Discover the Benefits of Hearing Aids for Tinnitus
Summary:Tinnitus is a condition that millions of people suffer from across the globe, and it causes a persistent humming, ringing, buzzing or hissing sound in the ears. Some people will experience it as just an annoyance, while others will experience sleep interruption, difficulty concentrating, and effects on their job performance, among other quality-of-life issues.
Introduction:If you are suffering from so many different forms of tinnitus, you might be surprised to find out that using hearing aids for tinnitus can provide you with great relief. Thanks to new and improved technology, how tinnitus is treated has changed significantly over the years. A hearing aid for tinnitus no longer simply amplifies but additionally can help to mask the noise being created in your ears, minimise or lessen your awareness, and possibly even retrain the way your brain reacts to the tinnitus.
Key takeaways: This article will cover how hearing aids work for tinnitus, what things you should look for when selecting a hearing aid for tinnitus, and how to find the right hearing aids for tinnitus.
Understanding the connection between tinnitus and hearing loss. Hearing aids
Table of Contents
Understanding Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
Understanding the relationship between hearing loss and tinnitus is important before considering treatment options. Research indicates that about 80-90% of individuals who experience tinnitus will also have a form of hearing loss.
With decreased hearing, there is less external sound stimulation received by the brain; therefore, as a result, the brain may compensate by “turning up the volume” of sound by creating phantom sounds (tinnitus).
Tinnitus maskers are extremely beneficial because they provide greater access to sounds in the environment; this improves the balance of the auditory system and decreases the focal point of tinnitus within the brain.
How do hearing aids help with tinnitus?
Hearing aids can help relieve some of the distress from tinnitus in several ways:
- Hearing Aids Reduce the Contrast of Sounds: Hearing aids amplify ambient (real-world) sounds, thereby decreasing the difference between the sounds of tinnitus and the sounds of the outside world. The result is that tinnitus becomes less apparent due to this decreased contrast.
- Hearing aids have sound therapy options: Many hearing aids designed for tinnitus may have built-in sound therapy options to play soothing sounds and/or to produce white noise. Hearing aids for tinnitus play these sounds in an attempt to overwhelm and/or mask the sound of tinnitus so that you are less aware of it.
- Hearing Aids Improve Communication: When a person struggles to hear, it may cause increased stress, which can increase the sounds of tinnitus in a person’s head. By using hearing aids to hear more clearly, your ability to engage in conversations and perform activities comfortably will allow you to reduce any anxiety or stress associated with struggling to communicate.
The Hearing Health Foundation reports that “Approximately 80% of people with hearing loss could benefit from the use of hearing aids, but only one-quarter of the people who could benefit from the use of hearing aids use them.” For this reason, we encourage people to utilise hearing aids to improve their quality of life.
The Best Hearing Aids for Tinnitus
The most effective hearing aids for treating tinnitus are also able to help users who suffer from both hearing loss and tinnitus due to their built-in sound therapy features. Hearing aids don’t eliminate the tinnitus itself, but many people find that using their hearing aids will help to lessen the perception of the ringing in their ears.
In the list of best hearing aids for tinnitus, Widex, Signia, Starkey, Phonak and Oticon are the top brands. Widex offers an array of calming tonality called the “Zen” tones. Both Signia and Starkey have developed their own sound-masking applications, which can be adjusted via Bluetooth using a smartphone. Both options typically require an appointment with an audiologist for fitting and work best when fitted properly.
If you are looking for a less expensive option, there are many rechargeable OTC hearing aids available on the market today, many of which also provide basic noise-masking capabilities. Before purchasing a hearing aid, having a hearing test completed is highly recommended. Most people with tinnitus will find that using their hearing aid will provide them with the best results when the tinnitus originates from hearing loss. Purchasing a hearing aid should always include a trial period.
Who can benefit from hearing aids for tinnitus?
People suffering from tinnitus may find relief with the assistance of a hearing aid if they have mild to moderate hearing loss. Hearing loss is usually seen in adults, particularly if they have experienced significant exposure to loud sounds (for example, occupational or recreational). Amplification of outside sounds with a hearing aid helps to reduce the contrast between the background noise in the environment and the internal sound of tinnitus, thereby increasing the chances that tinnitus will go unnoticed.
Hearing aids for tinnitus are a valuable aid for anyone who sometimes has trouble following conversations, regularly requests that others repeat themselves, or tends to increase the volume of television/other devices. In addition to improving hearing, better hearing often decreases the level of effort and stress experienced while trying to hear, which may aggravate the perception of tinnitus.
In addition, new technology in some hearing aids for tinnitus masking is providing additional sound therapy capabilities that may assist individuals affected by tinnitus in focusing, sleeping, or managing daily activities.
Features to Look for in Tinnitus Hearing Aids
When selecting the ideal hearing aids for tinnitus masking relief, keep these important features in mind when looking to improve overall hearing while decreasing the ability to hear the sounds of tinnitus.
- Sound Amplification: Clear, clean sound amplification will provide the best hearing and reduce the contrast with the sound of the environment compared to the sound of your tinnitus.
- Tinnitus Masking/Sound Therapy Programs: There may be some form of sound therapy program built into or downloadable from the company’s website (white noise, nature sounds, or program your customised sound), so when you are wearing the hearing aid, you will be able to generate a sound that will mask the sound of your tinnitus.
- Multiple Program Options: In each environment you are in (quiet, noisy, music), there will most likely be at least three different settings that can be programmed into your hearing aids that will help you to adjust the sound level to fit the way you want to hear it.
- Noise Reduction/Feedback Management: In a noisy atmosphere, there should be ways to reduce the amount of background noise, if needed.
- Rechargeable Batteries: With rechargeable batteries, you can save money and time and not worry about replacing disposable batteries frequently.
- Connectivity (Bluetooth): Many hearing aids are now designed to connect via Bluetooth to phones, TVs, and/or your therapist, giving you the freedom to make adjustments, as well as access to therapeutic sound programmes or hearing from a hearing professional at your convenience.
Conclusion:
Hearing aids designed for people who have tinnitus can do much more than simply make sounds louder. They can help minimize the perceived difference between the sound of ringing in your ears and other sounds in the environment around you, thereby making it easier for you to ignore your tinnitus. Most of the best options available today come equipped with built-in sound therapy as well as sound masking features that provide relief from tinnitus and enhance your ability to concentrate, sleep well at night, and generally enjoy life during your waking hours.
While they do not “cure” tinnitus, using hearing aids for tinnitus to mask it can greatly enhance the quality of life for people who have also suffered some degree of loss of hearing. In addition, with the proper fitting and professional assistance, the right type of hearing aid for sound masking will allow you to clearly hear the sounds of the world around you, reduce feelings of stress, and gain better control over the way that you cope with your tinnitus throughout your daily routine.
FAQ
Do hearing aids help with tinnitus?
They can help with tinnitus by amplifying external sounds and reducing the contrast between the background noise and the ringing sound in your ear. Most also feature tinnitus masking capabilities.
What is the best hearing aid for tinnitus?
There are several top brands, including Widex, Signia, Starkey, Phonak, and Oticon, that have advanced sound therapy and masking provisions built into their devices. Which one is best depends on the severity of your hearing loss and your needs.
Can hearing aids cure tinnitus?
They cannot cure your tinnitus, but they can greatly reduce the perception of it and improve your overall quality of life.
What is tinnitus masking?
Hearing aids that mask tinnitus create white noise or pleasurable sounds to cover up the ringing or buzzing in your ears.
Who benefits most from using a hearing aid for tinnitus?
The people who benefit the most from using hearing aids that mask tinnitus are those who have tinnitus and have mild to moderate hearing loss.
