SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - Aug 13, 2012) - American soldiers returning from service abroad and other veterans who suffer from debilitating tinnitus now have access to advanced treatment covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Starting Aug. 15th, the VA will begin providing SoundCure™ Serenade® customized sound therapy for veterans suffering from tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears."
"We are very pleased to make this valuable treatment available to our nation's troops serving us in so many ways," stated Bill Perry, CEO of SoundCure. "Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other explosions and noise damage can leave soldiers with a painful -- and constant -- reminder of their time on the battlefield. We are proud to work through the VA to provide a tinnitus solution and relief to military personnel."
Tinnitus, which is most commonly the result of damage to the auditory system, is the number one disability affecting veterans. In the military, exposure to weapons systems, aircraft and other loud equipment that can cause damage is a daily occurrence. According to the American Tinnitus Association, the 2011 estimated cost of annual tinnitus disability payments for war veterans was over $1 billion. Severe tinnitus can be extremely incapacitating, causing stress, anxiety, and problems sleeping or concentrating.
In the U.S., the VA system consists of more than 170 medical centers and about 350 community clinics, with more facilities overseas. The number of veterans on the rolls for tinnitus was estimated to be over 800,000 in 2011.
The FDA-cleared Serenade handheld device is anchored by S-Tones®. This novel treatment uses soft tones that are modulated at a specific rate and were created from independent university research. S-Tones were designed to provide relief to patients at volumes softer than the patient's tinnitus to reduce, rather than add to, the patient's sound burden. Serenade generates customized sound therapy for the patient's unique tinnitus after testing and programming by a VA audiologist.
About SoundCure, Inc.
Established in 2009, SoundCure, Inc. is a privately held medical device company whose mission is to revolutionize the treatment of tinnitus and provide relief to the millions of people suffering its effects. The SoundCure Serenade Tinnitus Treatment System is indicated for use in the temporary relief of tinnitus symptoms, and can be used in an on-going tinnitus management program to provide long term relief. SoundCure is an Allied Minds company. For more information, visit www.soundcure.com
Contact Information:
Media Contact:
Barbara Cromarty
SoundCure Inc.
(408) 938-5743
