Dr. X, referred to below is: Dr. Michael L. Hill, AuD, F-AAA; 8250 Winton Road, Suite 300, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231, 513.522.9936

Ms. Y, from Neuromonics is Laura Phelps

Neuromonics treatment and results:

I first learned of the Oasis treatment from a Good Morning America (GMA) segment in May 2008. I searched the Internet and found the "Neuromonics.com-Effective Tinnitus Treatment" website. I reviewed the site and located one of their network audiologists (the only one in my area at the time) and made an appointment for May 22, 2008.

I underwent a series of hearing tests, spoke at length with the Doctor (I'll refer to him as Dr. X) and a representative of Neuromonics (Ms. Y) and decided, because I was so desperate, to go ahead with their program. It is costly ($4,600.00) but I felt that if it worked, it would be worth every penny, and if it was successful I know I would have become one of their biggest proponents. (The Oasis comes with a 30-day money back trial, but the program is 6 to 8 months; they did, however, provide a credit for the Oasis device within the 30-day period when I returned it.)

During this initial evaluation I had taken the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ) that many tinnitus sufferers are familiar with and scored a 72, which according to many sources is reaching the crisis level. I also explained that my tinnitus (I experience a high-pitched ringing) was much worse in my right ear, I had some ringing in the left but it wasn't nearly as bad.)

I asked many questions and signed an agreement.

It is important to mention that at no time was I asked to sign any kind of waiver, there were no indications of negative or questionable side effects or anything that would have alerted me to the fact that there was any risk involved with using the Oasis. Had there been even the slightest indication of risk I would have asked many more questions, and if their answers were insufficient, I would not have continued.

According to what Dr. X* and Ms. Y and the Neuromonics' literature indicated, was that, "The pocket-sized device emits a high-frequency (up to 12,500 Hz) acoustic stimulus that's customized and spectrally modified based on a patient's individual hearing profile. In the first phase of treatment, which typically lasts for 2 months, an embedded neural stimulus (akin to the sound of a shower) is added to relaxing music, which covers up the tinnitus completely so patients get immediate relief from the constant ringing noises. Patients are told to wear the device for 2 to 4 hours a day, during the time when their tinnitus is most bothersome." (Quote from Teri Sinopoli, Neuromonics director of clinical services.)

Starting on Friday May 23, 2008, I began using the device exactly as directed.

(The Oasis device is user-friendly, similar to an Ipod, but the very expensive headsets they provided were neither all that comfortable nor discrete, but I was able to use it in my office while working on the computer. The Oasis records times of use and volumes while you listen to the four music tracks which they said had been selected based on research and selecting the appropriate type music. The use times/volumes are downloadable to a graph for later review by the audiologist. I personally found the music to be distracting, certainly not the kind I would normally listen to; the tracks contained a lot of higher frequency instruments, violins, flutes, etc. I found only one track, number 4, the most comfortable to listen to.)

Dr. X** and Ms. Y did mention that there could be a residual effect of the perception of increased tinnitus when the device is taken off; the difference between hearing a constant stream of music/noise and then being in a quieter environment, but that this was expected, temporary, and normal for the process.

Seven days later, on Friday May 30, 2008, I called Dr. X to tell him my tinnitus was getting worse. He convinced me that it was part of the adapting process and that even people with regular hearing aids have an adjustment period. I continued to use the Oasis as directed by Dr. X, Ms. Y and the Neuromonics literature.

(I had been taking a sleep aid for quite some time, but prior to starting with the Oasis device had been able to take a minimal amount and even skip nights. The problem had been that if I woke up during the night, the distraction of the tinnitus would prevent me from getting back to sleep. Since starting on May 23, 2008, I had increased my dependence on sleep aids to a higher level than ever before.)

On Monday June 2, 2008 when I woke up, I could barely hear out of my left ear. I know some people experience different types of sounds, but mine had always been high-pitched ringing. Now, in addition to not being able to hear much of anything in my left ear, there was also a very loud rushing sound (as if riding a motorcycle without a helmet or sticking your head out of an open car window while driving on the highway). I couldn't even use the phone with my left ear. The ringing had also intensified in my left ear and had also increased in the right.

I called Dr. X and left a message. His assistant called back and said that Dr. X said the Oasis should not cause that problem and that I should keep using it. However, Dr. X agreed to see me first thing the next morning.

I continued using the Oasis after lunch but the rushing sound got so bad I stopped using it for that day.

Tuesday June 3, 2008 before work I saw Dr. X and had additional hearing tests. He seemed very alarmed at the hearing loss and suggested I see my original ENT specialist. It would normally take a few months to make an appointment but I was able to see the ENT specialists that afternoon. More testing and nothing physiologically was suspected of causing this increase in my tinnitus and hearing loss.

Wednesday June 4, 2008: Dr. X still encouraged me to continue using the Oasis. However, I didn't use it and now had to wear ear plugs while driving because now even road and tire noise was uncomfortable. The rushing sound had decreased a bit but the ringing was still there and severe.

Thursday June 5, 2008: That evening I met with Dr. X and we had a long conference call with Ms. Y. We discussed everything again. They still tried to convince me that what I was experiencing was normal and acceptable. I asked again about research studies and whether there had been any indication that some people in the early treatment had adverse effects. Ms. Y said that they haven't tested or studied for that, only the positive results of the treatment.

I had to wear ear plugs driving home from Dr. X's office but decided to try the Oasis once more for just one hour that evening. I did, and the rushing sound and tinnitus increased. I stopped using the Oasis at that point altogether and had to take extra sleep aids to at least sleep through the night.

CONCLUSION and WARNING

My tinnitus is worse now than it was when I started using the Oasis on May 23, 2008. The rushing sound in my left ear dissipated considerably, but any sustained noise (even at a low and comfortable level, for instance, during a long telephone conversation), the rushing sound ramps up very quickly again and limits my normal hearing. The ringing that was not a problem in my left ear is almost as bad as my right ear had been originally, and the ringing in my right ear is nearly double what it used to be.

My tinnitus is worse now than it ever was and so far there's no indication that it will improve or subside.

This is offered as a word of caution for tinnitus sufferers considering using the Neuromonics Oasis. This is a new device and there have not been sufficient studies (or any really outside their own network) by reputable independent or government agencies or universities. References on the Internet indicate only positive results (all references seem just to repeat the Neuromonics claims.)

* It was evident that Dr. X wasn't all that familiar with the process himself, apparently having only recently attended a training session on the device and having to call Ms. & several times to ask for guidance with the process and the equipment he was using. During one meeting he actually handed me the training manual he had received from Neuromonics and stated, "Here, you can read this just as well as I can."

** "Audiologist urged to get training." "Despite progress on the treatment front, there is a dearth of audiologists who have taken specialized training in this area and who atively seek out patients with tinnitus. David P. Fagerlie, cEO of the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), estimates that only about 10% of audiologists in the U.S. are trained appropriately to treat people with tinnitus. There are many reasons why more audiologists aren't caring for patients with tinnitus, including inadequate reimbursement and a lack of confidence that they can actually help such individuals. But, says Fagerlie, there are significant opportunities for audiologists and other hearing care professionals to expand their practices in this area." (The Hearing Journal, January 2008, Vol. 61 No 1, p21)

(In other words, there's a lot of money to be made pandering to those who suffer from tinnitus. A question to ask, one which I didn't, however, is exactly how much training the Audiologist received from Neuromonics before he began marketing and selling it to tinnitus sufferers. My guess is that it was probably one day, or perhaps a half-day training session.)

MY TINNITUS HISTORY

My tinnitus (high-pitched ringing) began in the 1990's but was never a problem. I was aware of it but it was mild enough that it wasn't distracting and didn't interfere with normal activities, but I would avoid noisy environments. I did have some hearing loss but it was minimal and didn't interfere with normal conversational speech. In a post-retirement career, I began flying a corporate jet (Learjet 35A). The cockpit noise environment in this aircraft is extremely loud and it didn't take long before my tinnitus increased quickly to the point where it became so loud and distracting that it was interfering with just about everything; daily activities, extreme sensitivity to noise of any kind, and difficulty sleeping without sleep aids.

I stopped flying the Learjet but the tinnitus had reached a level that any additional noise exposure increased the ringing and made it worse.

I begin seeking some help and probably tried every type of remedy available; all sorts of over-the-counter and Internet-advertised concoctions that ultimately offered no relief but usually had some side effects (indigestion, etc.) Looking back, and perhaps hoping for some positive results, these were no more than "snake oil" remedies. More likely than not, just playing on the misery of the tinnitus sufferers.

I sought professional care as well, being examined by one of the most widely respected ENT specialists in the area and went through the entire battery of tests (MRI, etc.) to ensure that the tinnitus wasn't being caused by physiological problems.

I also tried all the other devices, hearing aids (some people have their tinnitus lessened with hearing aids), maskers, noise generators, prescription drugs, etc. Nothing worked. The tinnitus got worse over time.

In the end it came down to garden-variety nerve damage that had the expected results of increasing discomfort and disruption of normal activities. Doctors essentially were telling me to ignore it, or just deal with it.

As bad as my tinnitus was before, thanks to the Neuromonics Oasis, it is now twice as bad as it ever had been, and so far there's no indication that it will subside. The Oasis device and its literature, and the professional guidance I received from Dr. X and Ms. Y has made a bad situation a lot worse.

Unfortunately, only those who suffer from tinnitus can share and understand how debilitating this condition can be.

Please see the Tinnitus: Neuromonics Oasis Blog if you care to make any comments.

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