I first experienced tinnitus in my right ear in 2012. My ear was blocked, then syringed and ta-dah, hello tinnitus! It was accompanied with a sudden hearing loss of around 30%. I have my hearing tested regularly through work and it has stayed consistent, my tinnitus has never left from that day. From that day I vowed to promote the anti-syringe message, although the practice seems to be dying out.
Experienced sufferers will know that after the immediate devastation (I doubt think that is exaggerating) that things get better and that you come to live with it. It certainly rarely bothers me any more.
In the past couple of weeks my left ear has popped (it was perfect) after an open water swim. I have been putting drops in but it is not clearing. There is tinnitus there now which is difficult to pick out as it is the same frequency as my right ear and not sure if that will now be permanent or just filling in. I would say my hearing has been lost 80/90% in that ear currently as I can barely hear anything.
Thankfully I have an ENT appointment later and there is no way I am letting anyone lose in there before seeing a consultant. It has understandably evoked memories of 2012 and I am fearing a similar result.
With just my right ear being impacted I can function pretty normally, unless someone tries to whisper in it. I have long switched phone use to my left ear etc...
I'm looking for advice on the following, assuming at some point I my hearing is likely going to degenerate, although I hope my left is ear is just blocked and fine.
What are the best hearing aids to assist with tinnitus and moderate hearing loss?
Probably more through vanity and baldness I would be looking for in-ear style if they are suitable.
It is also a minefield of suppliers, so looking for recommendations and best pricing. I would be willing to invest in the right ones but (for example) don't want to spend £3,000 if you can get the same ones for £1500 elsewhere.
For any new tinnitus sufferers reading this, I promise you it gets better and that you are not alone.
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TinnyT
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I can only give you my example for hearing aids that worked for me, I am no audiologist and have only tried this model so others may be able to give you their opinion on what helped them.
I was given a pair of Oticon More 1 aids, I only used 1, in the ear where my hearing loss was albeit loss at the higher levels only. The HA was used to not help me with hearing but to give me constant sound therapy for my hyperacusis and tinnitus. They were over the ear and very discreet. I have short hair and they were not noticeable even though at the age of nearly 50 i wasnt too worried about them being noticed. I got the HA around 2 years ago and it was £1500 (i gave the second one back) which included the appointments with the private audiologist.
There are some audiologists that offer free 60 day trials of these aids, maybe worth looking into that option if you are unsure.
I did have a free trial on some in-ear ones to help hibuate during my initial tinnitus. I think they really helped but didn’t feel I needed them after the trial.
Thankfully the ENT consultant sucked out a disgusting amount of wax from my ‘good’ ear last night, which funnily enough has restored my hearing. The additional tinnitus also disappeared immediately.
if you are getting the aids on the NHS, they are completely free as are the batteries you will need. The NHS audiologist will prescribe what is best for you.
You can go to high street audiologists who might prescribe something different of course.
When I was offered NHS ones previously they didn’t have the option of in-ear. I took the option of an in-ear white noise generator which helped.
I pay for private health care so fortunate to be able to access consultants and certain treatments. I would have to buy any aids though. It’s just a minefield of options so was looking for recommendations.
you are throwing money away for absolutely no reason, go to nhs audiologist ,they are not only free in some cases better than the extremely expensive ones via private route, why do you want to throw your money away unnecessarily, even try them if no good, fair enough go and buy them, my nhs ( oticon) are a Godsend. Good luck either way.
I’ve had private insurance for 30 years. 3 bouts of spinal surgery, sinus surgery, tennis elbow treatment and countless visits to chiropractors and physios.
However great our NHS are, if I’d relied on them I’d be dead by now!
Take the point on aids though as if I don’t go NHS I’ll have to buy them, so will see what’s on offer.
PS I receive my insurance via my employer as a taxable benefit which covers my family, so I’d be crazy not to pay for it. I saw an ENT consultant in three days after my issue. I wouldn’t get a phone appointment with my GP in that timescale.
It sounds like you've had a good experience! Unfortunately the NHS ENT Consultant has decided my moderate hearing loss and tinnitus is 'routine'- I am on the waiting list but with no date to be seen- I've waited 6 months already- nothing for it but to go private - I'm paying monthly for my £3500 hearing aids.
absolutely scandalous, so your consultant can hear your Tinnitus to be able to decide this, and , yes, I am certainly lucky that where I live the service is good, providing they don’t slip through the net and end up private!!! Hope everything goes well for you.
yes, i see where you are coming from and why. I run a support group and some of the guys/gals, have bought privately, when they did not realise because of their T they could have got them free on nhs, however their main complaint and it happened to 3 different people,they had issues with them and one pair was sent away for 8 WEEKS ,not only did they suffer badly with the T they were extremely angry when they found out. A) They were entitled to them for free, B) The local hospital ( Audiology dept) runs a " drop in " service mon/fri,whereby you can take them in for repair, they may ask you to leave them for an hour or so,on return they are fixed or in some cases get a new one/ pair free, this is where our NHS delivers , so in your case if you do go privately, which you are fully entitled to, please check on how things work after sale, without mine i would be back in the "dark place " in no time, hope everything goes well for you.
I trialled Specsavers ones with bluetooth . They can pick up stations on my phone. I like LBC. Not sure I like them seemed to get odd screech in good ear. However I finally got my NHS apt today , she could have given me the usual ones but suggested I wait another couple of months for the new ones they are getting with bluetooth. As Specsavers are £2000 and NHS are free , I said I'd wait. I may only wear one HA for the T ear anyway.
I seem to manage without one at the moment but if my T ear deteriorates I’ll definitely need one. I should maybe start the NHS journey to get one free as I can imagine that route takes quite a while.
well it took 5 months to get my first appointment with NHS audiology . . So could be a good idea to start the process soon. Then you have got them ready if you decide they would help . The purpose of HAs are to bring more normal everyday sounds into the T ears , thus making the T less noticeable.
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