Where can I buy tinnitus hearing aids? - Tinnitus UK

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Where can I buy tinnitus hearing aids?

jasmineam profile image
6 Replies

I do not have the money to buy them yet, but I am applying for jobs, so that I can save up for tinnitus hearing aids/noise generators. Two main Qs:

1) Where can I buy tinnitus hearing aids?

2) Which tinnitus hearing aids help to mask very high frequency pure tones?

I have 3 extremely high frequency tones in my left ear, and 2 extremely high pitched tones in my right ear. They are not intermittent, like pulsatile tinnitus, they are constant. Citalopram permanently damaged my inner ear.

I don't want, I NEED, my hearing back to anywhere near-normal. I need it back to near-normal within 12 months, or I am going to use different measures to get rid of it.

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jasmineam
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6 Replies
Neal2017 profile image
Neal2017

Hi,

I have recently been fitted with my hearing aid through ENT hospital - which is an NHS hearing aid and no charge - this is a normal hearing aid but I am due to try a masking one next.

jasmineam profile image
jasmineam in reply toNeal2017

Hello, the audiologist at the ENT didn't give me an NHS aid, becauses he said that I my hearing loss is only mild (10-20db at 6000hz-8000hz). This was after he said that I didn't have hearing loss at all. He was patronising, not understanding and said I just needed therapy. I am glad you've received this service! Imo, everyone with severe T deserves free hearing aids and I think NHS should fund for masking ones. T can be so debilitating. Let me know how you get on with your masking hearing aids! Will they be free too? I hope they help you.

sammie888 profile image
sammie888 in reply tojasmineam

Hi jasmineam go back to your GP and ask for a referral to audiology they will assess your problem and i am sure will provide you with a suitable hearing device to help with the tinnitus i have one for mild hearing lose with a tinnitus program built in that i can switch on when i require it.

All the best sammie

in reply tojasmineam

Hi Jasmineam,

Some health professionals need to improve their bedside manner and can be as you have described. When I first got tinnitus 22 years ago, I had to report my hearing therapist for being abrupt and at times rude. Fortunately, I didn't have see her again and learnt other patients had complained and she was finally asked to leave the hospital. You don't have to put up with this kind of behaviour. Talk to your GP and ask to be referred to someone else or write a letter to the head of the Audiology department as I did. I will not stand for it and will do whatever it takes to be treated with respect and understanding. Tinnitus can be a very debilitating condition especially in the early stages.

Now to enquiry. Tinnitus can be a complex condition and wearing hearing aids unnecessarily can make the condition worse. If your hearing is not that impaired, you may not need a hearimg aid, so please consider this and perhaps ask to be referred for a second opinion. Please keep in mind, if your hearing was impaired to the point where it is necessary to having a hearing aid/s then your ENT doctor would have advised you of this, after you had your hearing test with your Audiologist. That is the normal procedure although things may have changed now.

I have habituated to my tinnitus many years ago and still use white noise generators, as I was once issued with them when on a TRT programme. Please be aware, if white noise generators are not used correctly, they can make tinnitus worse. You should follow the advice of a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist who's trained in the treatment of tinnitus and hyperacusis management. Simply buying white noise generators privately (which one can do) is not a good idea. They are expensive and as I say can make tinnitus worse if not used correctly.

White noise generators are normally used as part of TRT Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. Two should be worn to keep the auditory system in balance. The volume level of the white noise generator should be set slightly below the tinnitus. At no time should the white noise "Fully mask" the tinnitus so it can't be heard.

If the tinnitus is totally masked then the brain will never learn to habituate to the tinnitus. Secondly, by masking the tinnitus with white noise you risk making the tinnitus louder and more intrusive.

I have written an article on tinnitus titled: Tinnitus, A Personal View. If covers all aspects of tinnitus. First meeting an ENT consultant and what to expect, hearing tests and being referred to a Hearing therapist for treatment and coping methods including therapies and devices used as white noise generators and Hearing aids. If you would like a copy, then send me your email address by private message, please don't post it in the forum.

Counselling and treatments such as CBT can help a lot with tinnitus management. Please click on the link below and read my post.

healthunlocked.com/bta/post...

All the best

Michael

Socalapt profile image
Socalapt

Hi Jasmineam.

I don’t have hearing loss but I’ve still been fitted with a masker on the NHS.

You shouldn’t have to buy one. It’s very early days with mine, so I don’t know how much it’s going to help yet. 👍

NicTinnitus profile image
NicTinnitus

Hi Jasmine

These hearing aids are available on the NHS. Most audiologists will give hearing aids for tinnitus patients at lower hearing losses because they know they help. They are coming up against budget restrictions, but they are available. Your audiologist should also be able to signpost you to other support services.

Our information about hearing aids is available here: tinnitus.org.uk/hearing-aid...

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

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