An assembly 100 to provide thermal therapy to a human auditory system includes a thermal transducer 125, a stimulus transducer 120, 135, a receiver 130, and a processing device 145. Some or all of the individual components may be carried in headwear. The thermal transducer 125 applies hypothermic temperature conditions to an area of the head near an ear. The stimulus transducer 120, 135 applies a stimulus signal, and the receiver 130 detects otoacoustic emission (OAE) responsive to the stimulus signal. The processor 145 compares the received OAE signal to a reference. Discrepancy between the OAE and reference is used in a feedback loop to control operation of the system 100.