Practicing Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physicians have indicated that over 30% of their patients report tinnitus as their primary or secondary complaint. These patients consume clinical time and resources; typically, they do not receive a reduction in their symptoms and are often referred to other clinical practices for palliative treatment. The annual economic burden of tinnitus in the US and EU conservatively exceeds $12.3 BB.
Approximately 15% of the population in the developed world suffers from some form of tinnitus, and 1% of the total population is chronically affected. This severely affected population often complains of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and in some cases the option of suicide is considered, even acted upon. There currently are no effective treatments which suppress tinnitus. The number of individuals afflicted with tinnitus include over 3.1 million in the U.S. alone whose highly debilitating symptoms severely affect their ability to function. These are the patients that Silere Medical will strive to serve with its initial electrical neurostimulation product offering.
The Veterans Administration compensates over 400,000 veterans from all wars for their tinnitus, including 70,000 veterans from the war on terror. (Hyperlink to AP article). The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) estimates that disability payments to veterans for tinnitus will exceed $2.26 billion by 2014, if the current trend and rate of accrual continues.
Current research into the potential benefits of electrical stimulation for the treatment of tinnitus suggests that about 60% of severely afflicted subjects would gain relief.
Products described are for investigational use only, and not approved by the FDA. The information provided is for general information purposes only.