"Tinnitus sufferers in Montreal will benefit from Dr. Sommer’s tinnitus services," said Dr. Dennis Woo, vice president of SVD. "Research has shown that tinnitus has many psychological ramifications. Dr. Sommer’s twenty-five year expertise in psychology will provide sufferers with a comprehensive tinnitus management solution."

Often neglected by health care professionals – and even by the sufferers themselves – Tinnitus is a global problem affecting 18% of the world’s population. They perceive a subjective sound such as ringing or buzzing in the ears without an outside source for the noise. Until recently, tinnitus has been a poorly understood condition that knows no cure. Almost all tinnitus sufferers are told to "learn to live with it". Without professional help, tinnitus affects quality of life. Moreover, overlooked psychological factors often play an important role in the adjustment to tinnitus. Studies show that the acceptance of tinnitus and beliefs about symptom control and manageability can help tinnitus sufferers. Interventions that increase perceived control over tinnitus symptoms may be crucial to improving a patient’s quality of life. Quiescence is the only device for measuring and treating tinnitus.

Being a tinnitus sufferer himself, Dr. Sommer was told to just "put up with it" and he understands how debilitating tinnitus is. For professional and personal reasons, Dr. Sommer is active in new studies and research on tinnitus. He has also personally tried and evaluated many tinnitus treatments available in the market. Only Quiescence has brought him silence, albeit temporarily. Quiescence is so effective that Dr. Sommer is offering it as part of his tinnitus management service.

"I’ve had tinnitus since 1999," said Dr. Sommer, "and I have been on the lookout for promising treatments. These include herbal medicines, relaxation audio and masking noise on CDs and tapes. Only Quiescence works instantly for me. My high pitch tone disappears almost immediately for varying lengths of time."

"Measurement of tinnitus is valuable to tinnitus patients," said Dr. Sommer. "For once, patients can be given a measure of their tinnitus, which increases their understanding of this auditory phenomenon. As if they felt now that we can measure it, we can do something about it."

"Patients need to be informed about their conditions. This will give them a sense of control," said Dr. Woo. "Dr. Sommer will use Quiescence to help patients rationalize their tinnitus according to their unique needs."

"Along with Quiescence, we will also use a different, but complementary treatment called Auditory Discrimination Training, an approach for long term tinnitus reduction. In addition, we will provide Cognitive Therapy to work out issues around the personal implications of tinnitus" said Dr. Sommer.

"Tinnitus is like fingerprint. No two tinnitus sufferers’ experiences are identical. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment for tinnitus. Based on my experience, the best approach is based on a personalized tinnitus management solution," said Dr. Sommer.

SVD Inc is a software company in New Brunswick, Canada, specializing in advanced signal processing technologies for engineering and medical industries. Quiescence is a trademark of SVD Inc.

By Dennis Woo, Ph.D., P.Eng.