Hearing aids

[Harveymum]

I got hearing aids this week. I only have moderate hearing loss and the difference is amazing. However, when I'm not wearing them now my tinnitus has ramped up by about 50%. Has anyone had this before and does it settle back down or am I going to be suffering with my tinnitus even worse now without the aids in?

[doglover1973]

Morning Harveymum I got my HA's just over three weeks ago . Like you I notice the difference when I've got them in but also an increase in volume when I take them out. It was very noticeable at first but less so in the last few days. If anything I think my T has softened a little though this may be because I'm more relaxed now I have some relief . Persevere 🐶

[Suz_2 in reply to doglover1973]

hi dl- can i ask ? what is yr T like when you take out the hearing aids - is it louder or has this eased. Also do you wear the HA all day?

[doglover1973 in reply to Suz_2]

Hi Suz_2 Yes. My T is louder when I take the aids out but it usually settles again. Or perhaps I don't notice it so much. I'm up to five hours a day so far . The audiologist told me to build up slowly because of the problems I had last year with private HA's . Aiming for full days within 3 months.

[Harveymum in reply to doglover1973]

I wasn't given any instructions of how long to wear them.

[doglover1973 in reply to Harveymum]

I don't think there are any hard & fast rules . If you can happily wear them all day it's a good idea to do so. I 've got sensitive ear canals so I have to take it steady. That's all 🙂

[Suz_2 in reply to doglover1973]

hi - I had prob with private HA's last Oct -they were too strong as the Audiologist said he had 'overcooked' the settings - even after adjustment, I had huge problem when I took them out - as the T was totally unbearable and I couldnt eat , sleep for weeks. NHS audiology want me to try again with HA's through NHS, but i am scared of the T being unbearable again

[doglover1973 in reply to Suz_2]

Why don't you give it a go Suz_2 .. Like you I had a bad experience privately but the NHS have been amazing. The young audiologist I saw couldn't have been kinder or more helpful. She set the HA's just below the threshold so it wouldn't be overwhelming and she 's going to turn them up a notch if need be at the follow up. I'm sure you'll be fine with the NHS.

[Happyrosie]

I agree with doglover. Because your T is less noticeable when your aids are in (I assume and hope) it’s more noticeable when they are out! The audiologist should have explained this to you (at least, mine did) and that it takes a while for things to settle. Which they will!

[JustinDownes]

That happened to me when I first got them but the theory is that gradually the brain will neutralise the T sounds. Just a question of the brain habituating.

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

It's a process, Harveymum and it takes a while - early days yet.

[Covenette1]

Hi there,I’m with Dog Lover on this, yes, when you start wearing HAs you do notice your T more when you take them out but honestly, you’ll get used to this - I wouldn’t be without my HA now. Hang on in there.

Kim x

[Suz_2 in reply to Covenette1]

how long did it take , for you, before the increased loudness ( when not wearing the HA's ) to reduce?

[daverussell]

Like everyone says, it takes time to habituate. I've had hearing aids for over 2 years. I got some new ones 7 or 8 weeks ago and I'm having to adjust again - It's getting there. Due to Hyperacusis, and being able to pick up more background noise, I struggle more in some situations during conversation. In fact, on a couple of occasions in the first few of weeks, I've had to take them out to hear. Again I know it's part of the habituation. Stick with it.

[bournville in reply to daverussell]

Hi Dave interested how you tolerate hearing aids and hyperacusis? I understood hearing aids were probably a no no for me due to hyperacusis. How does it help you ?

[daverussell in reply to bournville]

Being able to hear conversations is an improvement in my quality of life, and also helping to mask my tinnitus. Either way I need to learn to live with it.

I should have mentioned my Hearing Aids include a masking program. I use this when I'm reading or working on my laptop (I'm a teacher so plenty of planning). The program not only masks tinnitus, but can drown out low-level background noise. I'm also taking Sertraline to help with the Anxiety.

More recently, at my local pub quiz I started to always scribe the answers for our team. I don't alway hear perfectly, but more often than not or just asking them to repeat a couple of times it's fine. I also pick up more background noise which can be distracting, but I just remind myself I need to adjust. Sertraline is helping me tolerate most of the distraction and annoyance.

There isn't a single answer or single strategy; a very personal thing or preference. If you're ready to accept it, I suggest speaking to your audiologist.

All the best.

[Parrcj]

Very positive news I have a telephone app in August , hearing aids have been suggested. My ear and head screams in the morning I have to get up which help slightly once I am active

[Graham-E]

Hello yes I’ve noticed a difference and as I have combination HAs which play sounds as well as amplify then I notice a difference when out. The other side is the worry if you cannot find one. As you get used to relying on them then missing one is also a problem as it takes a good amount of time to replace them. Very best Graham

[notdodgy]

Similar story here. Currently just woken up and my T is very loud again.It simply becomes more noticeable when it is quiet.

If I were to play some music or put the aids in then it is less noticeable again.

The T never goes away, it's my awareness that changes.

To get to sleep I use sleep headohones and one of the sleep tracks on the calm app.

[Mags1417]

Hi

I was advised to take out my hearing aids a couple of hours before bed just to adjust back to my T. I have a mild moderate high frequency loss and I don’t need to wear them in the evening. I think it’s more the increased awareness after hearing more sound with your hearing aids. So hopefully you will adjust again. I can still hear my T with my aids - but they have been amazing for work as I was really struggling as still have to wear masks all day and had to really work hard to hear what people were saying without the visual cues . I also play instrumental music at night when getting ready for bed - mainly film scores Cinematic chill out on Spotify is my all time favourite. I find this help settle my T at night - it’s still there but Its ok. I then switch to an audio book as I have always needed something to distract my brain for sleep.

[DizzyLizzyYorkshire]

Thank you for this post, and the responses. I have mild hearing loss and I`m not sure about having HAs - it`s helpful to read about experiences so I can be prepared for any issues. Thank you all xx

[Harveymum]

Thanks for all your tips and the "hang on in there!" posts. I will persevere as it's great to be able to pick up sounds I'd long forgotten such as the noise of a fridge or even my fingernails on the keyboard as I'm typing

[doglover1973 in reply to Harveymum]

It's amazing isn't it .. I've noticed every creak & rustle. I keep thinking What's that?! 🙃

[Lynne-H]

Best noise for me - birdsong - wonderful xx

[attack13]

Hi Harveymum, I can only accentuate what everyone has said. I’m in exactly the same position as you. Some days when I have my aids in I forget my tinnitus until I take them out and wow I notice it then more - but it also depends on my tiredness, what medication I’m on, how much caffeine I’ve had and how quiet the house is.Give your brain time to adjust…it’s a wonderful thing and will start to adapt and hopefully you’ll become used to the changes that come with wearing aids.

Bear with it and try to stay relaxed about it as that will help your brain help you.

Good luck x

[bantams]

Hi Harveymum, After going for over 3 months with my T not bothering me, just over 3 weeks ago for some reason my T became very loud and annoying again. A week ago I started to use my hearing aids again, which I hadn`t used for the 3 months. My T is less bothersome with my hearing aids in and yes it seems louder when I take them out. Hopefully soon I will get back to not having to use them when my brain stops fighting it again. Good Luck.

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear of your distress. I have moderate hearing loss & tinnitus for 5 years or so. I find that when wearing thrm my hearing aids mask the tinnitus in my left ear most of the time but tinnitus has got noisier over time especially when my surroundings are quiet, like when I’m trying to get to sleep. I do find my reading does distance me from the tinnitus but I’m not one for using background music which some find helpful. So far there is no cure but it’s worth trying out some of the different suggestions people give on Health Unlocked & other websites on the Internet. Regards MM

[bluebell71]

Hi I have had an hearing aid for a few months now, my left ear is usually the loudest, however, these last few months my T has been in both ears and my head.

It was amazing when I first had my hearing aid for once I could hardly hear my T, I couldn’t believe it.

If my T is in my left ear mostly my hearing aid works brilliantly but with T being all over my mind it doesn’t have the same effect.

I like yourself have to keep going as it will change back to my left ear only and I can then get relief from my hearing aid.

I struggle sometimes…..

[Hidden]

All the best with the new hearing aids, Harveymum.

I remember when I got my first NHS hearing aid and flushed the toilet at the hospital, got a fright at the noise of the flush it was so loud! The overwhelming aspect calmed down. I now have two NHS HAs and switch between wearing both or just the one if it is too loud.

I have a problem with sound direction and hypersensitive to noise but it has made the tinnitus more steady and manageable.

As you say, at first my tinnitus buzz seemed louder but I think I was just more aware of it...it calmed down after a month or so and the hearing aids definitely helped longer term.

Good luck 🍀

[Suz_2]

hi - I was looking at your post again today and wondering how you are getting on with the hearing aids? Is it still very loud when you take them out?

[Harveymum in reply to Suz_2]

Hi Suz26. I'm persevering with the hearing aids although th eright one falls off a lot (my ear canal and the top of my ear is bigger on that side) so I have another appointment to try and sort it out. I certainly know when I've taken them out as my tinnitus can get worse, but now no worse than it was before I started wearing them. The other day I went to a very noisy social gathering and worse my hearing aids. big mistake, I think my poor brain had sensory overload and I only got 3 hours sleep that night because my tinnitus was horrendous. I guess it's a fine line between do I want to hear at such gatherings or suffer once I get home? I think I'll skip the hearing aids when I go to such events! Hope you are doing ok