Currently there is no uniformly effective treatment to decrease the perception of tinnitus. The number of individuals afflicted with tinnitus in North America exceeds 50 million, with a similar number in Europe. The number that seeks medical treatment in the U.S. is over 13 million. Of those experiencing tinnitus, over 2.7 million have symptoms that severely affects their ability to function and is highly debilitating. It is this group that Silere is targeting with its initial electrical neurostimulation product offerings.
What is the tinnitus condition?
The cochlea is the inner ear organ of hearing. The cochlea is lined by thousands of very small nerve endings. When sound waves cause the fluids in the cochlea to move, it activates the nerve endings. There are many causes of cochlear hearing loss. Chronic tinnitus is caused mainly by hearing loss. Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound in the ears or the head in the absence of external auditory stimulation. The condition is characterized by ringing, crackling and buzzing, whistling, or pulsing sounds. At the present time, there is no uniformly effective treatment for tinnitus.
Co-morbidity factors such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia are commonly reported by those who experience severe tinnitus. Chronic tinnitus can be debilitating, causing severe relationship difficulties, diminished job performance or job loss, and, in some extreme cases, suicide.