Apparatus and methods for assessing the effect of light on a subject's perception of tinnitus

Abstract

A method of assessing the effect of viewing varying colours of light on a subject's perception of tinnitus, comprising the steps of: presenting a display in at least part of the subject's field of view; illuminating the display with coloured light in the visible spectrum using one or more variable sources; varying measurable values of the coloured light illuminating the display; and recording the measurable values of the coloured light illuminating the display at which the subject indicates a change in their perception of tinnitus. Also provided are methods of determining which tristimulus values of light can be used to alleviate a subject's perception of tinnitus, methods of producing data sets of measurable values of coloured light, use of coloured light, articles formulated to modify illumination of at least part of the visual field of a subject, a method of alleviating a subject's perception of tinnitus and use of apparatus for assessing the effect of viewing varying colours of light on a subject's perception of tinnitus.

1 . A method of assessing the effect of viewing varying colours of light on a subject's perception of tinnitus, comprising the steps of:
 presenting a display in at least part of the subject's field of view;   illuminating the display with coloured light in the visible spectrum using one or more variable sources;   varying measurable values of the coloured light illuminating the display; and   recording the measurable values of the coloured light illuminating the display at which the subject indicates a change in their perception of tinnitus.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said measurable values are tristimulus values of the coloured light entering the subject's eye. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said measurable values are mixtures of wavelengths making up the coloured light. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said one or more variable sources comprise one or more narrowband coloured light sources. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said one or more variable sources is in the form of a colour controllable light source having at least two narrowband coloured light sources which each emit different spectral components within the visible light spectrum. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the steps of  claim 1  are repeated at least once. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises the step of providing an article formulated to modify illumination of at least part of the visual field of the subject such that coloured light having the measurable values determined by the method is observed. 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining which tristimulus values of light can be used to alleviate a subject's perception of tinnitus comprising the steps of:
 presenting a display in at least part of the subject's field of view;   illuminating the display with light in the visible spectrum using one or more variable sources;   varying the tristimulus values of the light illuminating the display; and   recording the tristimulus values of the light illuminating the display where the subject indicates a change in their perception of tinnitus.   
     
     
         9 . A method of determining which tristimulus values of coloured light can be used to alleviate a subject's perception of tinnitus comprising the steps of:
 presenting a display in at least part of the subject's field of view;   illuminating the display with coloured light in the visible spectrum using one or more variable sources;   varying the output of said one or more variable sources to provide a mixture of wavelengths making up the coloured light illuminating the display;   recording the mixture of wavelengths of the coloured light illuminating the display where the subject indicates a change in their perception of tinnitus; and   determining the tristimulus value of the coloured light at which a change was detected from the mixture of wavelengths.   
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a data set of measurable values of coloured light comprising the steps of:
 presenting coloured light in a subject's field of view;   varying the colour of the light in the subject's field of view; and   recording said measurable values of the coloured light at at least one point at which the subject perceives a non-visual change.   
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a data set of defined measurable values of coloured light comprising the steps:
 presenting to a subject coloured light with defined measurable values;   altering said defined measurable values; and   recording said defined measurable values when the subject indicates a change in their non-visual perception.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An article formulated to modify illumination of at least part of the visual field of a subject such that coloured light having a data set of measurable values, determined by the method of  claim 10 , is observed for alleviation of a subject's perception of tinnitus. 
     
     
         16 . An article according to  claim 15  wherein the article is a filter designed to allow only coloured light having said data set of measurable values determined by a method to pass therethrough, the method comprising:
 presenting coloured light in a subject's field of view; 
 varying the colour of the light in the subject's field of view; and 
 recording said measurable values of the coloured light at at least one point at which the subject perceives a non-visual change. 
 
     
     
         17 . An article according to  claim 15  wherein the article comprises at least one narrowband coloured light source configured to produce coloured light having said data set of measurable values determined by a method, the method comprising:
 presenting coloured light in a subject's field of view; 
 varying the colour of the light in the subject's field of view; and 
 recording said measurable values of the coloured light at at least one point at which the subject perceives a non-visual change. 
 
     
     
         18 . An article according to  claim 17  wherein said article is in the form of a light source. 
     
     
         19 . An article according to  claim 18  wherein said light source comprises at least one red LED, at least one blue LED and at least one green LED. 
     
     
         20 . An article according to  claim 18  wherein said light source further comprises a memory capable of storing at least one predetermined data set of measurable values of coloured light. 
     
     
         21 . An article according to  claim 20  wherein said light source further comprises a memory capable of storing a plurality of predetermined data sets of measurable values of coloured light. 
     
     
         22 . An article according to  claim 17  wherein said light source is capable of self-calibration. 
     
     
         23 . A method of alleviating a subject's perception of tinnitus comprising:
 providing an article formulated to modify illumination of at least part of the visual field of the subject, to provide coloured light having measurable values determined by the method of  claim 1 ; and   exposing the subject to the coloured light having the predetermined measurable values, to alleviate the subject's perception of tinnitus.   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for assessing the effect of viewing varying colours of light on a subject's perception of tinnitus, the apparatus comprising:
 a display disposed in at least part of the subject's field of view;   one or more variable sources configured to illuminate the display with coloured light in the visible spectrum;   a means for varying measurable values of the one or more variable sources to produce coloured light in the visible spectrum; and   a device for determining said measurable values of the coloured light produced by the one or more variable sources.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the one or more variable sources comprises one or more narrowband coloured light sources. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the one or more variable sources is a colour controllable light source having at least two narrowband coloured light sources, each of which is configured to emit a respective spectral component of the visible spectrum.