Tinnitus

 
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a medical condition characterized by persistent ringing in one or both ears which can only be heard by the affected individual. It has also been described as whistling, hissing, buzzing, or pulsing in the ear. These sounds may come and go; however, most sufferers experience symptoms 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The effects range from slight annoyance to severe disruption of everyday life. The American Tinnitus Association estimates that over 50 million Americans suffer from Tinnitus.

Tinnitus Treatment
Due to the personal and unique nature of each Tinnitus condition, proper evaluation and specialized treatment is necessary. Although there isn’t a single cure for Tinnitus, AudigyCertified™ professionals are experienced at providing individual solutions on a case-by-case basis. After completing a hearing test, your professional may refer you to an otolaryngologist for further examination.

In many cases, the distressing combination of Tinnitus and hearing loss can be relieved with AGX hearing technology. While worn, a hearing system can restore ambient sounds and help fill Sound Voids™ to eliminate the effects of Tinnitus. An electronic device called a Masker may also be worn to distract from the ringing sensation. Maskers fit in the ear much like hearing aids and produce low-level sounds.

Neuromonics Oasis Tinnitus Treatment Device

Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment 
Recapture everyday moments without disrupting your life. The Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment is convenient and non-invasive, making it easy to use during regular daily activities.

A small, lightweight Oasis™ device with headphones delivers precisely designed music embedded with a pleasant acoustic neural stimulus. These sounds, customized for each user’s audiological profile, stimulate the auditory pathway to promote neural plastic changes. Over time, these new connections help the brain to filter out tinnitus disturbance, providing long-term relief from symptoms.

The Neuromonics treatment occurs over approximately 6 months, with many reporting some relief immediately. Throughout the treatment process, education and support are provided by a Neuromonics-trained clinician.

Before any treatment begins, a specially trained audiologist will meet with you to evaluate your tinnitus and hearing. After assessing your audiological profile, the audiologist will then discuss which treatment options are most appropriate for you, and whether the Neuromonics treatment can help.

If you both agree that Neuromonics can help, you will be fitted with the Oasis™ device. The device delivers an acoustic stimulus that is embedded in precisely designed relaxing music, and delivered at a low listening level. The stimulus is customized to your individual prescription, based on your audiological profile.

This phase helps relieve symptoms so that you can begin to experience control over your tinnitus while continuing treatment.

The Oasis™ device is worn for at least two hours per day (or longer, if preferred) during daily activities like reading, preparing meals or at the office.

This stage typically lasts about 2 months.

The goal of Stage 2 is to help the brain develop those neural connections that allow it to filter out tinnitus sounds. When this happens, relief continues even without regular use of the Oasis™ device.

In this stage, the device is used for at least 2 hours per day initially. Treatment times are then gradually reduced as tinnitus disturbance lessens.

This stage of treatment typically lasts about 4 months.

After a successful treatment program, your Neuromonics audiologist will work with you to develop a maintenance program you can use to continue to control your tinnitus on your own.

Many people do not feel the need to use the device after treatment. Those who do typically use it for short periods of time to help them maintain the benefits achieved.

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