Providing the hearing aids are fitted professionally, it is unlikely that the use of hearing aids will make your tinnitus worse. In fact, hearing aids are a popular treatment option when managing tinnitus that works by increasing meaningful auditory stimulation to the brain, making your tinnitus less noticeable.

If you believe that your hearing aids are making your tinnitus worse, then you may need to have them re-adjusted. Changes in hearing levels over time can mean that you are not getting the right level of sound stimulation causing your tinnitus to appear louder than before.

All types of hearing aids can be helpful for your tinnitus (if you can benefit from sound therapy, which usually is the case). This is because all hearing aids are designed to amplify external sounds and stimulate the hearing pathway. This shifts the brain’s focus from internal, somatic sounds to the more important external environment, reducing the presence of your tinnitus.

Some hearing aids also include tinnitus features to help mask the sound of tinnitus during the daytime when a hearing aid is worn. These special masking sounds can provide additional relief without cutting off sound from the external world. It is best to chat with your audiologist to decide whether additional tinnitus features are right for you.

Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, is caused by inadequate stimulation of the hearing pathway, resulting in abnormal neural activity which causes the perception of sound known as tinnitus. A hearing aid can help minimise ringing by amplifying external sounds and allowing the hearing pathway to be adequately stimulated. This shifts the brain’s focus from internal, somatic sounds to the more important external environment, reducing the presence of your tinnitus.

It is important to know that tinnitus does not have an on/off switch. Everyone experiences tinnitus to some degree throughout their lifetime. However, by managing the loudness of the tinnitus through hearing aids, you can start to gain a better sense of control and empowerment.

Hearing aids can help reduce tinnitus by amplifying external sounds and providing adequate stimulation of the hearing pathway. This shift’s the brain’s focus from internal, somatic sounds such as your tinnitus to the more important external environment. Many hearing aid users often report a reduction in tinnitus as one of the secondary benefits of using amplification. However, it is important to remember that tinnitus does not have an on/off switch. Everyone experiences tinnitus to some degree throughout their lifetime. The goal of using hearing aids is to better manage your tinnitus, and help you gain a better sense of control.

The most common cause of tinnitus is due to damage to sensory hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear. People with hearing loss, both age related and noise induced, are more likely to suffer from tinnitus than others. Hearing aids have been found to be an effective measure in managing tinnitus, as increased amplification of external sounds provided by hearing aids allows the hearing pathway to be more adequately stimulated. This in turn, shifts the brain’s focus from internal, somatic sounds to the more important external environment, reducing the volume of the tinnitus.

Some hearing aids also include tinnitus features to help mask the sound of tinnitus during the daytime when a hearing aid is worn. These special masking sounds can provide additional relief without cutting off sound from the external world. It is best to chat with your audiologist to decide whether additional tinnitus features are right for you.

Tinnitus is the term for the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as ”ringing in the ears,” although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant, with single or multiple tones. Its’ perceived volume can range from very soft to extremely loud.

The exact cause (or causes) of tinnitus is not known in every case. It is believed that the ringing is due to spontaneous activity in the cochlea. The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss and in particular sensorineural hearing loss. This is probably because the majority of patients with sensorineural hearing loss have some damage in the cochlea that is causing the hearing loss. It is these damaged sections that are presumed to be producing spontaneous signals.

There are a number of likely factors which may cause tinnitus or make existing tinnitus worse: noise-induced hearing loss, age-related hearing loss, ear diseases and disorders, wax build-up in the ear canal, certain medications, ear infections, jaw misalignment, cardiovascular disease, certain types of tumours, thyroid disorders and many others. Of these factors, exposure to loud noises and hearing loss are the most probable causes of tinnitus. I strongly recommend that an Audiologist and a Physician should evaluate all presentations of tinnitus.

There are many options for people who experience tinnitus. Some wear hearing aids to help cover up their tinnitus, some wear tinnitus maskers. Additionally, there are combined tinnitus maskers and hearing aids – all in one unit! Some patients require counselling to help them develop strategies to manage their tinnitus. If you’ve been told ”learn to live with it,” there are many additional options to explore. Your Audiologist is an excellent resource for issues and answers related to tinnitus.