By Cheryl Tanita, Au.D., CCC-A
Scientific discoveries by University of California researchers have led to the development of a new device that shows great promise in providing relief from tinnitus. Called Serenade and manufactured by Sound Cure, the device uses low frequency electric stimuli called S-tones to suppress tinnitus.
Research has shown that S-Tones can produce synchronized, robust neural activity in the auditory cortex. These tones may address the underlying neurological cause of tinnitus and suppress the ringing, hissing or whooshing people experience as tinnitus. S-Tones offer a different therapy than what has been available in the past.
According to a UCI researcher, “The mechanisms underlying tinnitus suppression are different from those in tinnitus masking. Masking attempts to divert a patient’s attention away from the tinnitus. Suppression is a physiologic process where sounds—in this case, patterned sounds—may likely be modulating the activity of the auditory cortex and interrupting tinnitus generation.” S-Tones do not need to be loud to be effective. The researchers found that although the presentation level is softer than the level of the tinnitus, it still may completely eliminate the perception of the tinnitus. They found “The overall level of the sound environment is less than the tinnitus alone.”
The Serenade system consists of earphones and a handheld device programmed with sounds customized for each unique patient’s tinnitus. Serenade has been shown to provide both short term relief and long-term benefits. Serenade needs to be programmed by an audiologist specially trained in the proprietary set of algorithms used to evaluate a patient’s tinnitus and create the sounds most likely to be effective.
Shohet Ear Associates is among the first practices in Orange County to offer the Serenade System. To read more about the product, click here