Shaping the future of Tinnitus research and care

The Tinnitus Center at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Foundation Tinnitus & Hearing Charité are jointly organising the 20th Tinnitus Research Initiative (TRI) Conference 2026. From 16–18 September 2026, hundreds of world-leading tinnitus experts will gather at Campus Charité Mitte to share the latest advances in research, diagnosis, and treatment of tinnitus.

Although tinnitus is widespread in the 21st century, it remains one of the least well-understood conditions. Estimates suggest that more than 1.5 million people in Germany alone are affected by chronic tinnitus.

Anyone can develop tinnitus, regardless of age, gender, or profession. The disease is frequently caused by hearing loss, but may also be triggered by noise, neurological disorders, tension in the neck or cervical spine, as well as dental and jaw problems, amongst others. Psychological factors such as chronic stress can contribute both directly and indirectly to tinnitus, for example by increasing muscle tension, shaping appraisal, or correlating with behaviours that heighten the risk of hearing loss. Tinnitus can then give rise to a broad range of interconnected secondary responses, such as concentration problems, hypervigilance, anxiety, low mood, and sleep disturbances, among others.

Compared to the large number of people affected, the resources devoted to research are still disproportionately small. The interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge between ENT, psychology, neurology, and audiology during TRI2026 will help to better understand tinnitus in order to alleviate its burden and, in the future, to find a cure.