Ripoff, Snake Oil: iPhone App Lets Tinnitus Sufferers Self-Treat Ringing-in-the-Ears

Discussion in 'Alternative Treatments and Research' started by erik, Jun 19, 2012.

  1. Busy
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    erik Manager

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    erik, Jun 19, 2012
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    Karen Honorary Member

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    This is exciting news --- if it works! I don't have an I-Phone myself; is anyone out there considering trying this app? It sounds a lot like other sound therapy that is out there, or in development, right now. Will be interested to hear more about it.
    Karen, Jun 19, 2012
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    erik Manager

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    I'm gonna try today.
    erik, Jun 19, 2012
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    Karen Honorary Member

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    Super! Will be interested to hear about your progress.
    Karen, Jun 19, 2012
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  5. Anthony Kelly Member

    "I'm skeptical but here it is...."

    Yep Erik there is a whole lot to be skeptical about out there.

    However, on the hopeful side, headsets for pilots have long used "noise cancelling" microphones. This relies one the 180 degrees out of phase technology that appears to be utilized here.

    May well work. We will see when people have tried it out. Meanwhile... fingers crossed and keep up the skepticism.

    Can't wait to see some feedback from users.

    Tony
    Anthony Kelly, Jun 20, 2012
    #5

  6. rogi Member

    Tinnitus Since:
    2009
    Discovered this app yesterday and bought it. The app says you only need to use it for 3 days (unless you need more).
    The thing that's really crap about this app is that (for me) it takes ages to match my T. The app will let you match it 6 times so it is more accurate. The problem is that my T is a pretty high hiss and you can't just switch between frequencies. The app will play a sine tone from low frequency to high and you just have to press stop when you think it's the right frequency. So if you're T is within a high frequency range you'll have to wait very long for 6 times.
    This procedure needs to be done every time you start this application.

    Besides the frustration i got from this matching procedure i hope it will help reducing my T as i will try using it.
    Will post my review after some more days of using it.
    rogi, Jun 20, 2012
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    DezDog Manager

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    Someone help me out here. Noise-cancelling headsets as used on planes etc, work because they flip the incoming soundwave in *real time*; a microphone records the sound, flips it and plays it to you. The cancellation occurs because you hear both the original signal and the processed signal; as the original wave peaks, the reversed wave troughs, and you get a zero-sum result.

    If I'm correct about this, then from where is the noise cancelling apparatus taking the input signal that it needs to reverse? Tinnitus is (normally?) produced entirely by the mind. There is no way for this device to take that signal, convert it to a waveform and then reverse it. Not in an iPhone app anyway.

    What they *could* be doing is producing notched music/noise, but you'd think they'd be up-front about that.

    They talk about peer reviews, but my bullsh*t detectors are flashing louder and harder than my T.

    If you read this, and you are part of any organisation that seeks to take advantage of people's desperation,
    then F*** YOU.

    I hope I'm wrong and have to apologise.
    DezDog, Jun 20, 2012
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    calin Honorary Member

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    calin, Jun 20, 2012
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    calin Honorary Member

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    I have an android, so I will wait for your reports!
    calin, Jun 20, 2012
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    Markku Head Honcho

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    Don't bother.

    The claims presented on both PhaseOut's website and also on Padden-Choy's site TinnitusPhase-out.com are ridiculous.

    Thing is... when ANYONE stumbles upon a treatment for tinnitus that has a REAL success rate EVEN HALF OF what PhaseOut suggests, it's WORLD WIDE NEWS.

    Makes me mad, this.

    The only positive is that it's only $10, but please, don't spend it on this, go and buy a steak or something instead.
    Jim tested an iPhone app sort of this some time back, it was like $50 and even with that money you didn't get to own the software, if you kept using it, you had to continue paying more and more... If I recall correctly...
    Markku, Jun 20, 2012
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    Markku Head Honcho

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    It's really not like the Padden-Choy's treatment could have been (almost) eliminating tinnitus for several years - without it hitting any credible news / research / tinnitus journals / word of mouth etc.

    It's too bad these shady tinnitus treatments are making considerable bucks to certain people, thanks to tinnitus being such an evil condition that many resort to trying things like just this and countless others.

    Hundred desperate tinnitus sufferers buy this, it's $700 (after Apple's cut) to the developer's pockets.

    Easy money lures many.
    Markku, Jun 20, 2012
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    erik Manager

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    Markku is right! I tried this for past 2 days now and all it has done is created a spike in my T -yikes. It is very tedious to set up takes about 25 minutes, then you have to listen to it at 50% volume for 30 minutes and that is way too loud. I couldn't do it at that level it would've cause me hearing damage. The highest volume I could do and stand with the high tones was the first tick on the volume of my iphone. That was plenty loud enough and still caused spikes. Not sure how others responded but not good for me.
    erik, Jun 21, 2012
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    DezDog Manager

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    Erik,

    please make sure you leave feedback at the app store. If you can be bothered, complain and try to get your money back.

    Sorry to hear about the spike, I hope that recedes.

    DD
    DezDog, Jun 22, 2012
    #13

  14. exodus Member

    Tinnitus Since:
    05/2008
    hi there
    i ve bought the app and installed it on my nephew iphone 3,the app is crashing and not working,do you know how to proceed to complain and get refund?
    thanks
    exodus, Jun 22, 2012
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    DezDog Manager

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    Hi exodus,

    I'm afraid I've never had to complain or ask for a refund. Here is what Google tells me after a quick search:

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3975735?start=0&tstart=0

    You can try try the 'report a problem' link from your purchase history : log into your account on your computer's iTunes via Store > View My Account and you should then see a Purchase History section with a 'see all' link to the right of it ; click on that and you should see a list of your purchases ; find that app and use the 'Report a Problem' button and you should then be able to click on 'report a problem' link to the right of the app.



    I hope this helps
    DD
    DezDog, Jun 22, 2012
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  16. exodus Member

    Tinnitus Since:
    05/2008
    thanks dezdog

    i ll ask him to do it
    exodus, Jun 22, 2012
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    calin Honorary Member

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    so sorry erick!

    Us guinea pigs have to take the good with the bad! Appreciate that you threw yourself to the wolves for us!
    calin, Jun 23, 2012
    #17

  18. exodus Member

    Tinnitus Since:
    05/2008
    hi guys

    anyone have tried it for longer period?

    any feedback?
    exodus, Aug 18, 2012
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    jazz Honorary Member

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    8/2012
    Hi everyone,

    While tinnitus remains incurable, there are many treatments that promise to lessen its symptoms. As a minor distributor of tinnitus treatments, the Internet has several apps and a few websites that utilize sound therapy. To date, I've tried several apps--all of which worsened (temporarily) my tinnitus. As such, I've been reluctant to post any information. Recently, I found a university study that includes among his authors--the famous Dr. De Ridder. For De Ridder to be included obviously gives the study more credence. But credence doesn't equate with therapeutic--at least, not on the individual level. Still, the app might be worth a try for ten bucks. Please note the reviews on the iTunes site are not promising!

    Here's the link to the study:
    http://www.tinnituscare.net/pdf/Antwerp_Study.pdf

    Here's the link to the app:
    http://phaseoutapp.com/

    (I hope I'm not doing any wrong in posting this. I have NO financial interest in the app. No interest in anything. I'm just passing on what might be useful information.)
    jazz, Jan 23, 2013
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    Markku, Jan 23, 2013
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    jazz Honorary Member

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    Yikes! I should've done a search on the board first!! Sorry for posting the bad information!!!
    jazz, Jan 23, 2013
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    Markku Head Honcho

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    No worries at all, jazz. I'd like everyone to post new threads about interesting stuff they find. If it's been discussed before, threads can be merged, moved, etc, so there's no harm at all.

    There have been (not sure of the current situation) several apps on the App Store that promise relief and the copy makes it sound like one would be stupid not to test the app out. Clever marketing...

    Some of those are based on the principle "residual inhibition", which doesn't work for everyone, and for those that it works is usually only for few seconds, minutes max.

    Anyway, thanks for posting, it's always nice that people keep an eye on the latest. :)
    Markku, Jan 23, 2013
    #22

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