Understanding Tinnitus & How Technology Can Help
Tinnitus is a common condition of the ears that affects millions of people around the world. The American Tinnitus Association estimates that nearly 50 million Americans experience some form of tinnitus, making it one of the most prevalent hearing conditions in the United States.
But what exactly is tinnitus? Tinnitus, often described as a persistent humming or ringing in the ears, can be a pressing concern for many individuals. It can disrupt your daily life, causing stress and even affecting your sleep pattern. You may be wondering, ‘Do hearing aids help tinnitus?’ The good news is that recent research and experiences suggest that hearing aids can indeed be a viable solution to manage tinnitus effectively. Let’s delve into the specifics and explore how hearing aids can potentially help reduce the symptoms of this bothersome condition.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears, even when there is no external sound present. It can manifest as a buzzing, whistling, hissing, clicking, or roaring sound and can vary in intensity from person to person. This condition affects approximately 15-20% of the general population and can often be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Some of the most common causes of tinnitus include exposure to loud noises, age-related hearing loss, ear infections, and certain medications.
How Do Hearing Aids Alleviate Tinnitus Symptoms?
While there is no known cure for tinnitus, hearing aids have been proven effective in managing the symptoms associated with it. The primary function of hearing aids is to amplify sounds and help those with hearing loss hear more clearly. However, modern hearing aids come equipped with advanced features that can also mitigate the effects of tinnitus. Let’s explore the various ways hearing aids work to provide relief from tinnitus symptoms.
Sound Amplification
One way in which hearing aids provide relief from tinnitus is through amplification. By increasing the volume of external sounds, hearing aids can help ‘hide’ the ringing or buzzing sound caused by tinnitus. This can be particularly helpful when tinnitus is more noticeable, such as in a quiet room or at night.
Adaptable Technology & Automatic Sound Adjustment
In addition to simple amplification, today’s hearing aids include technology that can adapt to various sound environments. This means that they can automatically adjust the level of amplification based on the ambient noise levels. If you’re in a loud setting, for instance, your hearing aids may decrease amplification, ensuring that sounds don’t become too overwhelming. Conversely, in quieter environments where tinnitus may be more noticeable, the devices can increase amplification, helping to mask the tinnitus sounds more effectively.
These dynamic changes are often so subtle that you may not even notice them happening, but they can make a significant difference in managing your tinnitus symptoms. By elevating the sounds that matter and reducing the impact of tinnitus, adaptable sound amplification provides a more natural and comfortable listening experience. So, if your tinnitus symptoms become more pronounced in certain situations, hearing aids with this feature could be a potential solution.
Tinnitus-Masking Apps & Features
In cases where patients experience severe tinnitus symptoms or in those who do not gain relief from sound amplification, tinnitus-masking hearing aids are an innovative solution specifically designed to manage their hearing condition more effectively.
Prescription-based hearing aids now come with specialized apps and customizable features that play soothing tones to mask the symptoms of tinnitus. They work by generating a sound, often termed as white noise, that ‘masks’ or covers the internal noise produced by tinnitus. This masking sound distracts the brain, helping to reduce the perception of tinnitus and any associated distress. While hearing aids with tinnitus-masking features do not cure the condition, they can significantly alleviate its symptoms, leading to an elevated quality of life for many individuals.
Additional Treatment Options for Managing Tinnitus
While hearing aids have been shown to provide significant relief from tinnitus symptoms, they’re not the only solution out there. Other treatment options can be used in conjunction with hearing aids or as standalone therapies, depending on the severity of your tinnitus and your personal preferences. Here are some of these alternatives:
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) – TRT is a method that aims to reduce the perceived intensity of tinnitus. It combines counseling with the use of a sound generator, serving to ‘retrain’ the auditory system to accept the abnormal sounds of tinnitus as a natural occurrence, thus diminishing their impact.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT is a form of psychotherapy that changes the way a person thinks about and reacts to tinnitus. Instead of trying to eliminate the sound, CBT teaches you how to live with it. By changing your perception of tinnitus, you can reduce stress and anxiety, which often exacerbate tinnitus symptoms.
- Sound Therapy – Sound therapy uses external sounds to help change your perception of, or reaction to, tinnitus. This can include white noise, music, or specialist sounds designed to soothe the symptoms of tinnitus. Sound therapy can be delivered through devices like hearing aids, standalone machines, and even smartphone apps.
- Medications – While no specific drug exists for tinnitus, some medications may help to alleviate the severity of the symptoms, or the stress and anxiety associated with it. However, medication is typically considered an adjunctive treatment and not a standalone solution.
Consult with an Audiologist at Mid America Audiology Group
Discussing your tinnitus symptoms with a skilled audiologist can be a game-changer. Our audiologists at Mid America Audiology Group in St. Louis, MO, are equipped to assess your condition and deliver tailored solutions, including the fitting of hearing aids, ensuring optimal relief from tinnitus. We can also help you explore other treatment options that may complement your hearing aids and provide further relief from tinnitus symptoms. Contact Mid America Audiology Group today.
Treating Tinnitus with Hearing Aids – The Bottom Line
While there is no known cure for tinnitus, hearing aids are devices that have been proven to be an effective solution in managing its symptoms. Hearing aids with features like amplification, adaptable sound processing, and masking can significantly alleviate the impact of tinnitus, providing the relief you deserve.
At Mid America Audiology Group, our audiologists are dedicated to finding personalized solutions for every patient’s unique hearing needs. Don’t wait any longer to improve your quality of life. Schedule a consultation with us today and find relief from tinnitus.
