Advancing Tinnitus Care in China: Building a National Platform for Education and Collaboration
This report provides an overview of The 2026 Training Course on New Technologies and Management Models in Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment (The Fifth): Building a Multidisciplinary Platform for Tinnitus Education and Collaboration in China, held from 5–9 August 2026 at Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
The five-day programme was designed to promote standardized tinnitus diagnosis, comprehensive treatment strategies, rehabilitation approaches, and multidisciplinary collaboration among tinnitus professionals in China. The training course has been successfully held for five consecutive years, becoming an important academic platform for tinnitus education and clinical exchange in China.
Tinnitus is a complex clinical condition requiring comprehensive assessment and multidisciplinary management. This training course aimed to provide a national academic platform for clinicians, audiologists, and healthcare professionals to exchange experience, share advances, and improve clinical practice.
The course attracted more than 100 participants from different regions of China, including ENT specialists, otologists, audiologists, and hearing rehabilitation professionals from tertiary hospitals and tinnitus centres.
Scientific Programme and Main Topics
| Main Topic | Content |
|---|---|
| Tinnitus diagnosis and clinical management | Clinical evaluation, diagnostic strategies, and comprehensive management approaches for tinnitus. |
| Sound therapy and rehabilitation | Principles and clinical applications of sound therapy and tinnitus rehabilitation. |
| Hearing rehabilitation | Hearing aids, auditory rehabilitation, and management of tinnitus associated with hearing loss. |
| Cochlear implantation and auditory restoration | Clinical experience and progress in cochlear implantation and auditory rehabilitation. |
| Psychological intervention and CBT approaches | The role of psychological assessment and cognitive behavioural approaches in tinnitus management. |
| Hyperacusis and misophonia assessment | International perspectives on the assessment and differential diagnosis of sound intolerance disorders. |
| Multidisciplinary tinnitus care models | Collaboration among otologists, audiologists, psychologists, and rehabilitation professionals. |
A major feature of the course was the extensive academic discussion among experts and participants. Leading Chinese tinnitus specialists shared their clinical experience and discussed challenging cases from daily practice. Young clinicians from different regions also presented clinical cases related to tinnitus diagnosis and management. These presentations provided valuable opportunities for young doctors to improve their academic communication skills and clinical thinking. Outstanding case presentations were recognised through an award session.
The course also included international academic exchange. Dr Hashir Aazh, an internationally recognised expert in tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia, delivered an online lecture entitled “Assessment and Differential Diagnosis of Hyperacusis and Misophonia”. His presentation provided international perspectives regarding the clinical classification, assessment, and management of sound intolerance disorders. The lecture was highly appreciated by participants and stimulated further discussion. His presentation materials were translated into Chinese, and real-time interpretation support was provided during the online session.
The course also highlighted the multidisciplinary and translational nature of modern hearing medicine. Professor Yilai Shu, President of Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University, delivered a keynote lecture on “Gene Therapy for Autosomal Dominant Hereditary Hearing Loss”, introducing advances in auditory gene therapy, including novel gene delivery strategies and minimally invasive inner ear treatment approaches. Professor Xiping Zhan from Howard University College of Medicine, USA, presented “Toward Understanding the Central Mechanisms of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus”, sharing insights into the neural mechanisms of hearing loss and tinnitus. Together with sessions on tinnitus management, sound therapy, hearing aids, cochlear implantation, and auditory rehabilitation, these lectures demonstrated the comprehensive and multidisciplinary nature of modern otology, integrating basic research, innovative therapies, and clinical care.
The organisation of this course reflects the continuous development of tinnitus clinical collaboration in China. Over recent years, more than 200 tinnitus clinical centres have been established nationwide, most of which are located in tertiary hospitals. Through the national tinnitus expert committee, tinnitus centre networks, and academic communication platforms, these centres have contributed to clinical education, standardized management, and collaborative research.
The Chinese tinnitus community has also actively promoted evidence-based and multidisciplinary approaches. Future efforts will focus on developing clinical practice guidelines, promoting comprehensive tinnitus management centred on sound therapy, and conducting multicentre clinical research.
Looking forward, we hope to further strengthen collaboration among clinicians, researchers, audiologists, and international colleagues.
Tinnitus clinical centers and national collaboration network.
