AAO-HNSF Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus Update (2026)
Record details
- Authors: Adams ME, Cramer JD, Tunkel DE, et al. (21 authors)
- Journal / source: Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (2026)
- Design: Clinical practice guideline (US), update of the 2014 guideline; applies to adults with persistent, bothersome tinnitus
- Sample: Guideline update (professional society panel)
- Primary endpoint: —
- Randomized: No · Sham/placebo-controlled: No · Independent of the manufacturer: Yes
What this research found
STRONG: distinguish bothersome from non-bothersome tinnitus; ask about risk of self-harm; do not order neuroimaging solely to evaluate tinnitus unless concerning features are present. RECOMMENDS: targeted history and examination; comprehensive audiologic evaluation; patient education; hearing-aid evaluation for hearing difficulty with persistent bothersome tinnitus; referral for cochlear-implant evaluation when audiologic criteria are met; CBT; documenting outcomes. AGAINST: routine antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics or intratympanic medications for a primary tinnitus indication; dietary supplements; rTMS. OPTIONS: ask about somatosensory features; sound enrichment may be recommended; bimodal neuromodulation may be offered.
SOURCE MATERIAL ACTUALLY REVIEWED: the PubMed abstracts of the executive summary (PMID 42861486; doi 10.1002/ohn.70418) and of the full guideline (PMID 42861423), read on 19 October 2026. The full text was not accessible, so the strength of each statement is as listed in the abstract; the evidence profiles, rationale and caveats behind each statement have NOT been read. Guidelines are consensus documents, not new trial data. Published October 2026; the 2014 AAO-HNSF record is kept as the historical guideline.
Limitations and conflicts of interest
Abstract-level reading only (full text not accessible); US-focused; consensus recommendations rather than new evidence.
Funding / conflicts: Professional society guideline; panel disclosures not reviewed.
Primary sources
Context record — informs the platform without serving as treatment evidence.
This is an original summary from the Tinnitus Evidence verified database, checked against the primary source — not a reproduction of the publisher's abstract.