Clinically tested.
Evidence based.
We build evidence step by step
Studies on Oto
Digital thErapy For Improved tiNnitus carE Study (DEFINE): A Randomised Controlled Trial
Smith ME, Sharma D, Rivero-Arias O, Rand K, Barrack L, Ogburn E, Young M, Field P, Multmeier J, Muzaffar J.
The Oto program was compared directly to one to one CBT in the largest trial of its kind.
Digital solutions for tinnitus: A randomised controlled trial of the Oto digital therapeutic
Mui B, Muzaffar J, Chen J, Bidargaddi N, Shekhawat GS.
An earlier version of the Oto program was compared to a waiting list control.
Multimodality Smartphone App Delivered Therapy for Tinnitus: A Prospective Pilot Study
Muzaffar J.
The prototype Oto program lowered tinnitus severity after three months.
Studies on CBT
Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus (Cochrane Review, 2020)
Fuller T, Cima R, Langguth B, Mazurek B, Vlaeyen JWS, Hoare DJ.
Systematic Review
Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Cognitive and/or Behavioral Therapies (CBT) for Tinnitus (2020)
Landry EC, Romo Sandoval XC, Simeone CN, Tidball G, Lea J, Westerberg BD.
Systematic Review & Meta Analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of CBT for tinnitus distress (2011)
Hesser H, Weise C, Zetterqvist Westin V, Andersson G.
Systematic Review & Meta Analysis
Specialised treatment based on cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for tinnitus: a randomised controlled trial (The Lancet, 2012)
Cima RFF, Maes IH, Joore MA, Scheyen DJWM, El Refaie A, Baguley DM, Anteunis LJC, van Breukelen GJP, Vlaeyen JWS.
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of Internet-Based CBT vs Face-to-Face Clinical Care for Tinnitus: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial (JAMA Otolaryngology, 2018)
Beukes EW, Andersson G, Allen PM, Manchaiah V, Baguley DM.
Randomized Controlled Trial
Internet-Delivered Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2016)
Weise C, Kleinstäuber M, Hesser H, Westin VZ, Andersson G.
Randomized Controlled Trial
Internet-based guided self-help versus group CBT for chronic tinnitus: a randomised controlled trial (Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, 2014)
Jasper K, Weise C, Conrad I, Andersson G, Hiller W, Kleinstäuber M.
Randomized Controlled Trial
Relieve your tinnitus in 10 minutes per day
A clinically-proven program that allows you to tune out the noise and live again.
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FAQs
Oto has been assessed in two randomised controlled trials and a pilot study. One RCT is published; the DEFINE trial is running with the University of Cambridge. See each study on this page for status and links.
DEFINE is a head-to-head non-inferiority randomized controlled trial comparing Oto with clinician-delivered CBT for tinnitus. It was run by the University of Cambridge and partners; the protocol is published in PLOS ONE.
It's the largest tinnitus trial of its kind.
It means the trial is designed to test whether Oto performs no worse than clinician-delivered CBT by a small, pre-set allowance. This is a rigorous way to compare to an established approach. The DEFINE protocol explains this design.
The primary outcome is change in the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) at 26 weeks, with follow-ups to one year. Safety and health-economic measures are also collected.
You can read the peer-reviewed protocol on PubMed / PLOS ONE.
They are independent, evidence-based recommendations that help clinicians decide what to offer and when. Examples include NICE in the UK and AAO-HNSF in the US.
Yes. Major guidelines recommend the use of CBT for managing tinnitus-related distress, and note CBT can be delivered in different formats, including digital.
We’ll update this page after peer-reviewed publications go live and share a plain-English summary with links to the journals.
Please get in touch. We don't currently have any active opportunities, but can let you know if any arise.