Most estimates put the number of individuals affected by tinnitus in the millions or about one in every seven people. In some countries, the numbers are even higher and that’s pretty alarming.
Sometimes tinnitus is goes away on it’s own. But in those cases where ringing, buzzing, or humming in your ears is hard to shake, finding a reliable treatment can very quickly become a priority. One of the most effective of such solutions is already rather common: hearing aids.
There are some connections between tinnitus and hearing loss but they are actually distinct conditions. It’s possible to experience tinnitus with average hearing or to experience hearing loss without also getting tinnitus. But if you are going through the two conditions simultaneously, which is pretty common, hearing aids can handle both at the same time.
How Can Tinnitus be Managed by Hearing Aids?
According to one study, 60% of people who suffer from tinnitus observed some amount of relief when they started using hearing aids. Approximately 22% of everyone surveyed went so far as to report considerable relief. But, hearing aids are not manufactured specifically to treat tinnitus. The benefits appear to come by association. So if you have tinnitus and hearing loss then that’s when your hearing aids will most successfully treat the tinnitus symptoms.
Here’s how tinnitus symptoms can be decreased with hearing aids:
- External sounds are boosted: The volume of certain wavelengths of the world become quieter when you are suffering from hearing loss. The ringing in your ears, then, is a lot more noticeable. Hearing loss is not affecting the ringing so it becomes the loudest thing you hear. The buzzing or ringing that was so prominent will be masked when your hearing aid boosts the external sound. Tinnitus becomes less of an issue as you pay less attention to it.
- It gets easier to have conversations: Modern hearing aids are particularly good at identifying human speech and amplifying those sounds. This means carrying on a conversation can be much easier once you’re routinely wearing your devices. You can follow the story Fred is telling at the restaurant or listen to what Nancy is excited about at work. The more you connect with others, the more social you are, the less you’ll notice your tinnitus. Interacting socially also helps decrease stress, which is associated with tinnitus.
- The increased audio stimulation is keeping your brain fit: When you have hearing loss, those parts of your brain tasked with interpreting sounds can frequently suffer from stress, fatigue, or atrophy. Using a hearing aid can keep the audio centers of your brain limber and healthy, which as a result can help decrease some tinnitus symptoms you might be experiencing.
The Perks of Modern Hearing Aids
Modern hearing aids are intelligent. They include innovative hearing assistance algorithms and the newest technology. But the efficiency of modern hearing aids is attained in part because each device can be refined and calibrated on a patient-by-patient basis (they can even detect the amount of background noise and automatically adjust accordingly).
Whatever your specific hearing levels are, customized hearing aids can conveniently be calibrated to them. The buzzing or humming is more likely to be successfully hidden if your hearing aid is dialed in to work best for you.
What is The Best Way to End Tinnitus?
Your level of hearing impairment will determine what’s right for you. There are still treatment solutions for your tinnitus even if you don’t have any hearing loss. That could mean custom-created masking devices, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or medication.
However, hearing aids may be able to take care of both situations if you have tinnitus and hearing loss at the same time. Stop tinnitus from making your life difficult by managing your hearing loss with a good pair of hearing aids.