Do your hearing aids help with your tinnitus? I am lucky to say that mine do. I know this is not the case for everyone. But I hadn’t realized how important this was to me until recently, when I had to go two days without my left hearing aid. The dizziness and lopsided feeling were bad enough, but the ringing in my ear was awful, and constant, and exhausting.
Since I wear my hearing aids all the time — I wear Lyrics which stay in your ears 24/7, even when you sleep — it is a rare moment that I don’t have some type of hearing aid in my ear. For that reason, I had forgotten how debilitating my tinnitus can be at its worst. Don’t get me wrong, even with my hearing aids I still have an almost constant hum in my ears, particularly on the left side, but it is mostly manageable. With the hearing aid gone, the volume of my tinnitus was turned up a notch. It felt like the phone was ringing off the hook, but the phone was inside my head. And there was no off switch.
So what did I do?
- I played soft music in the background. This helped to mask the tinnitus a bit.
- I meditated. In fact, during my 20 minutes of daily meditation (I just started over the summer!) my head was quiet. Was it that my mind was occupied elsewhere or was I learning to notice the sound, but not react to it? I’m not sure, but for me it was a momentary respite.
- I went about my day. Sometimes just powering through is the only way. But I was much more exhausted at the end of the day, and a bit cranky too, I admit.
Luckily, after two days, I had a new left hearing aid. What a relief it was. Not only did the ringing recede to a manageable level, but my entire body relaxed. The furrow between my brows softened and I am sure I was grinning from ear to ear. I felt lucky, and grateful, that my hearing aids can help relieve my tinnitus in this way. Plus, I could hear again too, which was definitely a positive.
I know that hearing aids don’t mask tinnitus for everyone, but they do for some. If you suffer from tinnitus and do not wear a hearing aid, try one. Who knows, it might provide some relief for you too. I sincerely hope so.
Readers, do hearing aids help with your tinnitus?
Ah, yes: tinnitus! There was a time when I thought it would drive me over the edge. After wearing hearing aids now since ’97, I have noticed a slight reduction in the intensity of the ringing and other sounds that are part of the condition. For me, the intensity varies. Also if there is any environmental noise or conversation – or if I am listening to an audio book then the tinnitus takes a back seat. Before my condition worsened, I played some music as you spoke off and that completely masked the ringing. So many audible frequencies have dropped out of my available hearing range that music is just so much noise to the degree that familiar songs are completely unrecognizable. If music helps, count your blessings. If company is comforting, at least just about everybody I speak to has some degree of tinnitus. Carry on!
Thanks Jerry! Glad yours is under control.
I’m SSD and wear bi cros Phonak aids (I think hey are the only manufacturers of these type?). I don’t get any relief from my tinnitus from my aids.
I’m happy that it comes and goes; when it’s bad, it’s not ringing, it’s more like a radio not tuned into the station properly and popping sounds as well! It does come and go, it seems to have started about 1 year post Gamma Knife. When it’s bad it lasts for 10-14 days then goes away for a month or so (hasn’t returned now for quite awhile – so keeping fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed for you! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I have a BiCros also. I am deaf in my left ear and the way the BiCros works is… It receives the sounds on my left side and sends the sound to my right hearing aid so I hear everything in my right ear. But I still have tinnitus in my left ear. I can’t use any device to cancel it out. It sounds like a high pitched ring. I’m usually able to ignore it.
Glad you’re getting some relief/ Mine has been for… I don’t remember. It’s a whining turbine. High and loud. Age has honed it. Often it’s louder that conversation. I did find some relief one evening when the crickets were particularly loud. I think their tones were combatting my particular brain’s tones, lol. Sorry the weather is getting too cold. Mostly now, I can’t tell if my air is working. sigh. Now my left ear is starting. I’m learning ASL just in case and am finding I do enjoy using it. If only my husband would be interested in ASL.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. Nice to learn ASL just in case!
I have had tinnitus since I was a child. My hearing aids do not help with the noise. Nothing helps with the noise except white noise, which is actually the same sound as the tinnitus but it’s outside my head instead of inside my head.
I think I will have to try meditation. I’ve heard a couple of people say that it helps them. Sometimes the noise is so loud I want to cut my head off. I don’t know why it gets so loud at times, yet is not so loud at other times. Frustrating.
Hang in there Janice. Please give the meditation a try. I hope it gives you some relief. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I have tinnitus as well, but am also completely deaf…my nerves are severed. So for me masking is impossible. I thought I would share with you some of the things that have helped me (I know tinnitus is very personal experience so do not claim this will help all):
1. Exercise (I mean the kind where you sweat and work out)
2. Good sleep undisturbed through the night
3. Acupuncture helped *but temporary and expensive)
4. The best thing to help me keep mine most of the time better than not…Lexapro (5 mg).
People can also get a tinnitus workbook for free through web site called hearing center of excellence. Here is the link: https://pueblo.gpo.gov/DOD/DODPubs.php
Good Luck to you all on your tinnitus journey!
Thanks for sharing this information.
I have and am a Tinninus 24 hour Tinninus suffer for 7 years now. I am lucky I found three Analog hearing aids on the internet and. brought them just right before they ran out of Analog hearing aids that the Analog no longer manufactures them anymore. I wear one Analog hearing 24 hours a day except taking a shower drives me crazy when I have to take my Hearing off. I have to take fast showers. And getting a hearing cut is a nightmare too. Getting my haired dyed to cover is even worse. I would love to see someone invent a waterproof Hearing aid that can allow me to enjoy taking a shower and etc. with out hearing this humming noise. I am also taking medication that helps me to go to sleep. I am often tired in the morning from being up all night since my medication lasts for four hours than I wake up and can hear my Tinninus through my hearing aid. Most of the time I try to keep busy and wear my Analog hearing all day. I don’t hear the humming noise. Never drink coffee! It is even worse when I can hear my Tinninus even louder. I have the t.v. Running all night it usually puts me to sleep if I am watching a boring t.v.program is the secret. I grieve for those who suffer 24 hours of hearing this Tinnitus condition is extremely stressful.
A 52 year old Female from near Tampa, Florida
Thank you for sharing your experiences. Hang in there!