Oto Health: a clinically-validated digital CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) platform for tinnitus

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Tinnitus affects 1 in 7 of us and is commonly experienced as a high-pitched ringing or hissing in the ear. It can significantly impact quality of life, sleep, concentration, and mood. Tinnitus is also a large burden on society; with 1m+ GP appointments for tinnitus, the NHS spends c.£750m annually, and with loss of productivity among other costs, tinnitus robs the UK economy of £2.7b each year.rnrnThere is usually no cure for tinnitus, but with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the standard-of-care (SoC), patients can train themselves to live undisturbed by the unpleasant sound. CBT for tinnitus, however, is difficult to access because it is not widely available, with patients travelling long distances, facing waiting lists averaging a year, up to two in some UK areas. Often the only option is private therapy - expensive and not viable for many.rnrnThe current resource-intensive delivery of CBT makes tinnitus therapy a prime space to introduce digital technology, but no current solution provides a clinically-validated remote CBT programme. Oto has built a digital programme that greatly enhances accessibility by allowing tinnitus sufferers to access evidence-based therapy directly from their smartphones. Instead of waiting to be referred to a specialist, they can immediately access first-line treatment from the comfort of their own homes, at a convenient time. Patients thus take control of their tinnitus and, as a result, improve their quality of life.rnrnThis project aims to further develop our solution and, in a clinical trial setting in collaboration with University of Cambridge, test its ability to supplant therapist-provided CBT as a more accessible, inexpensive and effective option. This will enable Oto's expansion via commercial partnerships and adoption by the NHS, ultimately reducing the burden on GPs and specialist services, representing cost savings for service providers, and reducing long waiting times for patients.