Tinnitus is a condition that is characterized by the perception of a ringing, buzzing or other sound in the ears that is not caused by an external sound. This condition can produce a few phantom noises in one or both ears, from a low humming to the loud ringing, roaring or clicking sound. In its turn, tinnitus is not just a nuisance for many people, but a problem that disrupts lives and impedes their ability to work or sleep, or just enjoy simple pleasures. Since tinnitus is frequently associated with hearing loss, you might be interested to know if hearing aids could help. The good news? They can, and thanks to advancements in over-the-counter hearing devices, help has never been easier to come by.
Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a condition that causes ringing in ears or other noise in the ears that is heard only by the person who has the condition, often referred to as a ‘phantom sound’. These sounds can occur at a variable rate and loudness, sometimes present only at some time, or else constant throughout the day and night. The most conventional sound that is associated with tinnitus is ringing in ears, but people may hear buzzing, whistling, clicking or even a low hum. The severity can be quite different in everyone, and this is why it is difficult to find an approach to the treatment of the condition that would work for everyone.
Though tinnitus can affect anyone, it is most associated with hearing loss and is frequently triggered by:
Listening to loud music, at concerts or construction sites, or using personal audio equipment at high volume.
Injury to the head or neck that may affect the structural and functional capacity of the auditory system.
Ear infections, which may lead to a buildup of fluid that changes the way that sound is processed.
Excess earwax that may cause blockage of the ear canal and thus produce a ringing sound.
Presbycusis, a leading cause of hearing loss, and is caused by ageing.
If you find that you constantly hear ringing or other unusual noises in your ears, then you should see a doctor. They may advise one to see an audiologist or a hearing specialist for further examination.
How do hearing aids assist in tinnitus?
Although there is no tinnitus treatment , hearing aids have been one of the most effective ways to decrease the damage that is caused by it. However, how do these small devices, which are used mainly for the adjustment of sounds for people with hearing impairment, assist in tinnitus?
The first and most direct way hearing aids are beneficial is by the auditory signal magnification. For the people with both hearing impaired and tinnitus, hearing aids amplify sounds in their surroundings. The extra stimuli from other sounds can also help mask the tinnitus, thus giving the patient a break from the ringing or buzzing sensation. Since hearing aids allow other real sounds to dominate the brain, the attention on tinnitus is reduced.
Besides amplification, most of the current prescription and OTC hearing aids have specific features to assist in tinnitus management. Some of the newest devices available for purchase today have preset programs that can be adjusted to cover tinnitus sounds adequately. Such programs can consist of background sounds that can help in masking the tinnitus or the ringing or buzzing in the ears.
Hearing aids have also evolved in terms of sound processing as well. Some of the current gadgets can filter out the background noise while amplifying the speaker’s voice – a very important feature for the hard of hearing as they can now follow conversations even in noisy places. Some of the latest models even incorporate AI technology where the headset can learn to change the settings depending on the environment of the user and provides real time sound adjustments for both hearing improvement and tinnitus therapy.
Are Hearing Aids considered Tinnitus treatment?
It is important to know that hearing aids, which can be beneficial in tinnitus management, are not actually Tinnitus treatment. Tinnitus is usually caused by some injury to the auditory system and although hearing aids can reduce the impact of the condition, they cannot cure the condition. However, in general, for most of the patients, proper hearing aid selection will help to improve the quality of life with tinnitus and make it possible to focus on other things in life rather than on the phantom sounds.
Other authors, such as those from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), regard hearing aids as one of the most effective forms of tinnitus treatment when combined with other forms of therapy. Depending on the nature of tinnitus, hearing loss is common, and the use of hearing aids can greatly help to relieve stress and anxiety that the patient suffers, bringing better quality of life.
Selecting the Appropriate Hearing Aid for Tinnitus Intervention
There are some important things that one must take into consideration when it comes to the choice of hearing aid that will help in tinnitus treatment. Different hearing aids are available, and each one specializes in a specific fields, so you should select the best hearing aids for you. Here are a few key elements to keep in mind:
Sound Therapy Features: Most hearing aids contain features such as sound therapy programs which are meant to help mask tinnitus. These programs can be tuned to play what is referred to as ‘white noise’ or other low tones such as nature sounds which have been known to help distract from the internal ringing or buzzing. Many of them can be controlled with a smartphone application, which means that you can have more control over the tinnitus treatment with the help of these sounds.
Amplification Settings: As amplification is among the key aspects of tinnitus treatment it is crucial to select the hearing aid that has adjustable amplification options. This makes it possible to adjust the hearing experience depending on the environment making it possible to eliminate tinnitus in a noisy environment or have a quiet time without interference.
Discreet Designs: Some people may be worried about the esthetics of using a hearing aid and there are many hearing aids that are now smaller and less conspicuous. Others are almost concealed when used, such as the Eargo 7, which would be perfect for anyone who wants to deal with tinnitus using hearing aids without attracting attention.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): For instance, the Philips miniBTE T hearing aid uses artificial intelligence in that it can adjust the aid on its own depending on the surrounding. This means it can adapt to your usage and even use this to set the best settings for the hearing aid to help in managing the tinnitus.
Ease of Use: Hearing aids must be easy to control and to modify. Some of the new models are equipped with simple smartphone applications that allow adjusting the hearing aid settings. No matter whether you are fine-tuning the amplification levels or modifying the sound therapy programs, it is important to have a clear interface to manage the tinnitus effectively.
OTC Hearing Aids vs Prescription Grade Hearing Aids for Tinnitus
OTC (over-the-counter) hearing aids are another innovative advancement in the field of hearing aids, allowing consumers to purchase them without a doctor's prescription. These devices are cheaper than prescription-grade hearing aids, and thus will be suitable for those who want to deal with their tinnitus problem without having to spend a lot of money. However, there are a few differences that are significant.
OTC hearing aids are intended for mild to moderate hearing loss, and they are not as sophisticated as prescription ones. Nevertheless, many OTC devices retain such crucial components as volume control and simple sound stimulation programs that may help tinnitus sufferers.
Conversely, non-prescription hearing aids are over-the-counter products that the user can modify without consulting an audiologist. Such devices enable the users to enjoy additional options like the sound optimization by artificial intelligence, the possibility to choose among several sound therapy options and more powerful amplification parameters. Generally, prescription hearing aids are costlier than over-the-counter hearing aids but they might be suitable for patients with severe hearing loss or those with complicated tinnitus.
Taking the Next Step
If you are having tinnitus and believe that hearing aids could be useful, the initial thing to do is to go to a healthcare provider. They can assist in establishing the cause of tinnitus in your case and recommend the right treatment process. Whether you decide to go for an OTC hearing aid or a prescription one, the right choice can greatly impact your tinnitus and your quality of life.
Bear in mind that hearing aids will not eliminate tinnitus but will surely make a huge difference in your life by allowing you to pay more attention to the sounds you wish to listen to instead of being bothered by the phantom noise that has been bothering you. Tinnitus might be a nuisance that you can manage with the correct hearing aid. If you want to find the best hearing aids for your cause, you should buy Widex hearing aids. Widex offers high quality hearing aids that fit every cause for the best prices.
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