An Ohio University startup is developing a medical device it hopes will represent a breakthrough in treating patients suffering from tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing in the ears. Sanuthera’s device involves wireless ear buds connected to an MP3 player that can be customized to a patient’s preference to play a number of sounds aimed at masking the ringing in the patient’s ears. Along with therapy, the tinnitus-masking device could help retrain patients to avoid focusing on the ringing in their ears, essentially “habituating” them away from tinnitus, according to Sanuthera CEO Jeff DiGiovanni, an OU associate professor of hearing, speech and language sciences.
