hearing aids

[Tinker2015]

I suffer with fairly bad tinnitus the audiologist today said I would benefit with hearing aids as I have hearing loss. I read from a recent post that their hearing aids caused tinnitus to go worse. I think I have reactive tinnitus which I mentioned to her. I don’t want this noise going louder but then zi struggle to hear tv. I was advised to think about it and ring them if I want to be put on the list

[happyrosie1]

the general advice is as your audiologist says. Have a look at what Tinnitus UK says about this on their website.

I find, personally, that the aids help partly because the real world is much clearer therefore the phantom world of T is diminishes. Don’t expect a miracle cure, of course.

I read the post you referenced and was surprised.

[tomlwatson]

For me, hearing have certainly helped. As happyrosie1 says the 'real world is much clear' which helps eliminate the sounds of T. HA amplify real world sounds. T is sound from our 'head', not real world so HA should not amplify the T sound.

[Graham-E]

Hello and welcome.

I resisted hearing aides for years.

I find they do help clean up the signal around me to provide better communication.

It’s because the cleaner audio sounds reach my brain that can help as a distraction to my tinnitus.

Hope this helps, take care G

[SUS776]

Hi l to suffer from bad titinnis give the healing aids ago l have mine 8 years now would be lost without them .

[Aesop2]

I agree with all posts above . Hearing aides definitely help with the T . I highly suggest you give them a try . They can program it with a masker. This has helped me tremendously. Sincerely

Aesop

[Tal-r789T]

HA definitely help - they make sounds clearer, for me I can hear conversation, and was able to socialise again etc. without HA I'd be lost. Yes they take getting used to, and the brain needs time to adjust. You will notice the changes, but you have to let the brain adjust and once it does things becomes a lot better.

[BlackSwamper]

They have helped me considerably. I’ve also noticed that if I experience spikes or a noticeable change (a fluttering non-pulsatile thumping sound manifested about six weeks ago and is now constant), it seems much less panic inducing with the hearing aids. The tinnitus and hyperacusis is there, but it’s much more bearable. It’s not a cure by any means, but it is an aide in dealing with the noise!

[PABLR]

I have NEVER heard of hearing aids making tinnitus worse. They will make it seem better in the daytime, or whenever you're wearing them because you are able to hear much more which appears to lessen the noise from tinnitus. It's still there, you just don't notice it so much. The only time it might seem worse, is when you take your HAs out because the outside noise decreases giving full rein to your tinnitus. But it is not worse and you adjust again to your normal without aids level very quickly.

[Tinnituscrazy]

I would go for hearing aids. They make a big difference to my T. Can you try National Health ones first before committing to aids costing 3K or thereabouts.

[MarTINITUS]

I agree with the above posters...I've recently tried them and they DO reduce T when you wear them. There is a slight spike when you take them out but (and I've experimented with this recently) the brain seems to adjust quite quickly. And the added bonus of better (but not perfect but definitely improved) hearing across the range.

[Agnetha1985]

HI

It depends if you have high frequency or low frequency hearing loss. High frequency is more common and can be helped by hearing aids plus with bluetooth you can play sounds, music and the radio through them which offsets some of the noise of tinnitus. I can also use ' Stream Boost' on the app which goes with mine ( NHS ones don't have that option but Specsavers ones might) which helps with TV and movies. I also have subtitles on the TV.

I have low frequency hearing loss, so hearing aids haven't helped with ordinary hearing situations, although my app can slightly improve environments such as a busy restaurant or speaking 121. Group situations are still difficult.

Whatever you choose your hearing isn't going to get any better. The brain is very good at adapting, so when the auditory pathway isn't working so well another part of the Brain is used instead to maintain some hearing. My audiologist tells me that getting a hearing aid sooner , rather than later supports the usual auditory pathway and hearing can be sustained for longer. Too many people don't get hearing aids when they should and I really enjoy mine, which are hardly noticeable anyway.

[MAC0811]

HA’s are not really advisable if you also suffer with Hyperacusis? So just be very careful there if you have that too?

[Tinker2015 in reply to MAC0811]

I know the thing is I have had hyperacausis twice over last two years and they are aware of it I mention to the audiologist last week that the hyperacausis I had in Autumn when I so ENT doctor has gone which it did before so if and when I get some will be a try but any more episodes of hyperacausis thenI will have to wait till it passes again. I think it’s coming from my jaw as got a TMJ disorder