SONIC THERAPY
There are 2 types of devices:
Tinnitus maskers, and Combined devices which aim:
- To mask the tinnitus;
- To decrease the auditory asymmetry at the origin of the plastic changes induced in the hearing centers (inferior colliculus, auditory cortex) for which fundamental studies showed that they were reversible.
The masking effect is very different from that of the masker which brings an added noise not processed by the brain because considered as parasite
It is essential to choose the amplification (increase) by taking into account several parameters: the tinnitus and its characteristics, the hearing loss and especially the nature of the noise in which the tinnitus sufferer lives.
This surrounding noise is indeed the key element because it is its amplification that creates the masking.
The choice of the device, besides its capacities of masking, has to allow an important amplification of the weak noises in the zone of the tinnitus without leading however to a too important increase of the noises of average or strong intensity. The important thing is to evolve so as to exercise a compromise between acceptance of the amplification and first results of masking.
A NEW TECHNOLOGY
Luckily, tinnitus is rarely emergent of more than 10 dB with regard to the hearing threshold and a noise of some supplementary decibels in the zone of the tinnitus allows an effective masking. The amplification depends moreover on the intensity of the sound environment of the patient. The more the met intensity will be weak and the more the amplification of the zone of the tinnitus will have to be important, without leading however to a subjective annoyance. The amplification must be able to exercise a masking of the tinnitus in a quiet environment, what sometimes leads) to an amplification more important than for a classic equipment.
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