Assessment of a novel sound-based treatment for managing distress related to tinnitus

Tinnitus is when an auditory percept is experienced in the absence of any external corresponding auditory stimuli (Hullfish et al., 2019). This study will look at the use of a sound-based passive treatment to reducing stress and annoyance caused by tinnitus, to ultimately contribute to an increase in the quality-of-life and reduction in the accompanying symptoms. The delivery of this treatment will be through an app called “VIBE” which uses auditory beat stimulation (ABS) and an auditory music recommendation system as a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique to increase parasympathetic activation and sympathetic withdrawal. Utilizing the theoretical grounding of the iso principle, we aim to achieve mood induction by first meeting the user of their current mood state and gradually change the music in the direction of the participants desired mood state (Heiderscheit & Madson, 2015).

Faculty Supervisor:

Brandon Paul;Frank Russo

Student:

Partner:

Sonova Canada Inc.;LUCID

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Manufacturing; Retail trade

University:

Toronto Metropolitan University

Program: