Want to learn more about tinnitus and our treatments?
Read more abouttinnitus and treatment options at BRAI3N.
Source
Rainwater Charitable Foundation. October 28, 2026.
