Hearing Aids for Tinnitus
Your hearing aids options are endless thanks to improvements in modern technology. These devices can now be used to help people who are suffering from tinnitus and want a solution that prevents that constant internal noise that tinnitus sufferers have to deal with. An audiologist will be able to evaluate your tinnitus symptoms and recommend the right device and settings to alleviate your condition.
There is a significant amount of information to learn about modern hearing aids and how they can be programmed to combat your tinnitus symptoms. This includes selecting the right model of device to meet your needs, as well as the right features to provide the relief you need from the incessant ringing and buzzing sounds you may experience.
How do hearing aids help with tinnitus?
Hearing loss is closely linked to tinnitus and that’s why many people use hearing aids for two reasons. Firstly, they can tackle the hearing loss problem and they can also positively impact the symptoms of tinnitus too. In particular, using a hearing aid on each ear has been found to be more effective for people suffering from tinnitus than using only one.
The act of improving hearing loss problems with the use of a hearing aid can indirectly improve symptoms for people dealing with tinnitus as well. They should be worn throughout the day for maximum benefit to be experienced. However, hearing aids are not a complete cure for tinnitus and they might never be.
Everyone experiences tinnitus differently, so for some people, the problem can be almost completely alleviated using hearing aids, while other people don’t find it to be quite so useful. Modern devices can come with tinnitus masking features built into them and these are the ones that are particularly effective for many people.
Tinnitus therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a pretty common treatment which uses cognitive behavioral therapy alongside a device that masks the tinnitus symptoms. This hearing aid makes it easy for your brain to learn to ignore the noises associated with the tinnitus. It might sound strange, but it works for many people and is becoming more popular.
There are other types of therapy for tinnitus that can be used alongside these devices too. Sound therapy is used to distract the sufferer from the tinnitus sounds, encouraging them instead to focus on the sound of soft music or other sounds instead. Hearing aids and masking devices can still be used alongside these techniques though.
Finding the balance between types of therapy and hearing aids and devices is what’s most important. When you work with your audiologist to come up with logical solutions to these problems, you will find it easier to overcome the problem over time. There might not be a quick fix, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps in the right direction. That’s what’s most important of all.
Different types of devices to help with tinnitus
There are lots of different hearing aids out there that you can explore and consider. Of course, this is something that you should always do alongside your audiologist because they’re the ones who are going to be able to take care of your best and find the solution to your problem. Different devices work for different people depending on their circumstances.
Combination devices are known to be very effective hearing aids for people dealing with tinnitus. They work by combining the normal function of the hearing aid with the ability to generate sounds. These low-level sounds generated by the device can help the user to get used to the tinnitus sounds more easily and not be quite so frustrated by them.
For many people, however, the amplification of sounds can be enough to reduce the tinnitus problem and make it possible for the patient to suffer a little less from the symptoms associated with tinnitus. It requires the right programming to get the balance right and find the settings and calibrations that work for the individual in each case. Each case is unique after all.
If you’ve been suffering from tinnitus, it definitely makes sense to consider a hearing aid option. For many people, it’s the thing that helps them to deal with their tinnitus and find a solution to it. You can get in touch with Northgate Hearing Services if you need assistance and want to have a hearing aid fitted by audiologists who know what they’re doing. You can contact one of our audiologists for tinnitus treatment by calling (206) 367-1345.