Atlanta VAHCS Launches Innovative Lenire Treatment to Help Veterans with Tinnitus
By Gregory Kendall, Public Affairs Specialist
The Atlanta VA Health Care System marked a significant milestone in Veteran care on April 2, 2026, with the first use of the Lenire tinnitus treatment technology.
Lenire is a clinically tested, non-invasive device designed to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus, commonly described as ringing or buzzing in the ears, through dual-mode stimulation. The treatment combines auditory tones delivered through headphones with mild electrical pulses applied to the tongue, helping retrain the brain’s response to tinnitus over time.
Leading the implementation is Atlanta VAHCS audiologist and Tinnitus Program Manager Dr. Leah Horn. “While tinnitus itself is not dangerous, it can be disruptive to people’s daily lives. There is not a cure for the sound of tinnitus, but there are many ways we can help people live better with it. The Lenire treatment is a new and promising tool we have worked hard to add to our current Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) program here in Atlanta.”
Profit Lucy, an Army Veteran, is also among the first patients at the facility to receive the treatment. “This is an exciting advancement for Veterans who struggle daily with tinnitus,” said Lucy. “Tinnitus can cause sleep, social mobility and focus issues. Being able to receive this groundbreaking tinnitus treatment device gives me great confidence in the impact it can have on improving my quality of life.”
Tinnitus is one of the most common service-connected disabilities among Veterans, often linked to prolonged exposure to loud noise during military service. Traditional management strategies have focused on sound therapy and counseling, but Lenire introduces a new, evidence-based approach that targets the neurological pathways associated with the condition.
The introduction of Lenire underscores Atlanta VAHCS’s commitment to bringing cutting-edge treatments to Veterans and expanding access to innovative care options. By integrating this technology into its audiology and tinnitus program, the facility continues to lead in addressing complex hearing-related conditions affecting Veterans.
As more Veterans begin treatment in the coming months, clinicians at the Atlanta VAHCS are optimistic that Lenire will offer meaningful relief and renewed hope for those living with tinnitus.
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