The cause of tinnitus, a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, is generally ambiguous. But one thing we know for sure is that if you have hearing loss your chance of developing tinnitus rises. Up to 90% of people who are afflicted by tinnitus also have hearing loss according to HIAA.
Your age, lifestyle, and genetics can all take part in the development of hearing loss as you probably know. Frequently, moderate instances of hearing loss go undetected and hearing loss, in general, isn’t always obvious. Worse, even a slight case of hearing loss increases your risk and likelihood of developing tinnitus.
Hearing Aids Won’t Cure Tinnitus But They Will Help
Tinnitus doesn’t have a cure. However, your symptoms can be decreased and your life can be improved by wearing hearing aids to address your hearing loss and tinnitus. Sixty percent of people struggling with tinnitus, in fact, saw relief of their symptoms, and twenty-two had significant improvement.
When you can suddenly hear external sounds better because hearing aids have raised the volume, your tinnitus symptoms will go into the background. And, fortunately, traditional hearing aids aren’t the only solution as more advanced treatment possibilities are being produced.
Types of Specialized Hearing Aids to Reduce Tinnitus Symptoms
Hearing aids work by gathering natural sounds from the environment around you and amplifying them to a level that allows you to hear. Although it may be simple in design, that amplification of sound, be it the rabble of a dinner party or the rattle of a ceiling fan, is critical in training your brain to receive certain stimulations again.
You can enhance those amplification efforts by the combination of other methods, like counseling, sound stimulation, and stress reduction for a more complete approach to treatment.
Fractal tones and irregular rhythms are even being used by some hearing aid makers. These rhythmically inconsistent tones can distract from the consistent and regular tones tinnitus sufferers experience.
Other specialty devices try to blend your tinnitus in with the natural sounds you’re hearing. Your condition and ear have very personal needs and this approach will use a customized white noise that will be dialed-in by your hearing specialist.
All of these strategies, from white noise therapies to sound therapies, use specialized hearing aid technology to distract the attention of the user away from paying attention to tinnitus noises.
It’s true that there is no cure for tinnitus, but for at least some individuals, hearing aids help lessen symptoms and improve your quality of life.
References
- https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/HLAA_HearingLoss_Facts_Statistics.pdf?pdf=FactStats
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17956798
- https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/treatment-options/hearing-aids
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6197965
