The cause of tinnitus, a constant buzzing or ringing in the ears, is generally unclear. But one thing we know for sure is that if you have hearing loss your probability of developing tinnitus rises. Up to 90% of individuals who suffer from tinnitus also have hearing loss according to HIAA.
As you probably realize, your genetics, age, and lifestyle can all be involved in the development of hearing loss. And while many of us think of hearing loss as being obvious, the truth is that some minor hearing loss can go unnoticed. Worse, even a minor case of hearing loss raises your risk and probability of developing tinnitus.
Hearing Aids Won’t Cure Tinnitus But They Can Help
Tinnitus doesn’t have a cure. However, hearing aids can help you manage both hearing loss and tinnitus in ways that can reduce symptoms and improve one’s quality of life. In fact, one study revealed that as much as 60 percent of tinnitus patients saw relief when they used hearing aids, with 22 percent showing appreciable relief.
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 option as more advanced treatment methods are being produced.
Types of Specialty Hearing Aids to Reduce Tinnitus Symptoms
Hearing aids work by collecting natural sounds from the environment around you and amplifying them to a level that lets you hear. Even though it might be simple in design, that amplification of sound, be it the hum of a dinner party or the rattle of a ceiling fan, is critical in training your brain to receive certain stimulations again.
You can take an even more comprehensive approach to your tinnitus management by enhancing hearing aids with other strategies, like stress reduction, sound stimulation, and counseling.
Some hearing aid makers even use the irregular rhythm of fractal tones to minimize the symptoms of tinnitus. The persistent tone of tinnitus can be interrupted by the irregular tones of these inconsistent rhythms.
Other specialized devices attempt to blend your tinnitus in with the natural sounds you’re hearing. Your condition and ear have very personal needs and this technique will use a personalized 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, hearing aids help decrease 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