Hearing aids for tinnitus

[ClarkyC]

Hi I have had tinnitus since Oct 2022 following a nasty RTA. It was diagnosed last January. I was referred to audiology who did a hearing test and gave me a leaflet. I was on the waiting list for the local tinnitus clinic for 15 months. I am going back tomorrow to have hearing aids fitted to help mask my tinnitus. It's pretty severe a constant buzz which changes pitch and it is intense so any relief will be welcomed. I don't know what to expect, does anyone have any feedback re using hearing aids to mask the sound. Thanks

[perlcoder]

Hi ClarkyC

First, I hope that the aid(s) you receive will (a) include a masker and (b) be equipped with Bluetooth. Provision varies from one NHS Trust to another, and I am familiar only with my own which these days (mine old aids were replaced by them very recently) have both those features.

I am not sure whether this is your first or second appointment at audiology - you say "going back" and for "fitting" the aids. That sounds like a second appointment and that your hearing has already been tested. Even if it is a first appointment, my advice will hold good for it, or for a subsequent appointment,

The audiology test itself is quite simple, you listen to sounds over headphones and press a button when you can hear something. There are several stages to this, just try to relax, it is not an examination, you can't pass or fail. Just try to "listen through" your T - even if it is going through the roof under pressure. Every audiologist has reassured me that its presence during testing does not matter.

When that first part is done, and they have graphs of your hearing on screen, they will probably move on to masking (if your aid(s) have masking). More tones will be played in your ears that try to approximate to your T tone - since you have several you will have to try for the dominant one. Take your time, matching isn't always easy. Don't be afraid to say up or down a bit. The tone you choose will be programmed into your aid(s) together with the degree of amplification for either ear. My new aids have buttons which allow me to modify the degree of amplification and to switch the masker on and off - and to modify its loudness.

If you have Bluetooth aids and are comfortable with that you will be able to play over your aids any of the many masking sounds that are available for your cell phone.

There may be a subsequent appointment some weeks later to check that all is well.

How you will make use of the aids / masker depends entirely on you. As I understand it, maskers were originally intended only to help during habituation and a therapist might advise on the best way to use them for that. I think that most of us just end up using them for periods of relief - eg for a while after getting up in the morning when T is often at its worst. If you are offered CBT for your T this would be something to take up with the therapist.

When not using the maskers many sufferers find that the amplification offered by the aids ind daily use does replace some of the frequencies whose absence contributes to your T. There really isn't anything you can do to help that (in my opinion), you just try it and see.

Good luck tomorrow and Best Wishes

[ClarkyC in reply to perlcoder]

Thank you for your comprehensive reply, which is very useful. It is my second appointment with audiology. I had a hearing test a while ago, which needs to be repeated. Until my RTA I had only had hearing tests when I was a child. My audiologist is very thorough, I hope that the aids help to mask the intrusive constant loud buzz I've had since my accident, which has been caused by whiplash/loud bang on impact. Best wishes

[Stubble]

I've found that my hearing aids help reduce my awareness of my T quite dramatically. Also if you actually have significant hearing loss the addition of hearing aids is a huge boost to quality of life overall..

[MRSDOUBT]

I have hearing aids prescribed I wouldn't say they mask the tinnitus. They correct your hearing loss and as a result your brain adjusts to every day sounds. The tinnitus is still there but less noticeable and manageable when wearing my aids. Still an issue overnight though and especially if I wake in the night and in the mornings.Bear with them as it took my brain awhile to adjust to hearing properly again.

I hope you find your hearing aids work for you.

[botondrp]

I totally understand what you're going through—tinnitus can be so challenging, especially when it's that constant buzzing sound. Hearing aids can definitely help mask the tinnitus by amplifying external sounds, which can make the internal ringing seem less prominent. Many people find that they’re a great tool, especially when combined with other sound therapies. The good thing about hearing aids is that they can be programmed to suit your specific hearing loss and tinnitus patterns. You might also want to explore using sound or music therapy in combination with your hearing aids, as some therapies focus on providing calming sounds that are specifically tailored to your tinnitus frequencies. Has anyone else here tried combining hearing aids with sound therapy? It’s something worth considering!"

[Optional: If you're curious, here’s a resource I've found helpful that focuses on personalized tinnitus music therapy. It might complement your treatment and provide additional relief.]

youtu.be/Bd0YylI2I9M(Not working as expected?)

[McMurtagh]

I wear hearing aids but they don’t mask the tinnitus - I can still ‘tune in’ to it.