Can I get hearing aids/ masker with normal hearing?

[Dustydream]

Hi Everyone,

So I've had tinnitus for well over a year now and its pretty consistent pitch constantly. I've gone through the same process as many other post's I've read on here. Visit ENT, referred for MRI then back to ENT. Results of MRI thankfully come back clear and have been advised that as my hearing is within normal range that I couldn't get a hearing aid on the NHS. He has referred me on to something else, I was confused by this point and just agreed with him.

Is this the case as I've seen similar post's to mine where it has been possible?

I could be mistaken with the function of a hearing aid to be honest lol. But I would love some kind of device to just help me mask the sound at night. Ideally an in ear device that will allow the surrounding sounds to come through but can also look to mask it. Are there devices like this? Are they suitable for my normal hearing? I'm at my whits end! Do I have to damage my hearing to get somewhere? Sounds insane to think it, but that's how I feel!

Thanks in advance anyone willing to offer any advice.

James

[ShakeelaBTA]

Hello and welcome to the British Tinnitus Association forum.

Do feel free to ask any questions, I hope that you find this a helpful and supportive place to help you manage your tinnitus.

We have some resources that you might like to check out in addition to our home here:

tinnitus.org.uk (information and support details)

takeontinnitus.co.uk (free tinnitus management programme)

Its worth checking the online shop we have for products that would be helpful to use when you sleep tinnitus.org.uk/Pages/Shop/...

If you’d like to sign up to receive ‘Focus’, our new free monthly e-newsletter, you can sign up at tinnitus.org.uk/forms/conta...

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

Kind regards

Shakeela

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Some people with tinnitus have success with Sound Therapy devices, playing neutral sound at a low volume overnight. One piece of advice is not to increase the volume of what you listen to as a way of directly blocking your tinnitus - getting the volume to a level where you're aware of it as a relaxing sound in the background is something to aim for.

You can buy Sound Therapy systems on our website's store, via connevans.co.uk or that all-conquering online shop with a river for a name.

You could also try looking at pillows with built-in speakers - connect a smartphone and play one of the many tinnitus apps for iOS and Android devices. This is a good way to keep the sound near to you without being too disturbing for anybody else around.

[JohnJopp]

Hi James. For the NHS to issue you with a hearing aid your hearing must be below a certain level on your hearing test. My audiologist told me that if they were to issue you with one when you don't really need it then it could actually make your hearing worse. What they can issue you with is a masker which looks like a hearing aid but it just plays a white noise sound in your ear with the intention of taking your focus away from your tinnitus sound. You would wear this during the day for something like 4 hours at a time (if I remember correctly). If your T only bothers you at night then you probably don't need a masker and it's more usual to just play nature sounds like rain or the sea. This can be from a purpose made sound machine (BTA sell them) but I think more popular these days is to get an app for your phone. My current favourite is ReSound Tinnitus Relief which is free on the Google Play store. I have it playing all night on my bedside cabinet at a low volume but you could also connect your phone to some pillow speakers which you place under your pillow. It's generally not advisable to have an earphone in your ear all night.

John

[Woodentop99]

Ok here is my experience,referred to ent, who just shipped me immediately to audiology for hearing test,outcome hearing proved to be slight deficit nothing to write home about, if there was no T present I would have been 100% rejected for aid(s) However purely on the presence of T I was then 100% entitled to them , this was told me by my audiologist, hope this helps.

[Zvincent]

Hi...download tinitus therapy lite on your phone its great with timer ...i have question do you vape?

[Stinazap in reply to Zvincent]

Hi, can I ask why you asked if they vape?

I do, is this worse?

[Lioned]

I have a small sony walkman with ear buds.I have downloaded nature sounds,waves,rain also ‘white noise’

I particularly like babbling brook.

I can set it to play on loop so i plug myself in when going to bed.

My T is so bad i wear them most of the time now.

[Midge19]

As I just replied to some one else try Bose sleep buds they are brilliant.you can get hearing aids with tinnitus maskers for very mild hearing loss .but they are about £1.600 roughly

Good luck

[Sweeper]

Hi you should be able to get hearing aids that mask your tinnitus i have two that mask it a bit n make life a wee bit more bearable . I started off with one hearing aid after i damaged my ear drum now i have two of them the do work quite well but you should ask your audioligist