Tinnitus or unwanted ear noises affects more people than we realize. There is no cure for tinnitus, however there are strategies that can help to reduce the impact tinnitus has on your life.
When there is a confirmed loss of hearing, hearing aids do their job by filling in sounds that have been missing. Properly fit hearing aids is one proven way to curb tinnitus. Wearing hearing aids can be used to lessen the irritation of tinnitus with two approaches.
First, just by listening to voices and whatever is in the surrounding environment gives the brain something new to focus on. Presenting the brain with amplified sounds and speech is a proven and effective way to move tinnitus to the background. For some of our patients simply wearing hearing aids provides adequate relief.
The second approach involves retraining the brain by listening to soundscapes through the hearing aids. This can by something simple as white noise or may involve listening to sounds that have been customized specifically for you. Treatment should not mask or cover up your tinnitus. It is important that you hear your tinnitus. This method has proven to be a successful for many who seek relief from their tinnitus.
Yes, it is possible to reduce the annoyance of your tinnitus. Identifying the source of your tinnitus, receiving a detailed evaluation, and managing stress are important components in this process. Your journey should be unique. Finding an Audiologist who has been trained to evaluate and treat tinnitus is your best resource. Let us know how we can help.