Neuromonics is a clinically proven treatment for tinnitus (ringing in the ears). In a clinical trial, 91% of subjects using Neuromonics achieved a clinically significant improvement in their tinnitus disturbance, and 80% reported a level of disturbance that was no longer clinically significant at six months.
Tinnitus is not a disorder itself, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. Tinnitus can be a temporary condition or a chronic ailment. Exposure to loud noise often triggers tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus sufferers commonly describe sounds like buzzing, ringing, humming, hissing, roaring or whistling heard in the absence of any external sound.
Tinnitus affects an estimated 10-15% of the population around the globe. More than 50 million people in the United States suffer from this condition, according to the American Tinnitus Association. Tinnitus is especially significant in the military worldwide.
The Connection Between Stress and Tinnitus
The ringing or buzzing sound is merely a symptom, but it triggers a very real physical reaction in the brain, the Emotional Response (or limbic system activation). This is your body’s “fight or flight” mechanism. When your brain hears the sound and labels it as a threat, it pumps stress hormones, increasing your anxiety, tension, and even making the tinnitus seem louder.
This creates a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle.
Your Most Pleasant Prescription: Relaxation
The great news is that the Neuromonics approach uses your app time to directly interrupt this cycle. The treatment is specifically designed to condition a relaxation response to the acoustic stimulus. By consistently pairing customized music with moments of calm, you are literally teaching your brain to re-label the tinnitus signal from “DANGER” to “NEUTRAL.”
Tips for Success:
- Practice Active Relaxation: Try to use your app during focused moments of calm. This is a physical skill that requires practice; you cannot force relaxation, but you can create the conditions for it.
- Offload Stress: Stress will make your tinnitus worse. Practice key stress management techniques like planning ahead, prioritizing tasks, or taking a moment to breathe.
- The Power of Music: Neuromonics’ music is a therapeutic medium that has been shown to be as effective as muscle relaxation in generating a relaxation response.