Should I mask the sound of Tinnitus or not? - Tinnitus UK

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Should I mask the sound of Tinnitus or not?

_Barnabas profile image
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Does habituation happen any quicker if you try to live with the sound of tinnitus rather than seek to mask it?

I’m trying to sleep without recorded sounds in the hope I will get used to it faster but sometimes need recorded sounds during the day in order for some

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_Barnabas
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3 Replies

It is not about masking it. What I try to do is educate the brain to ignore the T sound that it generates as just another background noise which it ignores. By playing pleasant sounds over it the hope is T will fade into the background and no longer be an issue. That's the theory, don't ask me if it works long term, I haven't gotten there yet.

daverussell profile image
daverussell

I made enquiries to two audiologists about using the masking feature with my hearing aids. Both recommended that I should NOT to use it.

The idea is that you should avoid masking and do not avoid situations that you think may trigger it. If you mask to then you become dependent on it and the more situations that you are exposed to the better.

I've taken on this advice and it allowed me to just get on with accepting tinnitus.

Hi I’ve worn earring aids for a good few years now and I had T so bad only to found out my hearing had got a lot worse. Had my hearing looked at again needed stronger hearing aids it’s really helped my T I still struggle at night when I take them out but it’s much better than it was.

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