Millions of people worldwide suffer from tinnitus, a whistling, ringing or buzzing in the ears that isn't caused by an outside source. According to the American Tinnitus Association, at least 50 million people suffer from tinnitus or have suffered from it in the past. For 2 million sufferers, tinnitus causes problems with their jobs, families and relationships or with their sleep. A cure is still not available, but many of those with tinnitus are finding relief through neuromonics therapy.
Neuromonics
Traditional sound therapies use sounds from the environment to drown out the tinnitus. They usually use broadband noise, which sounds like a hearing aid noise, wind or a shower. Neuromonics is a music therapy. It uses New Age and Baroque music, as well as some broadband noise to stimulate the process of neuroplasticity, which is a process that attempts to teach the brain to disregard the ringing or buzzing inside the ear. The music brings pain relief to tinnitus sufferers and also lowers heart rates and respiration.
How it Works
New Age or Baroque music is played for the patient for two hours per day for approximately half a year. The music is adjusted for each person's hearing level. The first phase covers about two months during which time broadband noises are played with the music. A signal is delivered to keep the person from focusing on his tinnitus and to calm him. In the second phase, the broadband noise is removed. This phase continues for about four months. With the broadband noise gone, the patient experiences tinnitus for short spells until he becomes desensitized to it.
The Results
The ultimate goal of neuromonics treatment for tinnitus is that, through music therapy, the patient will learn to ignore the ringing or buzzing in the ears, which is accomplished through neuroplasticity and the ability of the brain to change. The patient keeps the sound system, or Oasis, after treatment has ended so he can listen to it if the tinnitus flares up again. The music therapy has been successful in improving many patients' emotional well-being and helping them to relax. It has also reduced anxiety for many patients. The most important accomplishment of the tinnitus therapy has been to alleviate the patient's preoccupation with the tinnitus symptoms so that he barely notices it is there.
Tags: broadband noise, music therapy, ringing buzzing, Baroque music, buzzing ears, from tinnitus, many patients