Hearing aids and tinnitus

[Icicles]

I posted a few short months ago about having mind bending tinnitus (which had taken a turn for the worse), and hearing loss. I saw a brilliant ear, nose and throat consultant who stated that I had some hearing loss and that my tinnitus was in the frequency of my hearing loss and so there was a very strong possibility that they were linked.

Short story, short. I now have two brilliant FREE hearing aids on the NHS and I can only hear my tinnitus when I take them out. A great sadness for me was that my tinnitus ‘drowned out’ the sound of birds singing and brooks babbling, and the brilliant thing for me is that my tinnitus and my hearing loss were related. I had lost the frequency of women’s voices, birdsong and tinkling water, so, my consultant told me, my tinnitus was in that frequency.

Thank you for the support I received when I was at my wits’ end. The answer to my question was- our brilliant NHS!

[Ingrid-p]

Hearing aids definitely help when t is caused by hearing loss. I can't believe how much quieter mine is when my aids go in. Very important to get regular hearing tests so that aids can be tweaked if needed.

[Icicles in reply to Ingrid-p]

I didn’t really understand why they would help, but I was desperate. And so grateful that they did help and to the nhs. I’m glad to hear that they work for you too, ingrid xx

[Suziwong]

Brilliant my aids are helping me too also NHS

[Icicles in reply to Suziwong]

Hello Suziwong, really glad to hear that yours are helping too. The nhs is amazing.

[Freddy17]

I'm very glad you have to help that you need it. That's why I asked you a question what kind of hearing aids do you have because mine cost me $4,000 when I put them in I can still hear my tinnitus.

[Suziwong in reply to Freddy17]

I have NHS aids which are very bulky, a bit uncomfortable but really help diminish T. I also have privately bought aids which are very much smaller, less noticeable to others when I am out and about and also very good at helping me forget T. My T. varies depending on my state of mind, ie if I am tired I still hear T. with both aids but the sounds around me are amplified so T. appears less.

[Freddy17 in reply to Suziwong]

Thank you very much for that information.

[Icicles in reply to Freddy17]

I have ‘oticon’ hearing aids. I have a really obvious ‘switch’ type experience when I put them in, the sounds of birds come in and the tinnitus and dull sounds go away. I am straining to hear the tinnitus sounds now as I write, and I cannot. This is so odd, because they were a constant misery.

Freddy, I’m sorry to hear that this hasn’t been the case for you, and I’m sorry that you paid so much. Tinnitus is such a misery ☹️

[Freddy17 in reply to Icicles]

Thank you for those words. But I guess we have to deal with this problem with tinnitus until they come up with some type of cure.

[Joeb17]

Hi my hearing loss is women’s and children’s voices I have been given hearing aids but unfortunately when I wear mine I can hear but it makes my tinnitus worse even a click of a light switch makes my tinnitus spike and is an nightmare when I wash up when crockery clans together so wear ear plugs I do not wear my hearing aids now I would rather be deaf than have my T go higher .

I’m glad yours work but the trouble with T is not every body’s the same

[Icicles in reply to Joeb17]

I’m sorry to hear that your hearing aids make your tinnitus worse Joeb17, the fear that mine would worsen contributed to my not going for a test for so long. It is true that tinnitus is a unique and individual experience for each of us. I hope that you find a solution 🤞🏼

[Freddy17 in reply to Joeb17]

Even deaf people suffer with tinnitus.

[Woodentop99]

Brilliant news, and yes, I have two nhs hearing aids (oticon ), they have x4 settings and volume control, setting 1 is hearing aid only, incredibly this is my “ go to” setting when mr T is angry and it really helps him calm down !!!! The other 3 are maskers which most of the time I flip between 2/3 as they are more like a shusssssssssshhhhhh noise number 4 is the sea coming into shore then out with a gap in the middle when mr T nips in for a few seconds.I always sleep in my aids otherwise he is at his worts in both my ears I wear them for 23 hours and a half per day only removing for bath or shower, without these I would 100% be back in the dark place and would not be posting this!!!!!!!!!!!, long live nhs.

[Icicles in reply to Woodentop99]

That’s great to know woodentop99, I don’t know where I would be or where I would be going if I hadn’t been able to get mine under control. I totally love my hearing aids.

[dsh2358]

👍👍🥳🥳 congrats love a good ending

Best of luck in your new Silence 😊

[djv1985]

I have 20% hearing loss in the t ear from the infection and I’m waiting for hearing aids should be getting a letter at some point and I’m really hoping it helps. Even lowering the volume would be great. Whilst I know every t is different This post gives me hope.

I can cope with the noise sometimes but not always (as past posts can attest to) the audiologist I saw said that the noise could be because of the hearing loss and that if it is the aids will help even a bit so like I said I’m hoping they do.

Mine will be nhs as well. I asked the audiologist how long you can wear them and she said “as long as you like to be honest. You can wear them day and night but we do always say give your ears a break once every day or two so they can breath”. I plan on updating when I get the aids.

Oh how long did it take for you to get used to the hearing aids comfort wise and the sound apparently it can take some time to get used to.

[Icicles in reply to djv1985]

djv1985, I am not joking, I put them in and never looked back. My father in law is faffing around with his and I have met people who pull a sad face when I tell them I have hearing aids...not me, I am absolutely delighted. I think it’s because of the utter torture it’s been and maybe the strange sounds they sometimes make when I get a bit close to things will get on my nerves a bit, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget how awful it was and will always be so grateful for them. Good luck with yours and do post an update 👍🏼

[djv1985 in reply to Icicles]

I’ll definitely update. I’m hoping they do something even just kicking down the volume would be a godsend. I won’t have them until the 15th of this month so a week to go.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

How are ur hearing aids doing for u

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

I was only given one and for a day or so it worked wonders the T went into the background but then after a little while it came back worse so I took it out and had to habituate again. So I gave up the hearing aids. I’m going good with the t now it’s there but is rarely a problem for me.

It has its screaming moments but I just lean on distraction. Although I fear ear infection like it’s a cancer.

How r u?

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

Just eating to see my consultant and hearing aids

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

I hope they help. They do take their time with the appointments lol. If you having hearing loss then it should help. They thought I had 20% hearing loss but two hearing tests later and it turns out I lost barely anything so just gave me one anyway. I was going for a masker but decided to try without and I’ve been dealing with it better lol.

Hopefully they’ll sort you out and u have better luck than I did. I’ve Got enough injuries and issues at the minute lol.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

Do u recommend I try spec savers for a hearing test as well

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

You can do. Sometimes though I think having more than one at a time or close together can be confusing (it would be to me lol) especially if different results come along. If you’re waiting weeks or months then it wouldn’t hurt but if it’s a matter of days then I’d wait for the ent one.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

havw u tried a masker on a hearing aid

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

They wouldn’t give them. Said it would stop me from learning to live with the noise.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

how loud is ur tinnitus mins a wushing noise it there all the time

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

Mines a high pitch static with a very soft hum that sometimes can be low enough that the high pitches sound covers it up. I have three though the third comes and goes like it owns my head lol.

Volume wise it can change. Most of the time the high pitch is there. Almost always loud enough to be heard but not loud enough that it becomes an annoyance but it has its moments that it is so loud I have to get up or stop what I’m doing and find a distraction.

Distraction is my first port of call. I stay clear of booze and tablets not out of toughness or anything but fear that either will make the Tinnitus worse.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

how come the nhs would give u a tinnitus masker that seems a bit strange on there side

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

I don’t know. The ENT I had also had Tinnitus and wouldn’t put me for them saying “it will make getting used to the noise difficult because you’ll always have a crutch to run to” so I think he just did it to try and force me to get used to it. I can’t fault him because I did end up getting used to it. I’m not bothered by it almost 99% of the time. (So far lol).

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

do u get heakes

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

Yes. I get headaches not often but have a few. I’ve also had on off vertigo over the passed few weeks but I just let it pass and carry on. I’ve heard that it’s something some Tinnitus sufferers get.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

have u had tinnitus traing at ur nhs or trt

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

Nope. Was referred but it never came about. No reason ever given though. It just never came.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

Don’t u we’re u hearing at all now do u have some hearing loss how did u get tinnitus thanks

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

I got mine through a bad ear infection that my former GP said would clear up on its own but didn’t and lasted for about two months. I was sent to Lewisham hospital to have it cleaned out. I had Tinnitus about three weeks into the infection.

I had two hearing tests the first said I had 20% hearing loss so they gave me one hearing aid but it didn’t work and most days made everything worse so I had a second and they said I had barely any loss and hearing aids wouldn’t really help me.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

What is the best way to distraction The t

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

I sort of made my own up lol:

When it’s loud I try to watch a good film or tv series. Straight through if it’s a show. Even if the t is there for the first episode after one or two my mind focuses on the tv and the show or film.

Or go for a walk. While on the walk notice everything. Colours of leaves the sky the clothes people are wearing mention them note the potholes in the ground. Look for a certain bird even one you know has no chance of being there. I’ve often spent afternoons look for eagles in the local park. I know they won’t be there but I still look lol.

Or put on a video game. I am a gamer now thanks to Tinnitus. Call of Duty gets a lot of my attention. I play for a few hours in the night or day at weekends to distract me.

These are basically what I did. They help distract me. Or a hand puzzle like a Rubix cube sort of thing. It really helps me. I can’t promise it will you but it’s stuff that I have.

[deltec in reply to djv1985]

Hi again when u was wearing ur hearing aids how could tell u still had ur tinnitus could hear it

[djv1985 in reply to deltec]

Yh I could still hear it. Mine isn’t because of hearing loss as far as they are aware because I’ve lost barely any. They work for some people though. Mine was still there for a day or two it was super quiet but then it came back with a vengeance so I stopped wearing them.

[SUS776]

That's brilliant l to wear NHS witch helps my t but unfortunately l am allergic to the plastic have to wait 5 weeks on new moulds with special plastic a well hopefully get there in the end

[Icicles in reply to SUS776]

Oh crikey SUS776, that’s a set back, but hopefully you will have them in before too long and can get on with living xx

[deltec in reply to SUS776]

What did ur audiologist say what was the course of ur tinnitus

[SUS776 in reply to deltec]

Hearing loss might be hereditary still waiting to see ent could be as long as sept starting manage mental course on t Feb hopefully help

[deltec in reply to SUS776]

what did u say I don't understand

[SUS776 in reply to deltec]

Sorry haven't seen audioigist yet this September but starting a support groups February

[Whine]

ICICLES:- Would you be so kind as to describe your NHS hearing aids, and to let us know the make? Thanks.

[deltec]

did u r hearaids work straight away or did u have to wait till u got used to them

[deltec]

how are u sleeping