NSU Horizons Winter 2008 - 2009

M any of us have experienced that annoying ringing or humming in our ears after attending a concert or dancing the night away at a nightclub. Fortunately, that bother- some sound, which only the person who is suffering can hear, is temporary. But for some people, that noise is a permanent part of their lives. They suffer from a condition know as tinnitus, which is the internal ringing or humming of the ear. Tinnitus severely affects about 1 to 2 percent of the population. For those people, the noise is so unbearable they can’t sleep, relax, or function effectively. Luckily for them, Paul B. Davis, Ph.D., an NSU associate professor of audiology, has invented a hearing device that may help them greatly reduce the symptoms of their condition. Davis, who joined the College of Allied Health and Nursing’s Department of Audiology earlier this year, has been researching tinnitus for nearly two decades. During that time, he invented Oasis, a medical device with earpieces connected to a sound generator that’s used for Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment. This treatment combines music and natural sounds, such as a shower or the ocean, to help replace tinnitus noises and retrain the brain. The six-month treatment reduces tinnitus symptoms quickly and treats the causes of the condition, which can be anything from prolonged noise exposure, middle or inner ear diseases, head injuries, or certain types of medications. Neuromonics is clinically proven to be effec- tive for more than 90 percent of tinnitus cases, and it provides long-term relief. No medication or surgery is required. “This device is very important because it can help patients get relief quickly and painlessly,” Davis said. “It will ultimately help them improve their lives. It can’t take away the tinnitus, but it can take away the negative effects.” Since Oasis was put on the market two years ago, more than 2,300 patients worldwide have begun treatment, Davis said. The device and six-month treatment program cost between $5,000 and $6,000, which is similar to the price of a pair of mid-range hearing aids and around half the cost of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, another type of tinnitus treatment. Oasis is currently available in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It’s also available on campus at NSU’s Hearing and Balance Clinic. Patients must have a diagnostic assessment by an accredited audiologist before the Food and Drug Administration-approved device can be dispensed. Some insurances will pay for part of a patient’s treatment, while the federal government will cover the entire cost of treatment for eligible veterans. To learn more about Oasis, please visit the Hearing and Balance Clinic. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call (954) 678-2273. ■ Audiology Professor’s Invention Helps Thousands of Users T eaching in a Maryland public school, Bianca Alexander has grown concerned with what she sees on a daily basis: teachers who are unsatisfied and students who are unhappy. She has observed teachers being made to teach subjects in which they are not certified and special-education students not receiving the services they need. So, Alexander wanted to learn more about the legislation that affects the public school system. To do that, she is now working toward a Master of Science in Education Law at NSU’s Shepard Broad Law Center, one of three unique master’s programs offered by the Law Center designed to educate non- lawyers on complex legal issues they encounter in their fields. “What I’m learning in the courses is that you cannot put a band-aid on some very controversial issues facing school districts,” said Alexander, who completed the education law certificate pro- gram and plans to graduate with an M.S. in Education Law degree in summer 2009. “I want to seek ways to fix these types of problems, or at least work on improving them by taking a look at legislation and the common issues school districts confront. The education law program is helping me get there.” Nearly 120 students are cur- rently enrolled in the three master’s degree programs, which started in 2001 with the M.S. in Health Law. The M.S. in Education Law program was launched in 2006 and graduated its first class in January 2009. An M.S. in Employment Law program was initiated in 2007, and its first class will graduate in July 2009. ■ diverse graduate degree programs at the law center 7 horizons