MuteButton

I will most likely purchase this device. I think I read somewhere that it has helped 6 or 7 out of 10 people in their trials. To me, even a 10% chance is worth it. Here is what they told me when I asked when there product would be available:

Dear Brian

We would like to thank you for your recent correspondence and for continuing to follow the development of mutebutton. We continue to build the clinical case for our technology through on-going treatment studies and encourage those interested in participation to register on our website. We are pleased to announce that results from our most recent treatment study have been very encouraging and that we hope to launch the mutebutton product in Europe next year, and hopefully in the US in due course. Costs have not been confirm to date, but I anticipate that it will be in or around the cost of a top end private hearing aid.

Please continue to visit our website mutebutton is an innovative new tinnitus treatment that simultaneously presents sound to the senses of hearing and touch. for updates on the exact launch date and availability of the mutebutton product.


If you have any questions about mutebutton that aren’t addressed by our website, please email info@mutebutton.ie or leave a voice-message on our enquiry line at +353(0)1 7163640.

With best wishes,

Caroline Hamilton

Caroline Hamilton - Clinical Manager
Neuromod Devices
mob: +353 (0)87 7604415
mail: caroline.hamilton@neuromoddevices.com
web: Home | NMD neuromod devices / mutebutton is an innovative new tinnitus treatment that simultaneously presents sound to the senses of hearing and touch.

 

I have completely put this away as a possibility, but can't remember why.

I wish ResonanceCEO would come back, he's been gone for weeks :-/

 

Well if you can't remember why you put it away as a possibility, then maybe it wasn't a good enough reason

If it's the cost of a high-end hearing aid, I'll definitely give it a shot. Cheaper experiment than many others out there and even a little chance at any reduction sounds good to me! woo hoo!

 

well what would that price be? up to 5000 ? I thinnk it is way too much ... for a device that uses electricity and sound recordings. but hey, i`m desperate and they know it ...

 

aren't you originally from the netherlands? If not, I don't know why I thought so, but if you are, then your health care would pay for it if it really helped and could cure Tinnitus.

 

I`m from Belgium, so we have the same type of healthcare ... but it has to be recognized by the government first. So it really has to help, and we don`t know yet. I`m living in Australia at the mometn but wll move back in April so i`ll find out.

 

Yes of course health care only pays for it if it is proven to work. but I guess we also wouldn't pay 5000 for something that doesn't work. so unless health care doesn't pay for it we most certainly know that it can't cure/help us.

 

so then..no other people on the clinical trial..just the fella on the other board on whom it had zero impact? why is it that for every treatment I hear of a "70% success rate" but have yet to actually hear of ONE person who has said a particular treatment eliminated their T. Sorry to be a downer on things but am I missing something here?

 

I paid 3000 for my zen to go hearingad,and I dont think Health care would pay for a new coming device even if it worked.They are slow.Perhabs ask the founder,his daughter complained from tinnitus from a hearinglos.
Its a mistery until we know for sure.Make an extre wire from the headphone and put it to a metal toothbrush.

 

Hi all,

I made an email enquiry to the company about this a few days ago. I asked about launch date, whether the treatment requires tinnitus frequency matching as the ANM device does (since that has been a problem for me and others and I remembered something on the MB website about "tuning" the device), and also about whether there were any links I could follow up on the efficacy of the treatment in trials.

I got a reply next day from Caroline Hamilton who is a Clinical Manager/Audiologist. Launch should be around June this year in Ireland and the UK. They have apparently not published the results of the 2012 trials on their website because they hope to publish a paper about them. When this may come out is unclear. Results from the trials were apparently "very positive overall" and improvements began to be seen after 4 weeks.

Concerning whether frequency matching is necessary to the success of the treatment, Caroline was slightly evasive (and perhaps a touch patronising):

"The device will be available through leading audiologists who will carry out a range of tests and matching. I understand the difficultly some patients have in matching their tinnitus, particularly if they have tinnitus in both ears or a few different sounds. Please dont let that concern you."

I replied politely attempting to press her for a clearer answer (since the matter does concern me - and probably other people who have struggled to match their frequency reliably). But I have heard nothing back after a couple of days, so I guess she does not wish to clarify that point at this stage.

Not sure if the vagueness is something to do with protecting intellectual property prior to the launch. I'm sure I'm not alone in the desire for some real info to get my teeth into about this treatment, instead of just the vague hope that maybe it will be the one to really make a difference. To echo Shambles above, I remember a year or two ago being very excited about the ANM claims of 70% effectiveness, but the reality of that treatment has left a lot of folks feeling a bit flat (not to underplay the benefits to those lucky few who have been helped by it of course.).

Dave.

 

I think i will try this one. What made me really interested is that the sound they produce on there website video as T actually made me aware that this is the same sound I hear. I always thought it was a continues noise but it is more like a fast moving sound wave - like they show in that video. And my frequency is similar. Biggest problem is placing your bets on one product spending alot of money and than not having enough left to go for another one if you didn`t find relieve.. Health system should be like it used to be in old China. The doctor was paid when people were healthy. If they were sick you did n`t pay the doctor until he got you better. So these devices should be paid if they work, if not return to sender and thank you!

 

Lets pray for this to be effective, my sound is also hard to pinpoint describe but maybe milder high tone than mutebutton shows..

 

OK, got a reply from Caroline at MuteButton:

"No problem at all, happy to answer any questions. Treatment does depend on frequency matching but as a professional audiologist I would advise you 'not to be concerned about the matching/testing', as most professional audiologists specialising in tinnitus should be able to overcome these issues as they arise."

 

Here is the latest from Mute Button:

Dear Brian

We are due to publish results this year, so for that reason we cannot disclose results but I can tell you that we saw an overall 40-50% reduction in tinnitus over a 10 week period and our results were statistically significant.

I cannot see any reason why you couldn't purchase it in UK or Ireland through a professional audiologist of tinnitus clinic.

Rgds
Caroline
Caroline Hamilton - Clinical Manager / Audiologist
Neuromod Devices
tel: 0877604415 / 01 7163640
mail: caroline.hamilton@neuromoddevices.com
web: www.neuromoddevices.com/ www.mutebutton.ie

P.S. In a previous email, Caroline said that the device will be on the market this June/July!

 

thanks for the info, wonder how much reduction after one year? and what about people living in other countries, is it enough to go to ireland for 1 day and get it and then start at home or do you need constant feedback in an office? ...

 

A 40-50% reduction sounds nice, but the cynic inside me wonders what that really means. Sound pressure levels are usually measured in decibels which is a logarithmic scale, whereas %age is a linear scale. My guess is that the %age is based on subjective assessments which may be difficult to rely on (placebo effect, etc.). Hard to know without published results.

I seem to remember something about an 11db reduction in minimum masking levels in the radio interview with the Mute Button main man some time back. The interview is online somewhere but I don't have time to look for it now.

I replied to Caroline this morning making my best case for getting more genuinely useful information out there about MB. The reply I got back leads me to think that Caroline really believes in the treatment and cares about the experience of tinnitus sufferers. She certainly came across as very genuine. But I don't know how well this will translate into the company putting real information into the public domain that is not requested in specific email questions (a rather limited format).

 

If we need to go to Ireland, I go together with you..
I wonder my T is from a perforated eardrum light concussion on head, will this device help me?

I think it is to good to be true.........

 

Nills & Robb - I'd advise emailing Caroline Hamilton at info@neuromoddevices.com to get some feedback on your questions. After my initial skepticism I think she came through with a clear answer and she seemed open to further questions and keen to help.

 

Anyone heard of the mute button ? It is another device that is aimed at hearing loss related tinnitus. The company claims that the device, when used for 20 mins a day, targets cortical and brain stem structures implicated in the perception of tinnitus. It uses neuromodulation to manipulate interactions between the auditory and somatosensory modalities to alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus.

here is the link ...

www.mutebutton.ie

let me know what you think?

 

haha

that was derr of me..

sorry guys...didn't realise it had been posted

 

Looks like Bradley Cooper has tinnitus hehe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Cooper

Well, that was my useless post of the day ompus:

 

it was useless.
I didn't know who he was till I googled it.
distracted me for a few mins

 

@James White you can post pictures of Bradley Cooper whenever you want! I think I've been in love with him since Alias!

 

ok people lets stick to the topic..

 

If it works let me know.

 

Sure thing!

 

Tinnitus Awareness Week, February 3-9th 2014



Greetings,


As a fellow tinnitus stakeholder, I thought it was important to write to you and remind you that this week is 'Tinnitus Awareness Week' (Feb 3-9th, 2014).


The Irish Tinnitus Association (ITA), in conjunction with the British Tinnitus Association (BTA), will be raising awareness of Tinnitus throughout this week. The aim of the ITA and BTA is to be a focal point for giving support and assistance to those who suffer from the condition.


Neuromod Devices Limited was delighted to support the British Society of Audiology (BSA) and the British Association of Audiology (BAA) events this year, where we unveiled mutebuttonTM, the world's first multi-sensory tinnitus treatment.


We have been inundated with enquiries about mutebuttonTM and would like to thank you for your interest. We fully understand how eager people are to know more about the progress to date. Let me reassure you that we are working hard towards making our unique treatment available and hope to launch mutebuttonTM in Q3 2014. We promise that you will be the first to know of its availability.



In the meantime, we enclose a list of responses to the most frequently asked questions that we receive.



Please keep in touch with us for further updates about mutebuttonTM.



Best wishes,





Dr. Ross O'Neill

Managing Director – Neuromod Devices Ltd.Frequently Asked Questions




What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a common condition in which people experience a sound or noise which does not have a

legitimate external source.

One in ten adults in Europe and in the USA has significant prolonged tinnitus, which is reported to

have a severe effect on their quality of life as well as that of their families.

Tinnitus is known to occur as a concomitant of almost all the dysfunctions that involve the human

auditory system but is most often associated with a sensory-neural or congenital hearing loss.

Common risk factors include administration of certain medications, middle ear disease,

abnormalities in the vascular system, and ear surgery.

Tinnitus is broadly categorised into ‘subjective’ and ‘objective’ tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus is

described as a sound or noise that has no external source and is audible only by the patient.

Objective tinnitus, although quite rare, is an audible noise that emanates from the ear and is often

measurable audiologically. Studies have shown that subjective tinnitus is most often associated with

a high-frequency (noise or age-related) hearing loss.



Treatment available for tinnitus?

Due to the subjective nature of this disorder and general lack of understanding of the underlying

pathophysiology, treatment of tinnitus has been limited, controversial, and quite often unsuccessful.

Currently both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments are used for managing tinnitus.

The range from different forms of Sound Therapy (hearing aids & maskers); Tinnitus Retraining

Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Neuro-feedback, and various forms of Electrical

Stimulation. These therapies tend to provide symptomatic relief for a lot individuals, but for others

they tend not to be overly effective in eliminating tinnitus.



How does the mutebutton treatment work?

The mutebuttonTM device streams audio through headphones or wireless (Bluetooth/ 2.4GHz)

hearing aids while simultaneously stimulating touch receptors in the tongue. Multisensory stimuli

have been shown to elicit stronger auditory cortical responses and to promote greater levels of

neural plasticity and conditioning than auditory stimulus alone. It utilizes neural plasticity to reverse

the neuropathologies that occur after hearing-loss and give rise to the symptoms of tinnitus.

MutebuttonTM is a portable device that enables patients to personally manage and self-administer

their 30-minute daily treatment sessions.



What were the results from the clinical Study?

We saw a statistically significant reduction of 40-50% in tinnitus loudness over 10 weeks. 54 patients

were deemed eligible to participate and 51 completed the study. Results from the study will be

available via the mutebuttonTM website (www.mutebutton.ie) once they have been published.

Due to commercial reasons we have not yet published the results from our study. However, results

from other international research groups are beginning to experimentally validate our approach

(Gloeckner et al., 2013).



When is the device due to be launched and will it be launched globally?

The mutebuttonTM device is due to be launched in the UK and Ireland in Q3 2014 and rolled out

across Europe soon after.



How/when will people been informed about the launch?

We will be promoting the launch of mutebuttonTM through our website (www.mutebutton.ie) and by

email through our mailing list (register by email on info@mutebutton.ie) about a month before

launch date.



How will people purchase/avail of the device?

The device will be available through selected clinical practices and through our websites

(www.mutebutton.ie (Ireland) and www.mutebutton.co.uk (UK)).



Can I purchase the device through the UK/Ireland if I live in Spain?

Yes, the device will be available through selected clinical practices and through our websites

(www.mutebutton.ie and www.mutebutton.co.uk).



How long should someone use the device before they see a reduction in their symptoms?

Our clinical studies show that using mutebuttonTM for 60-minute daily treatment session results in a

statistically significant improvement in tinnitus.



I registered for ‘Future studies’ on the website but have not been called, was I not eligible?

We have not yet started to recruit for future studies, but hope to do so in due course. We have

asked people to register their details for future studies and will keep people informed through our

website (www.mutebutton.ie) and by email once confirmed.



When is the next study due to run?

The next study is planned for the second half of 2014.





Why are you only looking at people who have tinnitus and high frequency hearing loss, I have

tinnitus but my hearing is normal?

There is a recognised correlation between ‘high frequency hearing loss’ and neural hyperactivity that

is believed to give rise to tinnitus. mutebuttonTM targets this hyperactivity in order to reverse the

symptoms of tinnitus.



I live in the UK can I apply for the study or do I have to live in Ireland?

Practicalities of the study would mean attending clinics in Ireland periodically and therefore

residence outside of commuting distance of the clinic centres would make participation impractical.





If you are experiencing tinnitus or you have experienced a change in your tinnitus/hearing and have

not had a medical assessment, we would urge you to talk to your GP as you may need to be referred

to an Audiologist or ENT consultant for further investigation.





REFERENCES

Gloeckner, C.D., Smith, B.T., Markovitz, C.D., Lim, H.H., “Synchronized Body and Acoustic

Stimulation Induces Auditory Plasticity: Implications for a New Noninvasive Tinnitus Treatment”

 

I believe the University of Michigan is also working on T treatment using sound generation matched with electrical stimulation of the face and neck, they claim to be working on a device as we speak, kind of like the Mute Button.. it seems.

 

40-50% reduction equals placebo effect/wishful thinking..90% reduction equals real change..