Tinnitus is a common hearing problem that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterized by a ringing, buzzing, or humming sound in the ears that can be very distracting and difficult to ignore. Fortunately, there are treatments available that can help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. One of the most effective treatments is using hearing aids.
Hearing aids can help relieve tinnitus by amplifying background noises and masking the tinnitus sounds. Many hearing care brands have some kind of tinnitus relieving technology built into their hearing devices, such as apps or special features. Simply wearing hearing aids can often help reduce tinnitus symptoms. The masking effect of hearing aids is particularly strong for those who have hearing loss in the same frequency range as their tinnitus.
Studies have found that hearing aids can relieve tinnitus in up to 60% of participants, with 22% experiencing significant relief. However, it's important to note that hearing aids are not specifically designed to treat tinnitus. The benefits come from the combination of treatments. If you have tinnitus along with hearing loss, then hearing aids will be most effective in treating your symptoms.
About 20% of adults suffer from some degree of hearing loss at any given time, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Unfortunately, only a small fraction will receive long-lasting relief from their tinnitus. When it comes to treating tinnitus, it's important to choose an audiologist who offers personalized, evidence-based treatments. Hearing aids are a great starting point for those who suffer from both tinnitus and hearing loss.
They help amplify external sounds at a desirable volume and make it more difficult to consciously perceive tinnitus. When combined with other strategies such as sound therapy and counseling, a comprehensive treatment plan can produce highly desirable results. It's important to choose an audiologist who will allow you to explore all your options and recommend a combination of treatments that may include sound therapy, sound maskers, medications, and more. Researchers around the world are constantly looking for new ways to treat tinnitus.
Choosing an audiology office that uses a proven, evidence-based approach will help increase the likelihood of success. Sound therapy is one of the most effective ways of treating tinnitus and involves several exercises that can help retrain the brain and gradually reduce the intensity of tinnitus over time. It's also important to note that while sound therapy and hearing aids are sometimes used together, they are not mutually exclusive. Maskers can be used in the short term to cover up the problem of tinnitus but are not effective in providing long-term benefits.
For long-term relief, the brain must “see” tinnitus in order to reclassify it as neutral and desensitize to its presence and impact. If you suffer from tinnitus or any other debilitating hearing problem, you should schedule an appointment with an audiologist right away. Many people are completely unaware of how much better the world can sound until they are introduced to some of the technologies and treatments currently available. Hearing aids can be an effective way to mitigate the problem of tinnitus if you have hearing loss.
An audiologist can help you find and use the best hearing aid for your needs. As your hearing fades, the timbre starts and amplifies because you don't hear other sounds in the world around you. Animal research shows that almost anything that consistently causes hearing loss will also cause tinnitus.Hearing aids help increase external volume above the perceived volume of tinnitus so that activities like talking on the phone or listening to music become easier again. These rechargeable devices come in several styles that can be worn on or behind the ear.
