It's easy to underestimate how debilitating the effects of tinnitus can be. If you don’t know, it’s a hearing condition that causes a constant ringing in your ears, which is almost always audible only to the sufferer.
It might not sound like a big deal, but tinnitus can be seriously debilitating if it’s at a serious enough intensity, leading to lack of sleep, increased stress, or a compromised mental state. That’s why some people will take somewhat drastic measures to counteract or negate their tinnitus – one such approach being hearing aids that can counter or prevent tinnitus.
If you’re interested in hearing aids like these, or just hearing aids in general, it would be a good idea to meet with a hearing specialist to discuss your options. To do this, fill out our quick form, and you’ll be set up with a free consultation with a hearing specialist near you.
Can a hearing aid reduce tinnitus?
Tinnitus is, at the time of this article’s publication, incurable. Indeed, this is the case with a large majority of hearing problems, such as sensorineural hearing loss (the most common form of hearing loss.) So rather than curing tinnitus, we’ll have to look at treating it – or in other words, keeping it at bay.
So can hearing aids be used to this effect? Can they be used to combat tinnitus the same way they’re used to combat hearing loss?
Well, while initially unintentional, when people suffering from both tinnitus and hearing loss use hearing aids to counteract the hearing loss, they find that the severity of their tinnitus drops sharply.
When wearing hearing aids, the ears and brain are receiving more natural stimulation from environmental sounds and conversations. Even when in a quiet room, the hearing aid will pick up ambient environmental sounds – such as the air conditioner humming, or a fan blowing that the listener could not hear otherwise.
These natural environmental sounds provide a “masking” effect for the tinnitus. The hearing aid allows the wearer to hear what they are supposed to hear, and helps to “cover up” the tinnitus.
The best hearing aids for tinnitus
Standard hearing aids do a good job of letting in enough background noice to mask your tinnitus some of the time, but many tinnitus sufferers need more targeted remedy. Here are some hearing aids that go above and beyond when it comes to providing tinnitus relief.
Beltone Tinnutus Calmer: Best app
Beltone's hearing aids now come with a complementary "Tinnitus Calmer" app. This impressive app helps you manage your tinnitus with a range of calming sounds designed to distract your brain. Create a personalized plan, listen to guided meditations and even design your own soundscapes to take your mind away from your current environment.
Their soundscape function lets you choose from a selection of backgrounds (including rain, at the beach or underwater) then layer soothing sounds on top, from a babbling brook or bidsong to a dishwasher or busy crowd.
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Widex Zen Therapy: Best for calming tones
Some Widex devices come packaged with Widex Zen Therapy. This feature is branded as a “comprehensive tinnitus management program,” and uses a holistic approach to assuage your tinnitus.
It uses “fractal tones” to provide relaxation and sound therapy for your ears. Music is also full of fractal tones, so if your favorite album ever has a soothing effect on your soul, now you know why. You may also recognize these tones from wind chimes!
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Starkey Multiflex technology: Best for customization
Starkey implements its own tinnitus-cancelling technology – known as the Multiflex Tinnitus Technology – into its hearing aids. This produces a comforting sound that can be customized by you or your hearing healthcare professional.
The Multiflex is included in Livio AI, Livio, and Muse iQ hearing aid models.
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ReSound Relief
ReSound’s tinnitus relief comes in the form of ReSound Relief. Among the many hearing aids that can be paired with a smartphone, devices that are equipped with ReSound Relief can be adjusted remotely using an app.
You don’t even need to be using a hearing aid to take advantage of Resound's technology! The Resound Relief app works just as well through a wireless headset, so if you’re suffering from tinnitus but feel hesitant about buying a hearing aid, this could be a great step for you.
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Oticon Opn Tinnitus Sound Support
Oticon offers its own tinnitus-busting feature, aptly named “Oticon Tinnitus Sound Support.” There are multiple therapy signals to choose from with this feature: white noise, pink noise, shaped noise, as well as three different ocean-type noises.
If you have your hearing tested, your hearing healthcare professional will be able to examine your tinnitus and let you know which background noise you will find most effective. To arrange a free hearing test with a local hearing specialist click here.
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Summary
Though it may not cause physical harm or shorten your lifespan, tinnitus is undoubtedly an issue that deserves attention and proper treatment. Left uncared for, it can have a serious effect on your sleep cycle or mental state.
To talk to someone about possible solutions to your tinnitus or hearing loss, you can always book a free consultation with a hearing specialist near you through our form. You’ll be able to go over any and all of your options in depth, and in person.
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