Hearing Aids a Cure for Tinnitus?

According to a recent report from the US Center for Disease Control, approximately 15% of the world’s population deal with tinnitus – of varying stages of severity. This means that about 50 million Americans are currently living with tinnitus – and while there is no cure, there are some ways in which you can minimize the symptoms, such as through hearing aids.

What exactly is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a common hearing condition that causes people to hear a noise within their ear that is not caused by an outside source. This noise is most often described as a high-pitched ringing but could also sound like:

• Hissing
• Humming
• Whistling
• Clicking or ticking
• Beeping
• Whooshing

Tinnitus usually does not occur overnight, and you may notice that the noise gets gradually louder over time. If you believe you are dealing with tinnitus, you may want to consult with your audiologist so they can provide you with some support and advice moving forward.

What Are the Causes of Tinnitus?

If any of these symptoms occur, you should contact your audiologist. There are various causes of tinnitus. This could include:

• Ear or Sinus infections.
• Sudden exposure to loud noises
• Prolonged exposure to loud noises
• Wider medical issues
• Problems with your circulatory system
• General, age-related hearing loss.
• Damage to the ear.
• A build-up of earwax.
• A reaction to certain medications.
• Muscle spasms in the inner ear.

Can Hearing Aids Be a Cure for Tinnitus?

As mentioned previously, there is no set cure for tinnitus. However, there are certain steps you can take that will allow you to better manage the symptoms you are facing. For example, some people find that limiting their consumption of alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on their hearing and tinnitus. You can also take certain preventative measures to avoid dealing with tinnitus.

For example, if you work in a noisy workspace, such as a factory where large-scale machinery is used, wearing protective headgear can reduce the chance of you dealing with tinnitus but can also be used to relieve symptoms. In some cases, if your tinnitus results from exposure to loud noises, it can sometimes go away on its own, whereas other conditions can lead to more long-term effects and symptoms.

For those who live with tinnitus in the long term, there are various studies that suggest that hearing aids can help manage the symptoms. For example, in cases where tinnitus is caused by age-related hearing loss, hearing aids are instrumental in resolving these issues. This is due to the fact that by improving the user’s overall hearing, they’ll be able to perceive external sounds once again. This will mask any internal sounds, such as those caused by tinnitus.

Furthermore, certain hearing aid models contain software that generates white noise or blocks out specific sounds. This means that they can also be used to reduce the signature ringing noise caused by tinnitus. While all hearing aids can be used to combat tinnitus and similar conditions, a recent report from the National Library of Medicine found that in-the-ear hearing aids tend to be the most effective, especially when they are worn in both ears.

If possible, you should also adjust the noise or volume control software until you find a setting that best masks your symptoms. For best results, hearing aids must be used consistently. While this can take a little while to get used to, you’ll see the best results when they are worn every day.

Despite this, in-the-ear (ITE), behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are an excellent choice for anyone dealing with tinnitus, though your audiologist will be able to provide you with more specific advice on which hearing aids are suitable for you. At Grusecki Audiology, we have a wide range of hearing aids on offer, all of which can help improve the quality of your hearing and your life.

Furthermore, our team of friendly and highly qualified audiology experts are always on hand to answer any questions you might have about tinnitus and, as such, will be able to guide you in the right direction when it comes to purchasing hearing aids.

To find out more about hearing aids, or the services we have on offer, get in touch today at 623-583-1737. We will be happy to help and have an audiologist to assist you to find the hearing aids you need that fit your lifestyle.