Yesterday morning I was fitted with a combi hearing aid. I'm still getting used to it and it will take a while for it to bed in. I have to say though, it is doing something. Whether it’s just using the hearing program or the hearing program with noise. it is definitely pushing the tinnitus away more than anything has done before. There is also enough adjustment to make me comfortable in most situations, and I've put myself in many different day to day environments in the last two days to test this. There is even and auto noise program that adjusts the white noise automatically depending on the surrounding environment. I'm finding that setting particularly useful. I'm not sure how it will fare on my 'raging T days'. However, I'll deal with that when it happens.
The weirdest thing is getting used to the amplification. I have high pitched hearing loss in my left ear, so my day to day hearing isn't on the surface really that bad. However, I'm now hearing things I couldn't or didn't realise or care that I couldn't before. Starting the car and driving home from the hospital was an experience in itself.
I know many of you on here will already be aware of most of the info I'm sharing. And I know everyone’s T is different. Just from my own perspective and situation, a hearing aid, at the moment, is definitely adding some comfort to my high pitched 'T'.
Thinking positive, staying positive.
I hope you are well. Merry Christmas to all.
Steve
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This is very interesting to know. I am due to be fitted in January and I also suffer high pitch hearing loss (and high pitch tinnitus) I tend to struggle to hear most when there is a lot of background noise or several people talking and I hope the aids will help with this as well as calm the tinnitus!.
Glad to hear you're making some headway Steve. I battled against myself for a good few months before starting wearing the HA's, as I just really didn't want to but also I didn't feel my hearing was that bad. 6mths down the line, I can't imagine life without them - the difference they make, to my hearing if not Mr T, is noticeable & beneficial. Also, addressing a hearing impairment is usually the first step in any sort of tinnitus therapy.
Did you ask for the combi aids or were they just offered to you by the audiologist? NHS or private?
Hi Steve, good to read that you are in a better place. I too have high-pitch hearing loss in one ear and was given a hearing aid. I was given a white noise masker for my good ear. That was over 2 years ago and now I don't have to use the white noise masker, wearing the hearing aid only and this, I believe, has obliterated my tinnitus when I am wearing it, thank goodness. Initially, I found the hearing enhancement too much so my hearing aid was adjusted to a more comfortable level - I really didn't want to hear the rustling of carrier bags and the tinny clink of teaspoons whilst sitting in a cafe! But, it seems that all hearing aid users have to deal with amplified background noise and I now choose not to go into pubs etc which have laminated floors, glass tables, no curtains etc to absorb the background noise.
Best of luck Steve, be positive, keep wearing the aids and in time your tinnitus will quieten.
Hello Steve, Could you tell me what make your hearing aid is please and do you have a variety of noises to listen too? I've just been fitted with a teneo M+ device on the NHS which didn't go too well on fitting so they are ordering me a better one. I think my hearing and tinnitus loss is high pitched and so far I can't hear the pink noise and the white noise is more irritating than the tinnitus as I think it is a bit too loud and I am not able to turn it down!
However I am glad that the NHS are trying to help me and hope the next device is a bit more suitable.
My aid is made by Oticom. And it’s a combination device. The noise was programmed when it was fitted by the audiologist. He basically programmed the noise which masked my T best. Which turned out to be a soft sounding white noise. We got it at a particular level that didn’t drown the T out but matched it. I can either have the Noise on its own or just the hearing program on its own or both. I preferred the latter. The noise then automatically adjusts itself depending on the environment. It’s working out for me so far. Steve
Thanks Steve for your reply. I am not sure that my audiologist has the skill or experience to mask the tinnitus. It was almost one size fits all and it isn't working for me! On my next visit I will be a bit more demanding, it is a shame as the device is only part of the equation. I am glad it is working for you. Heather.
Thank you Steve, it is so nice to hear your doing well with your hearing aids. I know " Spectsavers " hearing aids are fitted with a noise filter but wonder how does it work at night in bed ? I use my " Oasis sound generator " to get me through the night as it totally masks my " Hyperacusis " and I get at least 7 hours sleep with it on all night.
So I know how much relief a good device for hearing problems means to sufferers . It's great your so positive and enjoying your new circumstances.
I do exactly the same as you. I also have the oasis sound machine. The aid comes out at night. And the machine goes on. To be honest, I’ve been lucky with sleep and the T is not as of yet keeping me awake. It’s always there, for some reason I’m still able to sleep without the oasis machine on sometimes. The hearing aid has definitely made a difference though. I had a drink last night to deliberately give myself a hangover (the things I do for science). My T is nearly always bad the morning after a drink. The aid with the noise at an equal level to the T is actually keeping it out. So that’s definitely progress.
It sounds like your T experience is pretty similar to my own. High frequency hearing impairment, high pitched T, still able to sleep pretty well (thank flip for that!), T provoked badly by booze etc etc - all exactly the same as me.
I'd be interested to hear how you get on w/ the HA's over the next 6mths. I had an immediate boost when I first stared wearing mine, for the first couple of days I could barely hear the T at all. But then after a few weeks it started creeping back in and getting louder & louder again over time. Hopefully your experience will diverge from mine and your improvement will be sustained, but as I say, I'd be interested.
Thanks Steve for the update on your hearing aids - great news so far! and thank you everyone else for your positive stories too - it's good to hear, and I'm sure very reassuring for people who are looking at their options.
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