Tinnitus Alleviator

[redcarboy]

Morning everyone,

Been reading issue 3 of the BTA magazine and noticed an advertisement selling the Tinnitus Alleviator , has anyone used this app?

It's not free and I'm quite surprised the bta is promoting this if it's not proven to help!!!

[Elaine3]

I have the Tinnitus Alleviator App. I live in the US and saw Neumonics Oasis (it was originally via an MP3 player) mentioned on a University of Miami ENT website as a potential treatment for tinnitus. Apparently it was initially only offered through audiologists and was quite expensive. I looked online to see what it was all about and found it is now offered as an app. They do have some studies supporting a benefit and the Veteran's Administration is apparently doing a clinical trial study to see if it is of actual long term benefit- study results were not yet completed. You can access their website at neuromonics.com/neuromonics... (I have no financial interest) Being truly desperate to try anything I did the free trial and then purchased the unlimited app with the selectable music option. This was $110 US. The standard app comes with 4 music tracts. You can add some of your own music with the selectable music option. You can also customize the frequency of the app to your actual audiogram if you have had a formal hearing test done (they do offer a hearing test also which you can do). They recommend you listen to the app from 2 to 4 hours a day. It is supposed to help you become less aware of the tinnitus. While listening to it I found I could ignore my tinnitus better. It is relaxing music. I just downloaded onto my i phone so it is quite portable. I purchased Bose Sound Sport earphones to use with it (I contacted Neuromonics to see what they recommended) They do not recommend using sound cancelling headphones.

I have been using the Tinnitus Alleviator App since April(on my own). It apparently takes many months for it to try to help re-program your brain to ignore the T. Tinnitus is caused by the auditory cortex gone haywire. The app tries to get your auditory cortex to stop firing when it should not be. The music is relaxing and I do sometimes still listen to it (you are supposed to play it at a volume that you can still hear your tinnitus because of the way it is supposed to work). Can not say I noticed any long term improvement in my tinnitus yet, but while listening to the app I do notice my T less.

My ENT (a neuro-otologist) did not have any experience with Neuromonics. I got my tinnitus in February during a nasty viral upper respiratory infection which went on for over a month. I was also very stressed at that time. Perfect storm for tinnitus to take hold and not let go! I was treated with oral prednisone, 3 dexamethasone injections through my eardrum, and months of acupuncture (my ENT says acupuncture often helps). All to no avail. He sent me to the audiologist a few weeks ago to get a different auditory cortex re-programming device. It is called Desyncra. It is basically an iPod which my audiologist programmed to straddle the frequency of my tinnitus. It plays 2 tones above and 2 below the frequency I hear in my head. There are also some studies supporting the use of this device. None of these things are covered by health insurance here -- Desyncra (including audiologists visits) costs $4,400. Makes the Tinnitus Alleviator look like a real bargain. Does Desyncra work? Too soon to tell. I am supposed to try it for at least 35 weeks (have an option to return it for partial refund up to 60 days). I am sure you can find information about Desyncra on the internet also.

Bottom line about Tinnitus Alleviator - not free, but not terribly expensive. Does distract me from the T. I don't listen to it as much now since I am supposed to be doing the Desyncra therapy for 4 to 6 hours a day (and can not use either while I am at work). I figured the Tinnitus Alleviator can't hurt, and does calm me down. The music is soothing and incorporates some sounds of water - (I also added some of my own music since I got tired of listening to the same tunes all the time).

Sorry for the long reply! Will re-post if any of this provides me relief from the bane of my existence!