TinnitusNCT07558837
Fudan Tinnitus Doctor for Tinnitus Management
A study testing Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) System and Non-conversational Digital Education Program in people with Tinnitus, run by Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a conversational artificial intelligence-based digital intervention can improve symptoms in adults with chronic subjective tinnitus. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Tinnitus
- What is being tested?
- Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) System and Non-conversational Digital Education Program
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 256 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 May 2026to 30 May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of subjective tinnitus confirmed by a qualified investigator.
- Tinnitus duration ≥ 3 month prior to screening.
- THI score of ≥ 18
- Aged between 18 and 70 years
- The ability to use a smartphone: Both groups will receive therapeutic support and disease management primarily through a mobile application or web-based platform. This requires functional ability to operate the provided software and willingness to engage with the digital intervention protocol.
- Perceptibility: Tinnitus is present and recognizable by the participant under ordinary daily conditions (not only in quiet environments).
- Compliance and consent: Participant is assessed by the Investigator as able to understand study procedures, voluntarily agrees to participate, is willing to comply with all trial-related requirements, and provides signed informed consent prior to performance of any protocol-specified procedure.
Who cannot join
- Acute-phase tinnitus (duration < 3 month or tinnitus secondary to acute otologic events).
- Pulsatile or objective tinnitus.
- Unstable symptoms: Fluctuating tinnitus loudness at screening or baseline.
- Psychiatric contraindication: History or current presence of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder with recent suicidality, schizophrenia) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may interfere with study participation or data validity.
- Testing limitations: Inability to adequately complete tinnitus testing procedures or comply with study assessments.
- Prior therapy exposure: Previous history of sound therapy specifically for tinnitus management.
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- Concurrent treatments: Ongoing psychotherapy for conditions such as anxiety or depression, or any other psychological treatment that may interfere with the study endpoints.
- Concurrent trial participation: Active participation in another interventional research study that, in the opinion of the Investigator, could affect tinnitus symptoms or interact with study procedures.
- Investigator judgment: Any condition (medical, surgical, psychiatric, or social) or factor which, in the Investigator's judgment, renders the subject unsuitable for participation, places the patient at higher risk, or may interfere with compliance or scientific validity of the trial.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China1 site
Fudan University Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology Department
Shanghai, 200031
Shan Sun, Ph.D, +86-021-64377134-2033, sunshine7896@126.com
About this study
Official title: A Multi-agent Large Language Model Conversational AI for Tinnitus Management: The Fudan Tinnitus Doctor Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a conversational artificial intelligence-based digital intervention can improve symptoms in adults with chronic subjective tinnitus.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Read more
Does the Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) system reduce tinnitus severity as measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).
Does the FTD system improve sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and overall patient-reported outcomes.
Researchers will compare the FTD system to a non-conversational digital education program to determine whether the AI-based intervention provides greater clinical benefits.
Participants will:
Use either the FTD conversational AI system or a static digital education program for 30 days.
Complete standardized questionnaires assessing tinnitus severity, sleep, mood, and overall improvement at baseline, Day 14, and Day 30.
Engage with the digital platform for tinnitus self-management.
Read the detailed description
This study is a prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, open-label randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, usability, and safety of a multi-agent large language model (LLM)-based conversational artificial intelligence system (Fudan Tinnitus Doctor, FTD) for the management of chronic subjective tinnitus.
A total of 256 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the FTD intervention or a non-conversational digital education control. The intervention period is 30 days. The FTD system delivers personalized, real-time tinnitus management using a multi-agent architecture integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based strategies, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, and sleep hygiene guidance. The control group receives a static digital program consisting of educational materials and a fixed-response question-and-answer module.
The primary outcome will be the change in tinnitus severity measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) from baseline to Day 30. Secondary outcomes will include sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), anxiety (GAD-2), depression (PHQ-2), and overall perceived improvement (Patient Global Impression of Change, PGIC). Exploratory outcomes will assess usability (System Usability Scale, SUS), satisfaction (Net Promoter Score, NPS), and engagement metrics. All outcomes will be analyzed using mixed-effects models under the intention-to-treat principle.
- Conditions
- Tinnitus
- Being tested
- Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) System, Non-conversational Digital Education Program
- Medical subject headings
- Tinnitus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) SystemDevice
The FTD system is a multi-agent conversational artificial intelligence platform that delivers personalized tinnitus management through a secure web-based interface. It supports multimodal interaction (text and voice) and integrates a large language model, retrieval-augmented generation, and multi-agent collaboration to provide cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, and sleep hygiene guidance.
Non-conversational Digital Education ProgramDevice
Participants in this arm will receive access to a non-conversational digital tinnitus self-management program delivered through the same secure web-based interface as the intervention group. The program provides static educational materials and a fixed-response question-and-answer module related to tinnitus, sleep, and mental health.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| FTD Conversational AI Intervention | Experimental | Participants in this arm will use the Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) system, a multi-agent large language model-based conversational AI platform that delivers personalized tinnitus management strategies based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles. Receives: Device: Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) System |
| Digital Education Control | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will receive access to a non-conversational digital program consisting of static educational materials and a fixed-response question-and-answer module related to tinnitus, sleep, and mental health. Receives: Device: Non-conversational Digital Education Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)
The THI questionnaire, widely used in research, including functional, emotional, and catastrophic subscales. It consists of 25 questions, and answers are rated on a "yes" (4 points), "sometimes" (2 points), and "no" (0 points) scale. The total score is calculated by adding up the scores for all questions and classifying the severity of tinnitus as no handicap (0-16), mild handicap (18-36), moderate handicap (38-56), and severe handicap (58-100).
Measured: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30
Secondary outcomes (4)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
The PSQI will be used to evaluate subjective sleep quality over the past month. It comprises 19 items yielding seven component scores (subjective sleep quality, latency, duration, efficiency, disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction). The global PSQI score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality.
Measured: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2)
The GAD-2 will assess anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks. Each of the two items is rated from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"). The total score ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. A score ≥3 suggests clinically significant anxiety.
Measured: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30]
Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)
The PHQ-2 will measure depressive symptoms over the past two weeks. Each of the two items is rated from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"). The total score ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. A score ≥3 suggests clinically significant depression.
Measured: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
The PGIC will assess the participant's overall perception of improvement since starting the intervention. It is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 ("very much improved") to 7 ("very much worse"), with lower scores representing greater perceived improvement.
Measured: Day 14, and Day 30
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Apr 2026
- Study start1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 May 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for TinnitusStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 256 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Shan Sun, Principal investigator, Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07558837
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025072
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 7 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Deidentified individual participant data (IPD) collected for this trial, including outcome measures and baseline characteristics, will be made available upon reasonable request to qualified researchers. Data sharing will require prior approval from the Institutional Review Board of the Eye \& ENT Hospital of Fudan University. The DeepSeek-R1 671B model used to support the intervention is open-source and publicly accessible at https://github.com/deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-R1.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multi-agent Large Language Model Conversational AI for Tinnitus Management: The Fudan Tinnitus Doctor Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07558837
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025072
- Conditions
- Tinnitus
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 256 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a conversational artificial intelligence-based digital intervention can improve symptoms in adults with chronic subjective tinnitus.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does the Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) system reduce tinnitus severity as measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).
Does the FTD system improve sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and overall patient-reported outcomes.
Researchers will compare the FTD system to a non-conversational digital education program to determine whether the AI-based intervention provides greater clinical benefits.
Participants will:
Use either the FTD conversational AI system or a static digital education program for 30 days.
Complete standardized questionnaires assessing tinnitus severity, sleep, mood, and overall improvement at baseline, Day 14, and Day 30.
Engage with the digital platform for tinnitus self-management.
Detailed description
This study is a prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, open-label randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, usability, and safety of a multi-agent large language model (LLM)-based conversational artificial intelligence system (Fudan Tinnitus Doctor, FTD) for the management of chronic subjective tinnitus.
A total of 256 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the FTD intervention or a non-conversational digital education control. The intervention period is 30 days. The FTD system delivers personalized, real-time tinnitus management using a multi-agent architecture integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based strategies, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, and sleep hygiene guidance. The control group receives a static digital program consisting of educational materials and a fixed-response question-and-answer module.
The primary outcome will be the change in tinnitus severity measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) from baseline to Day 30. Secondary outcomes will include sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), anxiety (GAD-2), depression (PHQ-2), and overall perceived improvement (Patient Global Impression of Change, PGIC). Exploratory outcomes will assess usability (System Usability Scale, SUS), satisfaction (Net Promoter Score, NPS), and engagement metrics. All outcomes will be analyzed using mixed-effects models under the intention-to-treat principle.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| FTD Conversational AI Intervention | Experimental | Device: Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) SystemParticipants in this arm will use the Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) system, a multi-agent large language model-based conversational AI platform that delivers personalized tinnitus management strategies based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles. |
| Digital Education Control | Active comparator | Device: Non-conversational Digital Education ProgramParticipants in this arm will receive access to a non-conversational digital program consisting of static educational materials and a fixed-response question-and-answer module related to tinnitus, sleep, and mental health. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Diagnosis of subjective tinnitus confirmed by a qualified investigator.
- Tinnitus duration ≥ 3 month prior to screening.
- THI score of ≥ 18
- Aged between 18 and 70 years
- The ability to use a smartphone: Both groups will receive therapeutic support and disease management primarily through a mobile application or web-based platform. This requires functional ability to operate the provided software and willingness to engage with the digital intervention protocol.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Acute-phase tinnitus (duration < 3 month or tinnitus secondary to acute otologic events).
- Pulsatile or objective tinnitus.
- Unstable symptoms: Fluctuating tinnitus loudness at screening or baseline.
- Psychiatric contraindication: History or current presence of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder with recent suicidality, schizophrenia) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may interfere with study participation or data validity.
- Testing limitations: Inability to adequately complete tinnitus testing procedures or comply with study assessments.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) SystemThe FTD system is a multi-agent conversational artificial intelligence platform that delivers personalized tinnitus management through a secure web-based interface. It supports multimodal interaction (text and voice) and integrates a large language model, retrieval-augmented generation, and multi-agent collaboration to provide cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, and sleep hygiene guidance. | Device | FTD Conversational AI Intervention |
| Non-conversational Digital Education ProgramParticipants in this arm will receive access to a non-conversational digital tinnitus self-management program delivered through the same secure web-based interface as the intervention group. The program provides static educational materials and a fixed-response question-and-answer module related to tinnitus, sleep, and mental health. | Device | Digital Education Control |
Primary outcome
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)
Time frame: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30
The THI questionnaire, widely used in research, including functional, emotional, and catastrophic subscales. It consists of 25 questions, and answers are rated on a "yes" (4 points), "sometimes" (2 points), and "no" (0 points) scale. The total score is calculated by adding up the scores for all questions and classifying the severity of tinnitus as no handicap (0-16), mild handicap (18-36), moderate handicap (38-56), and severe handicap (58-100).
4 secondary outcomes
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2)
Time frame: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30]
Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)
Time frame: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
Time frame: Day 14, and Day 30
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Deidentified individual participant data (IPD) collected for this trial, including outcome measures and baseline characteristics, will be made available upon reasonable request to qualified researchers. Data sharing will require prior approval from the Institutional Review Board of the Eye \& ENT Hospital of Fudan University. The DeepSeek-R1 671B model used to support the intervention is open-source and publicly accessible at https://github.com/deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-R1.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Shan Sun principal investigator
Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Fudan Tinnitus Doctor (FTD) System and Non-conversational Digital Education Program in people with Tinnitus, run by Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Shan Sun, Ph.D (+86-021-64377134-2033, sunshine7896@126.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) (time frame: Baseline, Day 14, and Day 30). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 May 2026.