Most estimates put the number of individuals affected by tinnitus in the millions or about one out of every seven people. In some countries, the numbers are even higher and that’s pretty startling.
Sometimes tinnitus is temporary. But if you’re dealing with persistent tinnitus symptoms it becomes imperative to find a treatment as soon as you can. One of the most effective of such remedies is already quite common: hearing aids.
There are some connections between tinnitus and hearing loss but they are actually separate conditions. you can have hearing loss without tinnitus or tinnitus without hearing loss. But both conditions coexist frequently enough that hearing aids have become a dependable solution, managing hearing loss and stopping tinnitus in one fell swoop.
How Hearing Aids Can Help Tinnitus
Hearing aids have, based on one study, been documented to give tinnitus relief to up to 60% of participants. Approximately 22% of those surveyed reported considerable relief. In spite of this, hearing aids are actually made to treat hearing loss not specifically tinnitus. Association appears to be the principal reason for this benefit. As such, hearing aids appear to be most effective if you have tinnitus and hearing loss.
Here’s how tinnitus symptoms can be decreased with hearing aids:
- Everything gets slightly louder: When you have loss of hearing, the volume of the outside world (or, at least, certain frequencies of the world) can fade away and become quieter. The ringing in your ears, in that situation, is much more obvious. Hearing loss is not reducing the ringing so it becomes the loudest thing you hear. A hearing aid can enhance that surrounding sound, helping to drown out the ringing or buzzing that was so prominent before. As you tune out your tinnitus, it becomes less of a problem.
- Conversations become easier: Increasing the volume of human speech is something modern hearing aids are particularly good at. So once you’re using your hearing aids regularly, having conversations gets much easier. You can keep up with the story Carl is telling at happy hour or listen to what Nancy is excited about at work. When you have a healthy involved social life tinnitus can seem to disappear into the background. Interacting socially also helps decrease stress, which is associated with tinnitus.
- Your brain is getting an auditory workout: When you have hearing loss, those regions of your brain tasked with interpreting sounds can frequently suffer from fatigue, stress, or atrophy. Tinnitus symptoms you may be experiencing can be reduced when the brain is in a healthy limber condition and hearing aids can help keep it that way.
Modern Hearing Aids Come With Several Benefits
Modern hearing aids are smart. They come with cutting edge hearing assistance algorithms and the latest technology. But it’s the ability to customize a hearing aid to the specific user’s requirements that makes modern hearing aids so effective (sometimes, they recalibrate based on the level of background noise).
Whatever your particular hearing levels are, personalized hearing aids can conveniently be calibrated to them. The better your hearings aid works for you, the more likely they are to help you cover up the humming or buzzing from tinnitus.
What is The Best Way to Get Rid of Tinnitus?
This will most likely depend on your degree of hearing impairment. If you haven’t had any hearing loss, you’ll still have available treatments for your tinnitus. Cognitive behavioral therapy, a custom masking device, or medication are some possible options.
But, hearing aids might be able to take care of both situations if you have tinnitus and hearing loss at the same time. Managing your hearing loss with a good set of hearing aids can often stop tinnitus from making your life miserable.
