Hearing aids have made my tinnitus worse

[Highjinx]

I was given hearing aids at the local hospital this week to help with tinnitus and told to wear them all day which I did. They helped during the day but since taking them off my tinnitus has been absolutely horrendous. Has anyone else had this experience?

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

That is to be expected, to some extent, HiJinx. Your tinnitus will be more noticeable when you remove a wearable device which is managing it during the day.

To use an example, when I remove my reading glasses, I find it more difficult to read text which was much more legible when I was wearing them. My eyesight is more or less the same, but tasks are easier when something is helping it.

Over time and if things are working as they should do, our brain will naturally start paying less attention to tinnitus because it's being stimulated by the sound it is able to perceive with the assistance of the hearing aids. If there has been even a mild change in our hearing, our auditory system is having to work harder to do things which we previously took for granted.

Hearing aids can't undo any damage or decline in our hearing which has occurred but they can amplify sounds which we're struggling with and that isn't an instantaneous process but more one which gradually improves.

[Happyrosie]

as Pat says. By the way, when I first got hearing aids I was asked to wear them for two hours first day, four second day etc etc so I wonder why this advice has changed.

[Highjinx in reply to Happyrosie]

I have read this too now but was told by the audiologist to wear them all day. Also, she did not bother to do a Real Ear Measurement when setting the volume. I believe this should be done.

[RobWG]

Hi

As others this is absolutely my experience regarding a hearing aid (which has helped my T significantly) and anything that masks distracts me from it.

An example for me is I go and watch a football team and the ground is full and noisy. After the game my T is much more noticeable.

Cycling is another example, when I m out on the bike I tend to forget my T but when I get back up it pops.

I know it's coming now and I've adjusted to it.

Early in my T experience I was very wary of doing activities. As I've adjusted as I have I've got back to them. Never easy but it's working so far for me.

All the best

RWG

[JennoB in reply to RobWG]

Going to football games and events where there's a constant noise/being out all day actually helps mine 😅 I get home and the T is gone, more so just that head noise anyone would get from those events. Crazy isn't it. Exercise I don't usually notice a difference, less annoying I guess, then creeps back to its normal level.

[Highjinx]

Hi, that is really helpful information for which I am grateful. However, the increase in tinnitus after removing the HAs was so intense that I am not sure I will persevere if that is going to become the normal occurrence.

[Jimbob7 in reply to Highjinx]

Morning Highjinx,

It's normal as Pat and others say - but not for you to be so bothered by it. My Tinnitus is always louder - (my perception of it, that is) when I remove the HA's but It's not that big a deal and I'm okay with it these days. Had the HA's about three months now. Generally, I would describe them as being transformative to my life and would not be without them now.

What exactly are your HA's doing? - just hearing loss "fill-in" or do you have masking sounds going all the time?

I think a talk with your Audioligst is in order and as you have only just got them - you'll be treated as a priority appointment if you state that your Tinnitus has gone through the roof from just a few days of wearing them. They could need some adjustment that can only be done in Audiology on their computers, etc. I was told when I first got mine that if there were any problems whatsoever in the first three weeks to bring them straight back in.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Highjinx]

I have no masking on them. I will email the hospital - no walk in appointments available where I live.

[Tal-r789T]

Hi there. I can only offer my own experience - I had this when I first got ha. But I was still getting used to T and still was really anxious/stressed by the T. I even tried wearing my ha overnight in bed, although this was uncomfortable. I found gradually I calmed down as I got used to the T and was able to tolerate the noise when I took the ha out, to the point I can do this now at other times and not get too bothered by it. The ha simply masks/distracts me from the T my hearing loss has induced.

I'm not sure 100% if this will help but this was my experience. I would probably say just give it time. It took me a while to get used to it.

[Highjinx in reply to Tal-r789T]

Thank you for taking the trouble to reply.

[KC1961]

I've had T since 2001. After a recent hearing test I'll be getting hearing aids next Thursday. I'll let you know how I get on.

Kenny

[Ruud1boy]

If you have an aidable hearing impairment, you need to wear the hearing aids. If your eyes don't work properly, you wear glasses. If your ears don't work properly, you wear HA's.

[BlackSwamper]

I’ve been using hearing aids for about six months now. They have been helpful with my tinnitus, although it’s still there and appears to have no desire to depart!

The tinnitus is definitely more noticeable when the HA come out. What I have found helpful is removing them at least an hour before bedtime and habituating a little to the tinnitus bump while reading a good book and relaxing. Putting the phone down and turning the TV off is helpful, too. I hope that this helps, give yourself time to get used to the new normal.

[Highjinx in reply to BlackSwamper]

Thanks.

[EarHealth2024]

I have them too. Do you think you notice it more when you take them off as the hearing aids have helped. I was told to wear mine all day too. I find they do help but wonder

[Highjinx in reply to EarHealth2024]

To be honest the increase was so horrendous I have been too nervous to try again.

[Highjinx in reply to EarHealth2024]

I think it was dangerous advice to wear them all day when I was given them.

[EarHealth2024]

Me too. Makes me rely on them and depend on them. Need to habituate as much as possible