title: An evaluation of the Reltus ear massager for short-term tinnitus relief.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Auditory stimulation has been shown to suppress the loudness of tinnitus (residual inhibition, RI). Somatosensory manipulations have also been shown to sometimes decrease tinnitus perception. An 'ear-massaging' device, the 'Reltus' ( www.reltus.com ), has been marketed as a tinnitus treatment device. This study was undertaken to evaluate its short-term effectiveness and mode of effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research was undertaken in two phases. Phase 1 measured the change in tinnitus perception after one minute of auditory stimulation through headphones and after application of a vibrating device to four different stimulation points around the pinna for one minute each. Phase 2 evaluated if it was the vibrations that were responsible for the effect on tinnitus perception, or sound produced by the vibrator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three participants completed phase 1 and 10 participants participated in the second phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RI to auditory stimulation was found in 87% of participants and to tactile stimulation in 83%. No significant differences were found in the effectiveness between the four vibration stimulation points, or between the left and right ear of the participants. The Reltus produced a sound that resulted in RI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is the auditory artifact of the Reltus that was responsible for short-term tinnitus suppression.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences , Linköping University , Sweden , and.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences , Linköping University , Sweden , and.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bohman
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Brain Research & Audiology Section, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Shekhawat
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Brain Research & Audiology Section, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Brain Research & Audiology Section, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Searchfield
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D013016:Sound; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use
keywords: Tinnitus; residual inhibition; treatment; vibration