Can Tinnitus be Cured by Wearing Hearing Aids?

Man with constant ringing in his ears thinking about getting a hearing aid.

It’s often unclear what’s causing tinnitus (a buzzing or ringing in your ears). However, there is one thing researchers agree on: you are more likely to develop tinnitus if you also are dealing with hearing loss. Up to 90% of individuals who are afflicted by tinnitus also have hearing loss according to HIAA.

As you most likely realize, your genetics, age, and lifestyle can all play a role in the development of hearing loss. And while many of us think of hearing loss as being obvious, the reality is that some mild hearing loss can go undetected. Even slight cases of hearing loss will increase your likelihood of tinnitus, making the situation even worse.

Hearing Aids Won’t Cure Tinnitus But They Will Help

There isn’t a cure for tinnitus. However, hearing aids can help you manage both hearing loss and tinnitus in ways that can minimize symptoms and improve one’s quality of life. Sixty percent of people struggling with tinnitus, in fact, experienced relief of their symptoms, and twenty-two had significant improvement.

When you can suddenly hear outside sounds better because hearing aids have boosted the volume, your tinnitus symptoms will go into the background. And, fortunately, conventional hearing aids aren’t the only solution as more advanced treatment methods are being produced.

Types of Specialty Hearing Aids to Lessen Tinnitus Symptoms

Hearing aids increase the volume of environmental sounds to the point that you can hear them clearly. This simple technology is critical in training your hearing to receive specific stimulation by amplifying sounds like the clattering of a ceiling fan or the rabble of a dinner party.

You can enhance those amplification efforts by the combination of other methods, like counseling, sound stimulation, and stress reduction for a more comprehensive approach to treatment.

Some hearing aid manufacturers even utilize the irregular rhythm of fractal tones to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. The consistent tone of tinnitus can be interrupted by the uneven tones of these inconsistent rhythms.

Other specialty devices attempt to blend your tinnitus in with the natural sounds you’re hearing. This strategy will commonly utilize a white noise signal that a hearing professional can adjust to ensure correct calibration for your ear and your condition.

Whether you use sound therapy, blending, or a white noise mechanism, all of these specialized devices have a common objective of distracting the attention away from the buzzing or ringing of tinnitus.

Hearing aids can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of tinnitus even if there is no cure.




References

  • https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/HLAA_HearingLoss_Facts_Statistics.pdf?pdf=FactStats
  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17956798
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6197965
The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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