GB2055020A - Tinnitus masking device - Google Patents

Tinnitus masking device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2055020A
GB2055020A GB8024044A GB8024044A GB2055020A GB 2055020 A GB2055020 A GB 2055020A GB 8024044 A GB8024044 A GB 8024044A GB 8024044 A GB8024044 A GB 8024044A GB 2055020 A GB2055020 A GB 2055020A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
hearing aid
sound
signaller
tinnitus
patient
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8024044A
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GB2055020B (en
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Danavox AS
Original Assignee
Danavox AS
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Publication date
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Publication of GB2055020A publication Critical patent/GB2055020A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2055020B publication Critical patent/GB2055020B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/75—Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/556—External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
  • Accommodation For Nursing Or Treatment Tables (AREA)

Abstract

By providing generally known hearing aids to be placed in or behind the ear with an accessory in the form of a signaller (5) mounted in a house which may be attached to the house (1) of the hearing aid and thus establish an electric contact with the amplifier of the hearing aid, the possibility arises of combatting tinnitus at the same time as the patient uses his usual hearing aid. The signal to the amplifier has an equivalent entrance sound pressure level of between 20 to 70 dB SPL and is of such a nature that the tinnitus suffering is combatted in the best way. To be able to adjust the tone and the volume the signaller (5) may be provided with a control (6) which can be operated in the same way as the corresponding control of the hearing aid. The signaller may be easily taken off and put on the hearing aid by the patient according to requirement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tinnitus masking device The invention relates to a hearing aid to be placed inside or next to the ear and comprising a house section with a microphone, an amplifier and a sound supplier conducting the sound through an insertion part adapted to be inserted in the ear, and with a further house section releasably attached to said house section.
Tinnitus is a disease which expresses itself in that the patient hears a sound which does not exist, but which can result from a nerve impulse in the patient's internal ear, said sound being interpreted as noise by the brain. The sound may appear as ringing, whistling, buzzing or as more complicated sounds, which plague the patient.
The disease, which is very widespread, especially hits person between the age of 50 and 60. In serious cases the disease can be so plaguesome that it may be necessary to completely disconnect the hearing by a surgical operation. However, this surgical operation does not in all cases result in the curing of tinnitus despite the loss of hearing.
In many cases of tinnitus the disease is combined with a loss of the hearing to a larger or smaller extent.
One method for relieving the suffering consists in delivering a sound signal from a sound generator into the ear of the patient, said sound drowning or muffling tinnitus. This sound generator can either have the shape of a sound supplier in a cabinet for instance to be placed under the pillow or shaped as a portable apparatus. This method may cure about 1 5-20 per cent of the cases either continuously or temporarily, when the treatment may be repeated.
As mentioned above, tinnitus is often accompanied by reduced hearing the reason why the paitent can use a hearing aid.
It is an object of the invention to improve this equipment to the effect that the hearing aid may also relieve tinnitus. This is obtained according to the invention in that a signaller is further attached to the house section of the hearing aid, said signaller being able to send signals to the amplifier of the hearing aid at an equivalent sound pressure level of between 20 and 70 dB SPL. It is thus possible for the patient to provide his hearing aid with an accessory in the form of a signaller which combined with the sound from the hearing aid brings about a simple and cheap solution to the problem with the highest possible flexibility. Thus, if the patient does not experience a relief from tinnitus, the signalling accessory can be removed from the hearing aid.Also, when it is a matter of a temporary cure, it is possible to utilize various kinds of signallers which are adapted to the individual patient's suffering.
By the adjusting device disclosed in claim 2 the highest possible effect and comfort to the user is obtained, said user being capable of adjusting the signaller according to his wishes.
The invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings, where Fig. 1 is a partly cross-section view of a hearing aid with a signaller Fig. 2 is a side view of the signaller, and Fig. 3 is a top view of the signaller.
As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a generally known hearing aid to be placed behind the ear. The apparatus comprises a house section 1 containing a microphone, an amplifier, a current supply 3 and a sound supplier conducting the sound through an insertion part 2 which can be inserted into the auditory canal of the user. This known hearing aid thus works in the normal way and can be the patient's usual hearing aid.
A signaller 5 is attached to the house section 1 of this apparatus by means of a releasable spring lock connection in a house 7, which, as shown, can be attached to the lower house section of the hearing aid.
The house of the signaller is shown in Fig. 2 and 3. The house 7 is at the upper end in the sides provided with locking means for engagement with the house 1 of the hearing aid. Moreover, there arc seen springy electrical connections which, as shown in Fig. 1, when mounting the signaller provides an electrical contact to the amplifier of the hearing aid. In the shown embodiment it is a question of a central contact and contacts at the upper rear edge.
Furthermore, the signaller is provided with a control button 6, which can be operated by the user or the audiologist in the mounted position.
The signaller 5 is adapted to give an electrical signal which is supplied to the amplifier in the hearing aid and is transmitted as a sound signal together with the usual sound signal from the hearing aid.
The signal supplied by the signaller 5 is of such a nature that having been amplified in the hearing aid it gives the sound best suited for the patient for curing tinnitus. Thus, experience shows that it is appropriate with an equivalent entrance sound pressure level to the amplifier of between 20 and 70 dB SPL. The sound signal may be a variable spectral sound, narrow or broad banded, with a variable intensity and tone. By means of various types of signallers the patient may thus in most cases succeed in finding a sound which suits the purpose. The tone and the intensity can be adjusted by means of the control button.
By means of this equipment there is obtained a hitherto unknown possibility of supplying a means which in connection with the existing hearing aid provides the patient with all the advantages of the hearing aid at the same time as tinnitus is being combatted by means of a small and discrete accessory which is comparatively cheap to manufacture. At the same time, the possibility of setting and adjusting the hearing aid as well as the signaller is maintained, and these become concurrent for achieving the greatest possible comfort and efficiency.
1. Hearing aid to be placed in or next to the ear
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tinnitus masking device The invention relates to a hearing aid to be placed inside or next to the ear and comprising a house section with a microphone, an amplifier and a sound supplier conducting the sound through an insertion part adapted to be inserted in the ear, and with a further house section releasably attached to said house section. Tinnitus is a disease which expresses itself in that the patient hears a sound which does not exist, but which can result from a nerve impulse in the patient's internal ear, said sound being interpreted as noise by the brain. The sound may appear as ringing, whistling, buzzing or as more complicated sounds, which plague the patient. The disease, which is very widespread, especially hits person between the age of 50 and 60. In serious cases the disease can be so plaguesome that it may be necessary to completely disconnect the hearing by a surgical operation. However, this surgical operation does not in all cases result in the curing of tinnitus despite the loss of hearing. In many cases of tinnitus the disease is combined with a loss of the hearing to a larger or smaller extent. One method for relieving the suffering consists in delivering a sound signal from a sound generator into the ear of the patient, said sound drowning or muffling tinnitus. This sound generator can either have the shape of a sound supplier in a cabinet for instance to be placed under the pillow or shaped as a portable apparatus. This method may cure about 1 5-20 per cent of the cases either continuously or temporarily, when the treatment may be repeated. As mentioned above, tinnitus is often accompanied by reduced hearing the reason why the paitent can use a hearing aid. It is an object of the invention to improve this equipment to the effect that the hearing aid may also relieve tinnitus. This is obtained according to the invention in that a signaller is further attached to the house section of the hearing aid, said signaller being able to send signals to the amplifier of the hearing aid at an equivalent sound pressure level of between 20 and 70 dB SPL. It is thus possible for the patient to provide his hearing aid with an accessory in the form of a signaller which combined with the sound from the hearing aid brings about a simple and cheap solution to the problem with the highest possible flexibility. Thus, if the patient does not experience a relief from tinnitus, the signalling accessory can be removed from the hearing aid.Also, when it is a matter of a temporary cure, it is possible to utilize various kinds of signallers which are adapted to the individual patient's suffering. By the adjusting device disclosed in claim 2 the highest possible effect and comfort to the user is obtained, said user being capable of adjusting the signaller according to his wishes. The invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings, where Fig. 1 is a partly cross-section view of a hearing aid with a signaller Fig. 2 is a side view of the signaller, and Fig. 3 is a top view of the signaller. As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a generally known hearing aid to be placed behind the ear. The apparatus comprises a house section 1 containing a microphone, an amplifier, a current supply 3 and a sound supplier conducting the sound through an insertion part 2 which can be inserted into the auditory canal of the user. This known hearing aid thus works in the normal way and can be the patient's usual hearing aid. A signaller 5 is attached to the house section 1 of this apparatus by means of a releasable spring lock connection in a house 7, which, as shown, can be attached to the lower house section of the hearing aid. The house of the signaller is shown in Fig. 2 and 3. The house 7 is at the upper end in the sides provided with locking means for engagement with the house 1 of the hearing aid. Moreover, there arc seen springy electrical connections which, as shown in Fig. 1, when mounting the signaller provides an electrical contact to the amplifier of the hearing aid. In the shown embodiment it is a question of a central contact and contacts at the upper rear edge. Furthermore, the signaller is provided with a control button 6, which can be operated by the user or the audiologist in the mounted position. The signaller 5 is adapted to give an electrical signal which is supplied to the amplifier in the hearing aid and is transmitted as a sound signal together with the usual sound signal from the hearing aid. The signal supplied by the signaller 5 is of such a nature that having been amplified in the hearing aid it gives the sound best suited for the patient for curing tinnitus. Thus, experience shows that it is appropriate with an equivalent entrance sound pressure level to the amplifier of between 20 and 70 dB SPL. The sound signal may be a variable spectral sound, narrow or broad banded, with a variable intensity and tone. By means of various types of signallers the patient may thus in most cases succeed in finding a sound which suits the purpose. The tone and the intensity can be adjusted by means of the control button. By means of this equipment there is obtained a hitherto unknown possibility of supplying a means which in connection with the existing hearing aid provides the patient with all the advantages of the hearing aid at the same time as tinnitus is being combatted by means of a small and discrete accessory which is comparatively cheap to manufacture. At the same time, the possibility of setting and adjusting the hearing aid as well as the signaller is maintained, and these become concurrent for achieving the greatest possible comfort and efficiency. CLAIMS
1. Hearing aid to be placed in or next to the ear and comprising a house section (1) with a microphone, an amplifier and a sound supplier which conducts the sound through an insertion part (2) adapted to be inserted in the ear, and with a further house section (4) releasably attached to said house section (1) characterized in that the house section (4) contains a signaller (5) capable of giving a signal to the amplifier with an equivalent entrance sound pressure level of between 20 and 70 dB SPL.
2. Hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaller (5) in a manner known per se is provided with a volume and/or tone control (6).
3. A tinnitus masking device having its parts constructed, arranged and adapted for use substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. A hearing aid having combined therewith a tinnitus masking device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8024044A 1979-07-26 1980-07-23 Tinnits masking device Expired GB2055020B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK314879A DK147635C (en) 1979-07-26 1979-07-26 TINNITUS TREATMENT APPLIANCE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2055020A true GB2055020A (en) 1981-02-18
GB2055020B GB2055020B (en) 1984-05-10

Family

ID=8119643

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8024044A Expired GB2055020B (en) 1979-07-26 1980-07-23 Tinnits masking device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
CH (1) CH655629B (en)
DE (1) DE3027791A1 (en)
DK (1) DK147635C (en)
GB (1) GB2055020B (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2134689A (en) * 1983-01-26 1984-08-15 Nat Res Dev Tinnitus masking
WO1994009606A1 (en) * 1992-10-16 1994-04-28 Tøpholm & Westermann APS Tinnitus-treatment device
FR2700912A1 (en) * 1993-01-26 1994-07-29 Stromboni Joseph Hearing aid
US5403262A (en) * 1993-03-09 1995-04-04 Microtek Medical, Inc. Minimum energy tinnitus masker
EP0820211A1 (en) * 1996-07-09 1998-01-21 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Programmable hearing aid
WO2000079499A1 (en) * 1999-06-19 2000-12-28 William Munro Groves Paterson Sleep prevention device and tinnitus relief device
WO2001070110A1 (en) * 2000-03-24 2001-09-27 Franz Burkhard K H G Method and apparatus for treating tinnitus

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8815877U1 (en) * 1988-12-22 1989-04-27 Junker, Franz, 76275 Ettlingen Tinnitus masking device
DE3844221A1 (en) * 1988-12-29 1990-07-05 Sonar Design & Hoertechnik Gmb Tinnitus masker
DE4431493A1 (en) * 1994-09-03 1996-03-07 Wolfgang Treutner Noise elimination equipment for ear of patient
DE29508077U1 (en) * 1995-05-16 1995-08-10 Wilden Lutz Dr Med Oral care device
DE102014015492A1 (en) 2014-10-15 2016-04-21 InnoTec21 GmbH Device for determining tinnitus tones and for generating such tones
EP3469815B1 (en) * 2016-06-10 2019-11-20 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Frame for fixation of electronic components in a hearing aid, hearing aid and kit for a hearing aid

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK139250B (en) * 1976-11-19 1979-01-15 Danavox Internat A S Wired connection to a hearing aid.

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2134689A (en) * 1983-01-26 1984-08-15 Nat Res Dev Tinnitus masking
WO1994009606A1 (en) * 1992-10-16 1994-04-28 Tøpholm & Westermann APS Tinnitus-treatment device
FR2700912A1 (en) * 1993-01-26 1994-07-29 Stromboni Joseph Hearing aid
US5403262A (en) * 1993-03-09 1995-04-04 Microtek Medical, Inc. Minimum energy tinnitus masker
EP0820211A1 (en) * 1996-07-09 1998-01-21 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Programmable hearing aid
US6047074A (en) * 1996-07-09 2000-04-04 Zoels; Fred Programmable hearing aid operable in a mode for tinnitus therapy
WO2000079499A1 (en) * 1999-06-19 2000-12-28 William Munro Groves Paterson Sleep prevention device and tinnitus relief device
WO2001070110A1 (en) * 2000-03-24 2001-09-27 Franz Burkhard K H G Method and apparatus for treating tinnitus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK314879A (en) 1981-01-27
DK147635B (en) 1984-10-29
DE3027791C2 (en) 1991-02-14
DE3027791A1 (en) 1981-02-12
GB2055020B (en) 1984-05-10
DK147635C (en) 1985-05-06
CH655629B (en) 1986-04-30

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19940723