Tinnitus rehabilitation device and method

• US 6,682,472 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tinnitech Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tinnitech Ltd.
• Inventors: Davis, Paul Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Veniaminov, Nikita R
• Application Number:
  US09/936,687
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 600/28, 600/559, 607/55, 607/59, 381/313, 381/23.1, 381/317, 381/314, 381/320, 381/312, 381/58, 709/234
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/128 evaluating tinnitus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/75 Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception

Abstract

A tinnitus method and device for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus is described. The method can be implemented entirely in software to spectrally modify an audio signal in accordance with a predetermined masking algorithm which modifies the intensity of the audio signal at selected frequencies. A predetermined masking algorithm is described which provides intermittent masking of the tinnitus wherein, at a comfortable listening level, during peaks of the audio signal the tinnitus is completely obscured, whereas during troughs the perception of the tinnitus occasionally emerges. In practice it has been found that such intermittent masking provides an immediate sense of relief, control and relaxation for the person, whilst enabling sufficient perception of the tinnitus for habituation and long term treatment to occur. Advantageously the predetermined masking algorithm is specifically tailored to the audiometric configuration of the person. For example, the masking algorithm may be partly tailored to the hearing loss characteristic of the person. A tinnitus rehabilitation device used in conjunction with a personal sound reproducing system is also described.

Claims

1. A tinnitus rehabilitation method for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus, the method comprising:

providing an audio signal including peaks and troughs;

producing a predetermined masking algorithm designed to modify at least one of peaks and troughs of at least a portion of the audio signal at selected frequencies for providing intermittent masking of tinnitus and to account for a basic audiometric configuration of the person; and

spectrally modifying the audio signal in accordance with the predetermined masking algorithm wherein, in use at a comfortable listening level, when the spectrally modified audio signal is heard by the person during the peaks, the tinnitus is substantially completely obscured and the person perceives significant masking of the tinnitus, and during the troughs, the person may occasionally perceive the tinnitus.

2. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined masking algorithm is designed to modify the intensity of the audio signal across a full spectral range of the audio signal.

3. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said audio signal is a highly dynamic signal whose spectral content and intensity constantly varies over time.

4. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 1, wherein the audio signal is a music signal.

5. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least partly tailoring said predetermined masking algorithm to a hearing loss characteristic of the person.

6. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 5, further comprising modifying spectral qualities of the audio signal by the predetermined masking algorithm so as to provide a relatively equal sensation level across a major portion of an audio spectrum in both ears.

7. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 6, wherein said predetermined masking algorithm also incorporates a set of calibration figures for converting dB HL (Hearing Level) to dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level).

8. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 7, wherein the predetermined masking algorithm is of the form:

9. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 1, wherein said spectrally modified audio signal is derived by:

transmitting, using a computer, data representing an audiogram of the person suffering from tinnitus;

processing said audiogram data at a remote location and producing required equalisation response data based on said audiogram data using said predetermined masking algorithm;

receiving, using a computer, said required equalisation response data; and

combining said required equalisation response data with audio data representing said audio signal to produce said spectrally modified audio signal.

10. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 9, further comprising producing a sound recording of said spectrally modified audio signal.

11. A tinnitus rehabilitation sound recording for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus, the sound recording comprising:

an audio signal which is reproducible on a playback device to provide the signal to the person, said audio signal including peaks and troughs, spectrally modified in accordance with a predetermined masking algorithm, for intermittent masking of tinnitus, designed to modify at least one of the peaks and the troughs of at least a portion of the audio signal at selected frequencies, and wherein said predetermined masking algorithm is specifically produced to account for the basic audiometric configuration of the person whereby, in use at a comfortable listening level, when the sound recording is heard by the person during the peaks, the tinnitus is substantially completely obscured and the person perceives significant masking of the tinnitus, and during the troughs, the person may occasionally perceive the tinnitus.

12. A tinnitus rehabilitation sound recording as defined in claim 11, wherein the audio signal is a music signal.

13. A method of using a computer to provide access to a predetermined masking algorithm used in tinnitus rehabilitation for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus, the method comprising:

receiving on-line, from a user, data representing an audiogram of the person suffering from tinnitus;

processing said audiogram data using said predetermined masking algorithm to produce required equalisation response data based on said audiogram data; and

,

transmitting said required equalisation response data to the user for use in the predetermined masking algorithm to provide relief from the tinnitus.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

creating a customized audio signal; and

transmitting the customized audio signal to the user or the person.

15. A tinnitus rehabilitation device for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus, the device comprising:

a signal filter configured to spectrally modify at least a portion of an audio signal including peaks and troughs in accordance with a predetermined masking algorithm designed to modify at least one of the peaks and the troughs of at least a portion of the audio signal at selected frequencies, and wherein said predetermined masking algorithm accounts for the basic audiometric configuration of the person whereby, in use at a comfortable listening level, when the spectrally modified audio signal is heard by the person during the peaks, the tinnitus is substantially completely obscured and the person perceives significant masking of the tinnitus, and during troughs, the person may occasionally perceive the tinnitus.

16. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 15, wherein said signal filter is a programmable signal filter whereby, in use, the device can be programmed with a predetermined masking algorithm adapted to particular needs of the person suffering from tinnitus.

17. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 16, wherein the device is adapted to be used in conjunction with a conventional personal sound reproducing device with headphones.

18. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 16, wherein said predetermined masking algorithm is designed to modify the intensity of the audio signal across substantially a full spectral range of the audio signal.

19. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 18, wherein said audio signal is a highly dynamic signal whose spectral content and intensity constantly varies over time.

20. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 19, wherein the audio signal is a music signal.

21. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 15, wherein said predetermined masking algorithm is partly tailored to a hearing loss characteristic of the person.

22. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 21, wherein the predetermined masking algorithm is configured to modify spectral qualities of the audio signal so as to provide a relatively equal sensation level across a major portion of an audio spectrum in both ears.

23. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 22, wherein said predetermined masking algorithm also incorporates a set of calibration figures for converting dB HL (Hearing Level) to dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level).

24. A tinnitus rehabilitation device as defined in claim 23, wherein the predetermined masking algorithm is of the form:

25. A tinnitus rehabilitation method for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus, the method comprising:

providing a treatment signal;

modifying the treatment signal to include troughs and peaks wherein the modified treatment signal intermittently masks the tinnitus during at least one of the peaks and does not fully mask the tinnitus during at least some of the troughs.

26. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 25, wherein the treatment signal is audio signal.

27. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 26, wherein the audio signal is a music signal.

28. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 27, wherein the music signal provides a relaxing stimulus on at least one of a psychological, acoustic, and neural level.

29. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 25, further comprising providing the treatment signal to the person via an external device.

30. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 29, wherein the external device comprises headphones.

31. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 25, further comprising providing the treatment signal to the person via an internal device.

32. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 31, wherein the internal device comprises a hearing insert.

33. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 25, wherein the modifying is based upon a predetermined masking algorithm.

34. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 25, wherein the modifying accounts for a person suffering from a condition characterized by reduced sound tolerance.

35. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 34, wherein the condition includes hyperacusis.

36. A computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for carrying out the tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 25.

37. A carrier signal encoded to transmit, via a global computer network, a computer executable program for carrying out the tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 25.

38. A multi-stage tinnitus rehabilitation method for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus, the method comprising:

providing a treatment signal;

during a first treatment stage, fully masking the tinnitus whereby the person does not perceive the tinnitus; and

during a second treatment stage following the first treatment stage, modifying the treatment signal to include troughs and peaks wherein the modified treatment signal intermittently masks the tinnitus during at least one of the peaks and does not fully mask the tinnitus during at least some of the troughs.

39. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38, wherein the treatment utilizes an audio signal.

40. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 39, wherein the audio signal is a music signal.

41. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 40, wherein the music signal provides a relaxing stimulus on at least one of a psychological, acoustic, and neural level.

42. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38, further comprising providing the treatment signal to the person via an external device.

43. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 42, wherein the external device comprises headphones.

44. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38, further comprising providing the treatment signal to the person via an internal device.

45. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 44, wherein the internal device comprises a hearing insert.

46. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38, wherein the modifying is based on a predetermined masking algorithm.

47. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38, wherein the modifying accounts for a person suffering from a condition characterized by reduced tolerance to sound.

48. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38, wherein the condition includes hyperacusis.

49. A computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for carrying out the tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38.

50. A carrier signal encoded to transmit, via a global computer network, a computer executable program for carrying out the tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 38.

51. A tinnitus rehabilitation method for providing relief to a person suffering from the disturbing effects of tinnitus, the method comprising:

providing a music signal; and

spectrally modifying at least a first portion of the music signal in selected frequency ranges tailored to the person to at least partially mask the tinnitus.

52. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, wherein at least a second portion of the music signal is unmodified, wherein the person remains comfortable and relaxed when transitioning from the second portion to the first portion of the music signal, thereby creating an environment in which discomfort to the person is diminished upon application of the first portion to the person.

53. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 52, wherein the first and second portions of the music signal are alternately and repeatedly provided to the person for treatment.

54. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 52, wherein the first and second portions form a continuous signal.

55. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, wherein the modifying at least a first portion of the music signal utilizes a predetermined masking algorithm.

56. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, wherein the modified music signal provides a relaxing stimulus on at least one of a psychological, acoustic, and neural level.

57. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, wherein the person perceives intermittent masking of the tinnitus.

58. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, further comprising:

during a first treatment stage, delivering full masking of the tinnitus to the person; and

during a second treatment stage following the first treatment stage, delivering intermittent masking of the tinnitus to the person.

59. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, further comprising providing the music signal to the person via an external device.

60. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 59, wherein the external device comprises headphones.

61. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, further comprising providing the music signal to the person via an internal device.

62. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 61, wherein the internal device comprises a hearing insert.

63. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, wherein the modified music signal accounts for a person suffering from a condition characterized by reduced tolerance to sound.

64. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 63, wherein the condition includes hyperacusis.

65. A computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for carrying out the tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51.

66. A carrier signal encoded to transmit, via a global computer network, a computer executable program for carrying out the tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51.

67. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 51, wherein the selected frequency ranges are high frequency ranges which are boosted.

68. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 67, wherein the high frequency ranges are in the frequency range of about 3-16 kHz.

69. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 68, wherein the high frequency ranges are in the frequency range of about 6-12 kHz.

70. A tinnitus rehabilitation method as defined in claim 67, wherein the selected frequency ranges are low frequency ranges which are attenuated.