Tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss, so it is no surprise that hearing aids can often help relieve the discomfort of tinnitus. Here’s what you need to know about tinnitus, hearing loss, and hearing aids.
Can Hearing Aids Help Alleviate Tinnitus?
The exact cause of tinnitus is still unknown; however, people with tinnitus often experience some hearing loss. Therefore, the symptoms of tinnitus can lessen for some people with the use of hearing aids.
Here’s why:
- Hearing aids increase the volume of external noises, which in turn increases the auditory stimulation to the brain.
- Hearing aids increase background sounds, increasing contrast in the brain and allowing the person to hear sounds they may have missed, such as leaves rustling, which can help cover up the sounds of tinnitus.
- Hearing aids help lower stress related to hearing loss, and stress can make tinnitus worsen.
- Hearing aids allow the person to hear external sounds better, which can help cover up the sound of tinnitus.
- Hearing aids can help lower social isolation because they increase external sounds, which makes it easier for people with tinnitus to communicate better.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is sound – described as ringing, hissing, buzzing, etc. – in the ear that does not originate outside the ear. In other words, only the person experiencing tinnitus can hear the sound. The sound can be high pitched or low pitched, soft or loud, and in one ear or both. Therefore, tinnitus can be very different for different people and can come and go for no apparent reason.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), between 8 and 25.3% of the U.S. population experience tinnitus. The NIH states, “If persistent and either intolerable or sufficiently bothersome, it can cause functional impairment in thought processing, emotions, hearing, sleep, and concentration, all of which can substantially and negatively impact quality of life.”
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) states, “Tinnitus can be a debilitating condition, that negatively affects a patient’s overall health and social well-being.” Research shows that people suffering from tinnitus may experience one or more of the following:
- Distress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Frequent mood swings
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability or frustration
- Poor concentration
- Pain
Furthermore, ATA reports that “most patients develop tinnitus as a symptom of hearing loss, caused either by age, long-term hearing damage, or acute trauma to the auditory system. According to the general scientific consensus, hearing loss causes less external sound stimuli to reach the brain. In response, the brain undergoes neuroplastic changes in how it processes different sound frequencies. Tinnitus is the product of these maladaptive neuroplastic changes.”
Some of the most commonly reported “catalysts” for tinnitus include the following:
- Hearing Loss
- Obstruction in the Middle Ear
- Head and Neck Trauma
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
- Sinus Pressure and Barometric Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Ototoxic Drugs
- Other Diseases and Medical Conditions
Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus; however, there are treatments that can help people better cope better with the condition.
What Should You Do If You Think You May Have Tinnitus?
If you’re hearing sounds – such as ringing, humming, or buzzing – that no one else hears, a hearing test is the first step to diagnosing if you have tinnitus and if hearing aids may help alleviate the problems associated with tinnitus.
So schedule your FREE hearing screening today and start living a better life.