U.S. Army research acquisition act funds development of product to help ringing in the ears.
WESTMINSTER, Colo., Feb. 26, 2014 – Audiologists who treat sufferers of severe tinnitus will be able to perform in-office fittings and further individualize treatment with a new release of the Neuromonics Oasis™ device.
Neuromonics, Inc., manufactures and distributes clinically proven tinnitus treatment devices. The new Oasis represents the next generation of the device, considered the gold standard in tinnitus treatment, according to Curtis Amann, vice president of marketing and sales for Neuromonics. The FDA-cleared, patented Oasis offers long-term, significant relief for individuals with severe tinnitus.
With the Oasis, a specially trained audiologist administers a long-term treatment protocol based on the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment (NTT). Using calming, relaxing music, the Oasis is embedded with a neural stimulus that interacts with the tinnitus perception. The music, customized for each user’s audiological profile, engages the auditory pathways to promote neural plastic changes. Over time, these changes help the brain to filter out the tinnitus perception, reducing tinnitus disturbance and providing long-term relief from symptoms. The compact Oasis device is simple to use, functions much like familiar consumer music players, and fits easily into patients’ lifestyles.
“The new features of this next-generation Oasis are more user-friendly for both the audiologist and patient,” says Amann. Audiologists now can complete in-office programming of the Oasis via the NOAH (industry-standard software platform for hearing aid/device fitting) interface. Previously, he explains, Neuromonics programmed the Oasis using information the prescribing audiologist provided to the company. “The ability to fit the device on the same day as the evaluation is a tremendous advance,” he explains. “Audiologists have greater flexibility in fitting the patient, fittings are faster, and patients can start down the road to relief more quickly.”
Key features
- Real-time processing: Fast, in-office fitting eliminates need to send audiograms to Neuromonics.
- Balance control: Enables audiologists, through NOAH, to account for asymmetries in patients’ hearing.
- Phase transition timer: Allows the patient to more easily move through Oasis’ two-phase protocol with a graduated schedule the audiologist sets in the software.
- Volume regulation: Lets audiologists directly regulate the volume of the neural stimulus in the music during the first phase of the treatment, while patient is in the office.
- Additional music selections.
- Micro-USB for charging and data transfer: Eases implemenation by audiologists.
The Oasis now integrates more effectively into the clinician’s workflow, says Amann, bringing a new level of individualization to the patient and audiologist. “The changes will make it much easier for professionals to work with the Oasis in their clinics, individualize treatment, and allow them to maximize their time with patients.
Oasis for the military
Neuromonics completed the design of the newest generation of the Oasis with funds received from a U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Act, with a focus on helping the growing incidence of tinnitus among members of the military. Usually brought on by exposure to loud noise, tinnitus – often referred to as “ringing in the ears” – is especially significant in the military, as more than 34 percent of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from tinnitus and, while there is no tinnitus cure, are seeking relief.
The Oasis – as well as Neuromonics’ Sanctuary™ and Haven™ products – fits the Progressive Tinnitus Management protocol that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense utilize. The Oasis has seen excellent results among members of the military, according to Amann.
Neuromonics, Inc. (www.neuromonics.com)
Based in Westminster, Colo., Neuromonics, Inc., manufactures and distributes clinically proven, FDA-cleared medical devices to treat tinnitus. The patented and clinically proven Oasis, working the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment, provides long-term treatment and significant relief for those with severe tinnitus. The Haven, with the ability to program and individualize hearing profiles, is a management tool offering situational relief for tinnitus symptoms. The Sanctuary, also a management tool, works with pre-programmed profiles for on-demand relief.
With research and development beginning in the early 1990s, Neuromonics has helped thousands of tinnitus sufferers improve their quality of life and overcome the daily life challenges associated with tinnitus. More than 400 licensed, trained audiologists across four continents administer the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment. Neuromonics news includes segments on national media including “The Doctors” and CNN.
You may learn more about Neuromonics on the Neuromonics Expo Page on AudiologyOnline.
USAMRMC Contract
This research and development project will be conducted by Neuromonics, Inc., and is made possible by a contract that was awarded and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), at Fort Detrick, MD, under Contract Number: W81XWH-11-2-0190.
