Most estimates put the number of people affected by tinnitus in the millions or about one out of every seven people. That’s… a lot of people, both in absolute terms and in relation to the overall population, and in a few countries, the percentage of the population who experience tinnitus is even more alarming.
True, tinnitus isn’t always recurring. But if you’re dealing with persistent tinnitus symptoms it becomes imperative to find a remedy as soon as possible. Fortunately, there is a treatment that has proven to be really effective: hearing aids.
Hearing loss and tinnitus are connected but distinct conditions. It’s possible to experience tinnitus with normal hearing or to experience hearing loss without also developing tinnitus. But if you are going through the two conditions together, which is fairly common, hearing aids can treat both at the same time.
How Hearing Aids Can Treat Tinnitus
Hearing aids have, based on one study, been documented to give tinnitus relief to up to 60% of participants. For 22% of those people, the relief was significant. However, hearing aids are not manufactured specifically to handle tinnitus. The benefits appear to come by association. As such, hearing aids appear to be most effective if you have tinnitus and hearing loss.
Here’s how tinnitus symptoms can be reduced with hearing aids:
- External sounds are boosted: When you experience loss of hearing, the volume of the world (or, at least, certain wavelengths of the world) can fall away and become more silent. When that occurs the ringing in your ears becomes a lot more obvious. Hearing loss is not decreasing the ringing so it becomes the loudest thing you hear. A hearing aid can increase that ambient sound, helping to mask the buzzing or ringing that was so prominent before. As you tune out your tinnitus, it becomes less of an issue.
- Conversations become less difficult: Amplifying human speech is something modern hearing aids are particularly good at. So once you’re wearing your hearing aids on a regular basis, carrying on conversations becomes a lot easier. You will be more involved with your co-worker’s story about their kids and better able to participate with your spouse about how their day went. The more you interact with other people, the more social you are, the less you’ll notice your tinnitus. Socializing also helps decrease stress, which is related to tinnitus.
- Your brain is getting an auditory workout: Hearing loss has been proven to put a strain on cognitive function. Tinnitus symptoms you might be experiencing can be reduced when the brain is in a healthy limber condition and hearing aids can help maintain this.
Modern Hearing Aids Come With Many Advantages
Smart Technology is incorporated into modern hearing aids. They include cutting edge hearing assistance algorithms and the latest technology. But the efficiency of modern hearing aids is accomplished in part because each device can be customized and calibrated on a patient-by-patient basis (sometimes, they recalibrate based on the level of background noise).
Whatever your specific hearing levels are, personalized hearing aids can easily be calibrated to them. The better your hearings aid works for you, the more likely they are to help you mask the buzzing or humming from tinnitus.
What is The Best Way to Get Rid of Tinnitus?
Your level of hearing loss will determine what’s right for you. If you haven’t had any hearing loss, you’ll still have accessible treatment options for your tinnitus. 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. Treating your hearing loss with a good pair of hearing aids can often stop tinnitus from making your life miserable.