VERMILLION — The University of South Dakota Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic will be the first clinic in South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska to provide the first and only FDA-approved tinnitus treatment device Lenire

Neuromod Devices, the medical technology company that developed Lenire, partnered with the USD Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic to address the growing demand for tinnitus treatment.

The USD Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic has been certified to administer Lenire, following an intensive training program. Clinics for Lenire’s latest expansion were selected based on their extensive experience treating tinnitus patients and ongoing commitment to tinnitus treatment innovation.

Lindsey Jorgensen, Ph.D., chair and professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, said that evidence-based Lenire is a “fantastic opportunity for patients to get relief from tinnitus.”

“Our patients need an option for tinnitus treatment that has published studies and truly help patients who suffer from tinnitus,” she continued. “We are so happy to be providing this option for our area. We are proud to be providing this technology along with the other options. We continue to provide audiology and cochlear implant services to adults and children across the region. We also provide speech and language services to patients of all ages.”

Tinnitus, commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” is a complex brain signaling condition that causes people to perceive sound with no external source, affecting daily life. It is estimated that at least 25 million Americans are currently living with tinnitus. Tinnitus is also the most prevalent service-connected disability compensated for by the United States Veterans Administration (VA), with more than 2.9 million veterans compensated in 2023.

Neuromod aims to change this by working with leading tinnitus care experts, such as USD, in the U.S. and beyond.

"Neuromod’s mission is to create a new standard of care for tinnitus patients, and this goal is achievable only through collaboration with leading hearing and tinnitus care professionals,” said Eric Timm, Neuromod USA CEO and Neuromod Devices president of global commercial operations. “We are proud to expand Lenire’s accessibility by establishing partnerships with professionals who share Neuromod’s uncompromising patient-centric approach to tinnitus care.”

Lenire is a bimodal neuromodulation device that works by delivering mild electrical pulses to the tongue, through an intra-oral component called the Tonguetip, combined with auditory stimulation through headphones to drive long-term changes in the brain to treat tinnitus.

This dual action stimulus is proven to provide effective relief from tinnitus.

The USD Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic is now taking Lenire assessment appointments. Tinnitus patients can learn more about tinnitus and book a Lenire assessment by calling 605-658-3870.