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.
True, tinnitus isn’t always recurring. But in those instances where ringing, buzzing, or humming in your ears is hard to shake, finding a reliable remedy can very quickly become a priority. One of the most effective of such remedies is already rather common: hearing aids.
Tinnitus and hearing loss are connected but distinct conditions. It’s possible to have tinnitus with average hearing or to experience hearing loss without also getting tinnitus. But both conditions coexist often enough that hearing aids have become a dependable solution, treating hearing loss and ending tinnitus in one fell swoop.
How Can Tinnitus be Helped by Hearing Aids?
According to one survey, 60% of people with tinnitus observed some measure of relief when they started using hearing aids. Approximately 22% of those surveyed reported significant relief. In spite of this, hearing aids are actually designed to treat hearing loss not specifically tinnitus. Association seems to be the principal reason for this benefit. As such, hearing aids seem to be most effective if you have tinnitus and hearing loss.
Here’s how tinnitus symptoms can be decreased with hearing aids:
- External sounds are enhanced: The volume of some of the wavelengths of the world become quieter when you’re suffering from hearing loss. When that occurs the ringing in your ears becomes much more noticeable. Hearing loss is not reducing the ringing so it becomes the most pronounced thing you hear. The buzzing or ringing that was so obvious will be masked when your hearing aid boosts the outside sound. As you pay less and less attention to your tinnitus, it becomes less of an issue.
- Conversations become less difficult: Increasing the volume of human speech is something modern hearing aids are particularly good at. So once you’re wearing your hearing aids regularly, carrying on conversations gets much easier. You can keep up with the story Fred is telling at the restaurant or listen to what Nancy is excited about at work. When you have a balanced involved social life tinnitus can appear to fade into the background. Socializing also helps reduce stress, which is linked to tinnitus.
- Your brain is getting an auditory workout: Hearing loss has been shown to put stress on mental function. Using a hearing aid can keep the audio regions of your brain flexible and healthy, which in turn can help minimize certain tinnitus symptoms you may be experiencing.
The Benefits of Modern Hearing Aids
Modern hearing aids are smart. 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-per-patient basis (they can even detect the level of background noise and automatically recalibrate accordingly).
Whatever your specific hearing levels are, customized hearing aids can effortlessly 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 Get Rid of Tinnitus?
This will most likely depend on your level of hearing impairment. There are still treatment options for your tinnitus even if you don’t have any hearing impairment. Medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, or a custom masking device are some possible solutions.
But, if you’re one of the many people out there who happen to suffer from both hearing loss and tinnitus, a set of hearing aids may be able to do the old two-birds-one-stone thing. Stop tinnitus from making your life miserable by treating your hearing loss with a good set of hearing aids.