Method and apparatus for treatment of monofrequency tinnitus utilizing sound wave cancellation techniques

Apparatus for treating monofrequency, pure tone tinnitus patients comprising:

• sound generator means for generating pure tone wave forms having selectively variable frequencies and amplitudes,
• acoustic headset means for coupling the output of said sound generator means to be heard by said patient to enable the patient to subjectively match the frequency and amplitude of the output of said sound generator means to said patient's tinnitus tone,
• phase shift means for selectively shifting the phase of said generated tone relative to a selected reference point to bring the generated tone into a reciprocal, canceling relationship with the patient's tinnitus tone, and
• means for selectively coupling said phase shifted generated tone to said acoustic means for application to the tinnitus patient.

A method of medically treating a monofrequency tinnitus patient comprising the steps of:

• having the tinnitus patient adjust the output tone of an external sound generator to subjectively sound-type the patient's tinnitus tone in terms of frequency and loudness,
• applying the external sound generated tone to said patient through a headset,
• phase shifting the generated tone relative to a preselected reference point through a 180 degrees whereby said generated tone is shifted into a reciprocal, phase canceling relationship with the patient's tinnitus tone, and
• applying said phase shifted generated tone to the patient for a predetermined time period.

Improved apparatus for medically treating monofrequency tinnitus patients comprising:

• a first sound generator having adjustable frequency and amplitude controls for generating an output tone having a first predetermined frequency and amplitude,
• a second sound generator having adjustable frequency and amplitude controls for generating a second output tone having a second predetermined frequency and amplitude,
• a dual trace oscilloscope for displaying the output wave forms of said first and said second sound generators and for selectively algebraically summing the output wave forms of said first and said second sound generators,
• a phase shift network for selectively shifting the phase of the output wave form of one of said sound generators relative to a predetermined point to achieve a 180 degree phase shift relative to the output wave form of the other of said sound generators, and
• acoustic headphones for coupling the output of said phase shift network to the auditory system of said patient to be treated.

An improved process for medically treating a monofrequency tinnitus patient comprising the steps of:

• having said tinnitus patient sound-type his/her tinnitus tone by subjectively comparing an output wave form of a sound generator with the patient's tinnitus tone,
• externally generating a second tone equal in frequency and amplitude to said patient's tinnitus tone,
• displaying on a dual trace oscilloscope wave forms corresponding to said patient's tinnitus tone and said second generated tone to achieve an algebraic summing and cancellation of said two displayed wave forms when they are in a reciprocal out of phase relationship,
• shifting the phase relationship of an output wave form of said externally generated second tone relative to a predetermined point by 180 degrees to bring said externally generated tone into a phase shifted reciprocal, canceling relationship with said displayed patient's tinnitus tone, and
• applying said phase shifted generated tone to said patient's auditory system to effect a phase shift, reciprocal canceling relationship between said phase shifted generated tone and said patient's tinnitus tone to diminish or eliminate the tinnitus tone perception by said patient.