Using Destructive Interference to Treat Tinnitus

[Dali]

How difficult would it be to send destructive interference sound wave into an ear via hearing aid device, which cancels a ringing frequency/amplitude only I can hear.

This is not only difficult (as pointed out by @russ_watters), but impossible. Noice cancelling technology relies on a microphone to continually monitor the incoming noice or signal, so an inverted signal can be created to cancel it. Since your ringing is not a real incoming audio wave, no device will be able to cancel it by destructive interference.

 

[erobz]

This is not only difficult (as pointed out by @russ_watters), but impossible. Noice cancelling technology relies on a microphone to continually monitor the incoming noice or signal, so an inverted signal can be created to cancel it. Since your ringing is not a real incoming audio wave, no device will be able to cancel it by destructive interference.

Impossible would seem a bit strong? My brain is measuring it, or outputting it. Perhaps impossible with our current understanding of the brain and its signals, but if my brain is observing it must be observable directly/or indirectly? I can just say flat out, "that's the inverted frequency/amplitude" when I observe the absence of significant ringing. The trick would be to have that done actively. Like I said it doesn't vary in frequency (what I'm consciously measuring as the output at least), just amplitude with stress perhaps.

When I'm outdoors it is far easier to ignore because of all the ambient noise. Perhaps there is a treatment in that observation.

 

[berkeman]

Since we've been dancing around diagnosis (Dx) and treatment (Tx) options in this thread, I need to close it now. Please see your primary care physician (PCP) to discuss your symptoms (Sx) and your Tx options. Most likely they will send you to an ear nose and throat (ENT) doc. Good luck.