It’s often unclear what’s triggering tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in your ears). But one thing we know for certain is that if you have hearing loss your probability of developing tinnitus goes up. According to HLAA as much as 90 percent of people who experience tinnitus also have hearing loss.
As you probably know, your genetics, age, and lifestyle can all play a role in the advancement of hearing loss. Frequently, mild cases of hearing loss go unnoticed and hearing loss, in general, isn’t always evident. Even mild cases of hearing loss will increase your chance of tinnitus, making the situation even worse.
Hearing Aids Won’t Cure Tinnitus But They Will Help
Tinnitus has no cure. However, hearing aids will treat both hearing loss and tinnitus in ways that can reduce symptoms and improve one’s quality of life. As a matter of fact, one study revealed that up to 60 percent of people suffering from tinnitus experienced relief when they wore hearing aids, with 22 percent showing substantial relief.
When you can suddenly hear external sounds better because hearing aids have boosted 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 Specialty Hearing Aids to Reduce Tinnitus Symptoms
Hearing aids increase the level of environmental sounds to the point that you can hear them clearly. This simple technology is crucial in training your hearing to receive specific stimulation by amplifying sounds like the clattering of a ceiling fan or the hum of a dinner party.
You can augment those amplification efforts by the combination of other strategies, like counseling, sound stimulation, and stress reduction for a more comprehensive approach to treatment.
Fractal tones and irregular rhythms are even being utilized by some hearing aid manufacturers. These rhythmically inconsistent tones can distract from the constant and regular tones tinnitus sufferers experience.
Blending the normal sounds you hear with your tinnitus sounds is the goal of other sophisticated hearing aid options. Your condition and ear have very personal needs and this technique will use a personalized white noise that will be calibrated by your hearing professional.
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 focusing on tinnitus noises.
It’s true that there is no cure for tinnitus, but for at least some people, hearing aids help lessen symptoms and improve your quality of life.
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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
