Help Aaron Fund the Lenire® Device for Catastrophic Tinnitus

Greetings Friends, Family, and Supporters!

I am Aaron Nickell. I'm a public policy consultant and guitarist from Aberdeen, WA USA.



I'm raising funds to pay for Lenire® bimodal neuromodulation therapy for catastrophic tinnitus. Donated funds will be used to pay for the Lenire® device, audiological consultations, and contingency travel from Aberdeen, WA to Anchorage, AK for device adjustments and follow-up appointments if necessary.

A severe ear infection in 2023 caused me to experience tinnitus, hyperacusis, and vertigo. Otorhinolaryngology and audiological physicians from Virginia Mason Franciscan and Alaska Hearing & Tinnitus Center have determined the infection caused permanent cochlear damage in my left ear, and have classified my tinnitus as catastrophic.

Tinnitus detrimentally impacts my life every day. From waking until sleep, my ears produce unrelenting 8000 - 9000hz ringing that detrimentally affects my ability to function. Tinnitus adversely impacts my sleep. The ringing interferes with my ability to participate in conversations, watch television, read, concentrate on daily tasks and hobbies, and - most importantly - enjoy and perform music. Hyperacusis causes me to physically feel certain sounds in my left ear: from shuffling papers to wrapping tinfoil around leftovers, my inner ear pulsates with each sound it doesn’t agree with. Hyperacusis can range in severity from irritating to painful. Intermittent vertigo makes walking, driving, hiking, and even showering more difficult than they should be. These inner-ear problems leave me feeling angered, hopeless, anxious, and despondent.

Physicians at the Alaska Tinnitus & Hearing Center have determined I am a very good candidate for Lenire® therapy. Lenire® uses carefully selected sounds and electrical nerve stimulation (bimodal neuromodulation) to create new neural pathways in the brain. These pathways help the brain reclassify certain sounds as insignificant, thereby training my ears and brain to classify bothersome tinnitus as insignificant noise.

My Lenire® therapy will cost $4300, which includes the Lenire® device, one year of in-person and telehealth follow-up appointments, and a three-year device replacement warranty. Remaining funds will cover any necessary trips to Anchorage - including airfare, lodging, food, and ground transportation - for physical examinations, fittings, and device adjustments.

No insurance company will pay for Lenire® in the United States. Currently, my trio of auditory symptoms prevent me from working, and I have no resources available to pay for my treatment in full, as required by my providers.

Thank you so much for reading my story and participating in my journey. I am hopeful that Lenire® will allow me to live peacefully with my tinnitus and pursue the activities that make my life fulfilling.