Masking good or bad

[Brad1951]

I am having to use ocean waves masking sounds on my NHS hearing aids for most of the time to cover the sound of my tinnitus as it seems so loud now, a couple of months ago if I was busy or outdoors I did not need my masking sounds but for some reason I now need the masking sounds to cover my Tinnitus. Does anyone else use masking sounds all of the time and am I using them too long? Thanks Alan.

[Darren6]

Hi, I would do some research into masking. The way i understand it is that by masking you dont give your brain an option to filter out the tinnitus sound. If you have sounds play just under the level of your tinnitus you help your audio system defocus from the tinnitus sound over time. This is the basis of tinnitus retraining therapy and worked for me for habituation.

[Brad1951 in reply to Darren6]

Thank you for your advice,

[Happyrosie]

as you’ve already said, Alan, when you’re busy and occupied the tinnitus fades a bit into the background - that’s how I deal with mine.

And as Darren says, you need to play the sound just under the level of tinnitus. Have a look at the website of Tinnitus UK (was the British tinnitus association) and put “masking” into their search box, it gives more explanation

[waterfalls123456]

Use them for as long as you want. I love ocean waves. To relax .

[waterfalls123456 in reply to waterfalls123456]

Also I play above gge level intentionally as by relaxing and visualising the oceN my whole body relaxes.

[Graham-E]

Hello Brad1951,

I have the same NHS hearing aids as you and know what you mean.

I tend to use that function when in silent places. Strangely, I find playing a pod case of something that you are interested in to be more effective. There is something comforting about having a story read to you and that is what it feels like to me. I still hear everyday sounds and that distraction feels sometimes better than the ocean sound these generate.

Take care G

[RockyB88]

I think the comments everyone have made are on the money. Ideally you don’t want to over rely on masking to avoid your tinnitus. However, if the tinnitus is making you frustrated or anxious/ depressed and you find that the masking noises are reducing or removing those feelings, then I’d say that is the most important thing. As always, everyone’s experience with T will be different and what works well for one person may be different for another.

[777john]

My tinnitus is too loud to sleep with out masking so Iv used rain hitting a window for the last 18 months with out masking its hard to sleep it certainly takes the edge of my tinnitus