Neosensory — Bimodal Stimulation Device for Tinnitus: Any Reviews? A Scam or Not?

[TibuJenkins]

https://neosensory.com/

First of all, I searched the forums to see if this device had been discussed but didn't find anything.

This seems too good to be true but I literally just found out about it. I am in no way promoting this as actually working. I only wanted to share as a topic of discussion since they claim to use the same "bimodal" approach as Lenire.

They charge $249 a month for the treatment and claim that two months are enough.

 

[Ben Winders]

If this thing actually works (big if), I would just buy it ($799) and retrain the brain every now and then instead of only renting it for 2 months.

Looking at the site it seems like they are at least offering "realistic" results (not everyone is helped) and interesting options (rent our kit for 2 months and then return it), instead of just saying "buy this thing for $799, it may or may not work".

So - I have a slightly positive inclination just looking at their website.

 

[VeryUnfortunate]

I agree with you, this seems too good too good to be true. But I am also really interested to learn more about this as well. Great find.

 

[Lukee]

I saw this a couple of weeks ago and wondered why it was never posted here. It is popping up on Google AdWords pretty heavily. If I'm not mistaken, they even have a 30-day money back period.

 

[Ehren M]

Wow... a couple of us should try it out and report back to the community. I have mild noise-induced tinnitus. It could be helpful to have a few replicates of people with similar symptoms and causes to try this.

I guess I'm volunteering.

I mean, renting this thing is about the same cost as a doctor's visit or two...

EDIT: I wonder if it's worth doing this only for those with a "chronic" condition, i.e. having experienced tinnitus for more than a year or so.

 

[linearb]

I think this is insane bullshit because they appear to have done zero of their own published research, and they toss the word "bimodal" around and reference the Susan Shore work.

Anyone who knows anything about that work, knows that it's predicated on electrically stimulating nerves that directly innervate the TMJ region. These are craniofacial nerves.

Wearing some random thing that zaps your wrist might do something, but, there's no reason to believe that, and the information they provide as a reason you should believe this works, is not actually at all related to the thing they're selling.

They also appear to be selling a device for clear medical reasons without having talked to the FDA? Lol.

If you're desperate to give money away, I will provide an Etherium wallet address and you can just send me all your unneeded money, this is snake oil garbage.

Also, their STARTING point was people with a 32 THI? Again, "lol", I think my THI when I entered the Michigan bimodal study was 75 or something. 32 THI is the upper end of "mild tinnitus, living a normal life".

Looking at their cited research -- they are trying to tie together unrelated work about skin transmission of noise, and bimodal suppression of tinnitus. These two things have never been studied together, and they are not providing any of their own clinical information. That bullshit chart they have doesn't even say how many patients it's supposed to be based on!

Duct taping these ideas together is like attaching the rotor blade from my lawnmower to the top of a go-kart and then selling it as a helicopter.

I have filed a report with the FDA reporting these people for marketing an unapproved medical device, we'll see where that goes.

 

[Bambam0]

Between this and Cleanhearing, it's obvious people are coat tailing on the "success" of Neuromod and University of Michigan device.

 

[Ehren M]

Seems like if it were totally worthless they wouldn't provide a 30 day money-back guarantee, but who knows how credible their money-back promise is.

 

[ajc]

Seems like if it were totally worthless they wouldn't provide a 30 day money-back guarantee, but who knows how credible their money-back promise is.

Many health scams provide money-back guarantee. Just look at all the scammer investigations @Contrast has done.

It's a tactic to lure in unsuspecting customers, most don't ask for the money back even if the product does shit-all.

 

[Contrast]

First of all. I would like to point out two things.

1. This device claims habituation help. It does not claim to cure tinnitus. Their device translates sound to vibrations that one can feel while wearing their equipment. This will assist hard of hearing people make up for their poor hearing with the ability to sense vibrations on their skin. So far I don't see a problem.

2. This device was made by a real neuroscientist. Who even had a Ted Talk.

https://eagleman.com/

His study is here. I am sitting on the fence whether this works or not, however I do NOT consider him a scammer. Anyone who puts their stuff up to peer review is worth taking seriously in my book. Once again, I know you guys love it when I go off and attack scammers, but this guy appears genuine.

I even reverse image searched every face in the video testimonials https://neosensory.com/buzz-testimonials/ using Google and failed to find a match. BTW, all video testimonials were done in sign language (there was no talking). I searched Fiverr for "sign language actors" and could not find much. I even looked for ASL translation services on other websites. Found nothing. I will still look but so far he seems genuine.

 

[VeryUnfortunate]

It also seems like the Neosensory Buzz might actually be a legitimate product that helps deaf people? It looks to be a device that has a mic or something that converts sound into vibrations, so deaf people can have more awareness around them. Curious to see more to come of this.

 

[GBB]

Alright, I'm going to order it. If it actually works, obviously IDGAF about the cost. If it doesn't, I'll return it. Hopefully it doesn't make me worse.

Edit: Just ordered. No one get your hopes up, I doubt some random thing out of left field is going to make a difference, but my philosophy is either iterate on treatments or die.

 

[Bambam0]

@GBB, best of luck man. I have a good feeling about it based on their work with the HOH + Deaf community.

 

[TrevorSanders]

It doesn't look too much like snake oil. I'm interested.

 

[VeryUnfortunate]

Alright, I'm going to order it. If it actually works, obviously IDGAF about the cost. If it doesn't, I'll return it. Hopefully it doesn't make me worse.

Edit: Just ordered. No one get your hopes up, I doubt some random thing out of left field is going to make a difference, but my philosophy is either iterate on treatments or die.

I'm thinking about purchasing it as well. Please report back asap.

 

[GBB]

I'm thinking about purchasing it as well. Please report back asap.

I won't leave you hanging but if I get any effect at all, I expect it would take a month or more based on their advertising.

 

[ajc]

@GBB did you buy or rent the device? If you bought it and it doesn't work for you, would you be willing to send it free of charge to someone else here for testing, or what would you do with it? That way more people could test it if they can't afford it.

 

[GBB]

@GBB did you buy or rent the device? If you bought it and it doesn't work for you, would you be willing to send it free of charge to someone else here for testing, or what would you do with it? That way more people could test it if they can't afford it.

I believe by default each arrangement begins as a lease, with a proposed term of 2 months, after which the patient has the option of incurring an additional 2 months payments to take permanent ownership of the device. The return policy is a no questions asked policy if enacted within 30 days. I plan to return the device if I notice no material change within 30 days, and would recommend others who are curious take a similar approach, thereby allowing a risk free efficacy test. If the device does not work for me, I will not purchase it.

 

[GBB]

So I haven't received the device yet but the "trial" period for the return and my billing cycle are already live, so basically they are charging me before I even have shipping confirmation.

This would be the equivalent of ordering an iPhone online and your monthly billing cycle begins before Apple even ships the phone.

Not a good first impression though it has nothing to do with the core efficacy of the product. I wrote to their customer service team to point this out.

 

[GBB]

Alright so I'm three days in. I can say for sure this elicits a similar response, at least for me, as the neuromodulation videos on YouTube. The device itself needs to be worn for 10 minutes per day; while it is running it play beep tones from your smart phone speakers in an ascending and then descending pattern, about 1 beep per second. It will generally do a stepwise ascending beep patter, 1, 2, 3, etc... to about 10, then descend the same steps. All the while the wristband which has a built in mic pulses each time it detects the beep from your smartphone. I can see people with severe H already being excluded because you are required to listen to these somewhat powerful repeating beeps at a fairly loud-ish volume. The beeps trigger my very minor H which isn't pain, more like touch sensation in my ear canal.

In terms of actual effect, I'm only at three days, but if you've ever watched a YouTube neuromodulation video and you get your tinnitus to go from high pitch to low, or to silence as is the case with some people, I'm pretty sure this would work the same. I'm not ready to say yet if for me it actually results in a decrease in volume, that's WAY too far off - they say two months is the duration to shoot for.

I'll keep updating, this was less a call on efficacy and more just to describe my experience.

 

[ColinUK]

Thanks for the updates, GBB. I'm really interested to know how it turns out. Fingers crossed for some positive results.

 

[VeryUnfortunate]

Alright so I'm three days in. I can say for sure this elicits a similar response, at least for me, as the neuromodulation videos on YouTube. The device itself needs to be worn for 10 minutes per day; while it is running it play beep tones from your smart phone speakers in an ascending and then descending pattern, about 1 beep per second. It will generally do a stepwise ascending beep patter, 1, 2, 3, etc... to about 10, then descend the same steps. All the while the wristband which has a built in mic pulses each time it detects the beep from your smartphone. I can see people with severe H already being excluded because you are required to listen to these somewhat powerful repeating beeps at a fairly loud-ish volume. The beeps trigger my very minor H which isn't pain, more like touch sensation in my ear canal.

In terms of actual effect, I'm only at three days, but if you've ever watched a YouTube neuromodulation video and you get your tinnitus to go from high pitch to low, or to silence as is the case with some people, I'm pretty sure this would work the same. I'm not ready to say yet if for me it actually results in a decrease in volume, that's WAY too far off - they say two months is the duration to shoot for.

I'll keep updating, this was less a call on efficacy and more just to describe my experience.

Any comments on the quality of the product? Like does it seem legit, like packaging etc? Can you post some pictures? How would you rate your overall experience purchasing the product?

I'm curious because I may purchase it on my own. I keep finding myself going back to the website, and the website seems pretty legit. Not too sure about the product though.

 

[GBB]

Any comments on the quality of the product? Like does it seem legit, like packaging etc? Can you post some pictures? How would you rate your overall experience purchasing the product?

I'm curious because I may purchase it on my own. I keep finding myself going back to the website, and the website seems pretty legit. Not too sure about the product though.

In terms of build quality and packaging, it's totally fine. It's a legit company - the device wasn't originally developed for tinnitus, it was developed as a wearable for people with hearing issue that picks up latent sound and vibrates in different patterns depending on the sound to supplement hearing, so they are an established firm with a market presence.

However, whether it helps for tinnitus is unrelated to the factors above.

 

[Bambam0]

@GBB, thanks for being the guinea pig here. Seems like there's less downside with this device than Lenire given there is no headphones.

I may give this thing a spin as well so we can have a better sample size.

 

[ajc]

In terms of build quality and packaging, it's totally fine. It's a legit company - the device wasn't originally developed for tinnitus, it was developed as a wearable for people with hearing issue that picks up latent sound and vibrates in different patterns depending on the sound to supplement hearing, so they are an established firm with a market presence.

It would still be nice to see some actual real life photos of the device and packaging...

 

[ColinUK]

Just for your information, I did contact them as I was interested in trying it.

I unfortunately got the following back:

Hi Colin,

Currently we are only shipping in The United States and do not currently have a timeline as to when we will be shipping to other countries.

All the best,
Kiersten and the Neosensory team

 

[DaveFromChicago]

After considering all of this thoughtfully presented commentary, I feel very strongly inclined to agree with @linearb's analysis. This reeks of egregious quackery.

Thanks for reporting this to the FDA.

This sounds so suspiciously similar to what was adduced by Desyncra, which I was duped into paying $5,269.00 for. I dutifully wore their headset five hours per day for 36 weeks, and it had no more effect on my tinnitus than what shining a flashlight on my head would have done (and they actually received FDA approval).

And did I ever hear it from my wife regarding such an expenditure on a device with such (in retrospect) questionable documentation.

Incidentally, they are no longer in business.

There were variously highly touted "sound modulation" devices:
1) Neuromonics
2) SoundCure
3) Desyncra
4) The Levo System

All provided such negligible results that they could not be ascertained from what placebo trials would have produced.

The only reason why I am bothering to wait and see about Dr. Shore is that her device also implements electrical stimulation (which, for example, has been very helpful for epilepsy).

This is just another piece of "professionally" hyped quack junk.

I truly hope I am proven completely wrong, but this bears all of the characteristics of such prior claimed treatments.

 

[MarkJU]

I was introduced to Neosensory back when they were developing their devices, a couple years before they started marketing their Buzz wristband. My daughter had met the group when she was a fellow at Stanford and let me know about them, so I contacted them. I responded to some surveys and contributed to some ergonomic questions they had. I was even a candidate for their trials, but they determined I could hear "too well" for the Buzz. Bottom line; they are legit. Back then they were working on two devices; one is the Buzz for deaf or almost deaf people and another for hard of hearing people (like me). They haven't introduced the second one but I hope they eventually do; any augmentation to my hearing aids would be welcome. If it helps with the tinnitus, bonus!

I get regular emails from them about their products and research, and I just got the one about their tinnitus program, so I searched here to see if it had been "discovered" by tinnitus sufferers here. It's nice to see at least one person trying it. I'll be following this thread, for sure.

 

[TibuJenkins]

I went ahead and decided to try my own poison if you will. I'll report back on what I find.

There's a 20% off coupon right now too.

 

[ajc]

After considering all of this thoughtfully presented commentary, I feel very strongly inclined to agree with @linearb's analysis. This reeks of egregious quackery.

Thanks for reporting this to the FDA.

This sounds so suspiciously similar to what was adduced by Desyncra, which I was duped into paying $5,269.00 for. I dutifully wore their headset five hours per day for 36 weeks, and it had no more effect on my tinnitus than what shining a flashlight on my head would have done (and they actually received FDA approval).

And did I ever hear it from my wife regarding such an expenditure on a device with such (in retrospect) questionable documentation.

Incidentally, they are no longer in business.

There were variously highly touted "sound modulation" devices:
1) Neuromonics
2) SoundCure
3) Desyncra
4) The Levo System

All provided such negligible results that they could not be ascertained from what placebo trials would have produced.

The only reason why I am bothering to wait and see about Dr. Shore is that her device also implements electrical stimulation (which, for example, has been very helpful for epilepsy).

This is just another piece of "professionally" hyped quack junk.

I truly hope I am proven completely wrong, but this bears all of the characteristics of such prior claimed treatments.

This is exactly what it is. "Professionally" hyped quack junk.

Neosensory is going to make their millions off of the backs of sufferers while a few handful of us report improvements. All of those improvements will be from placebo or they would have happened regardless of using this quack device.