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Diseases and Symptoms articole page
Diseases and Symptoms articole page
Tinnitus

How can hearing aids help with your tinnitus?

If you experience tinnitus, you know how frustrating it can be, causing you to feel anxious, lose sleep and have trouble focusing. While it can’t be cured, it can be minimized and hearing aids are one of the best tools to help.

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Miracle-Ear experts

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a disorder in which people perceive or "hear" sounds even when there are no external sounds present. It is most common in adults and affects around 15-20% of the population. While tinnitus is not a disease, it is typically caused by or associated with other medical conditions. There are three main types of tinnitussubjective, objective and pulsatile.

Key takeaways

  • Tinnitus is a disorder in which people perceive or "hear" sounds even when there are no external sounds present.
  • Perceived sounds include hearing buzzing, ringing, roaring, clicking, pulsing, whooshing or humming, either constantly or intermittently.
  • The three main types of tinnitus are subjective, objective and pulsatile.
  • Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, infections or injuries, as well as some medications.
  • Hearing aids help manage tinnitus by “masking” — delivering sounds into your ears to override tinnitus.
  • Hearing aids are made to amplify sound, so when someone with tinnitus uses them, external noise will become as loud as or louder than the perceived ringing.
  • Hearing aids for tinnitus cost the same as standard hearing aids, but there is a wide price range to choose from based on types, features and brands.
Hearing aids and tinnitus

Treating different types of tinnitus

Regardless of which type of tinnitus you may experience, it can be a frustrating symptom to live with. Luckily, several treatment options are available to help manage your tinnitus, including hearing aids. If you think you suffer from tinnitus, schedule an appointment at your nearest Miracle-Ear location today.

What are the symptoms of tinnitus?

Tinnitus symptoms manifest as different sounds: people report hearing buzzing, ringing, roaring, clicking, pulsing, whooshing or humming in their heads, either constantly or intermittently.

Symptoms also vary with the different types of tinnitusWith subjective tinnitus, the most common type, the sounds are only heard by the person with the condition. In objective tinnitus, the rarest type, the sounds can be heard by other people at close range (often a doctor using a stethoscope or doing an ear exam). When tinnitus occurs as a rhythmic pulsing or whooshing in time with the heartbeat, it’s called pulsatile tinnitus.

The specific sounds and whether they’re low- or high-pitched can offer clues as to what’s causing the problem, so it’s important to speak with a hearing care provider about the kinds of sounds you hear. 

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, infections or injuries. Some medications can even cause tinnitus.

Inner ear damage associated with hearing loss — whether it’s from frequent exposure to loud sounds or a single traumatic event (such as an explosion) — can also lead to tinnitus, often a high-pitched variety. Low-pitched ringing can signal that the tinnitus is being caused by a blockage in the ear canal or by middle ear issues, such as otosclerosis (which also includes a loss of hearing). Hearing clicking is often related to contractions of the muscles around the ears or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, while the rhythmic pulsing associated with pulsatile tinnitus is generally related to vascular disorders

To understand how hearing loss leads to tinnitus, it helps to start with a basic understanding of how hearing works. When sound waves enter our ears, they cause a chain reaction: the waves cause the eardrum to pulse, which sets three tiny bones — the malleus, the incus and the stapes — in motion turning the sound energy into mechanical energy; those bones then tap on a snail-shaped structure called the cochlea.

The cochlea is filled with fluid and contains tiny, delicate hair cellsWhen the cochlea is tapped, the fluid ripples over the hair cells, generating electricity or electrical energy that is sent to the brain through the auditory nerve. The brain then processes those electrical signals as sounds. If there’s an interruption in that process, either through an obstruction (something in the ear) or damage to the fragile hair cells, some degree of hearing loss is the result.

As we go through life, it’s common for hair cells to become damaged. However, this damage can result not just in hearing loss but in misfiring signals to our brains, making us perceive sounds that aren’t actually there — and that’s what’s known as tinnitus

Ear infections often can cause a blockage in the ear canal or fluid to build up in the middle ear space. That buildup can become an obstruction and change the pressure in the ears, leading to tinnitus. In the case of infections, tinnitus is generally temporary. However, frequent infections increase the likelihood of permanent damage to the ears.

Several medical conditions and diseases are associated with tinnitus: diabetes, Meniere’s disease, certain thyroid conditions, autoimmune diseases and more. Given the variety of possibilities, it’s best to speak to a doctor if you experience both tinnitus and other symptoms.

Tinnitus might also develop alongside injuries to the head or neck, including concussions. These kinds of injuries often affect the inner ear, with the damage extending to the nerve and brain functions that are essential to the process of hearing.  

Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications — known as "ototoxic drugs" — have the potential to cause hearing loss or tinnitus. Some examples include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), drugs designed for cancer treatment, diuretics, antimalarial drugs and antidepressants. Speak to your doctor about the medications you’re taking if you also experience tinnitus or have hearing loss.

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How do hearing aids help with tinnitus?

Those looking for solutions often ask, “Do hearing aids help tinnitus?” Luckily, the answer is yes, hearing aids can often be beneficial for tinnitus. Hearing aids help manage tinnitus through specifically designed programs. Some work by masking or the delivery of sounds—such as static or ocean waves—into your ears to override the perceived sounds of tinnitus. Another option, called notch therapy, does not use sounds but instead trains the brain to ignore the tinnitus.

 

While not all states allow hearing aid specialists to provide tinnitus devices, you can talk to a Miracle-Ear professional about your options. Where possible, they will work with you to calibrate device settings to help you find relief.  

 

You may not think of sound therapy when you think of hearing aids, but that’s exactly what using hearing aids for tinnitus masking can deliver. Hearing aids are made to amplify sound, so when somebody with tinnitus uses them, external noise will become as loud as or louder than that perceived ringing in their ear. Some hearing aids also offer additional sounds like white noise that continuously play in the background to mask your tinnitus. With this increased auditory stimulation, it’s harder to notice the ringing. Hearing aids for tinnitus masking are especially great for people who have tinnitus related to hearing loss, as they solve two problems at once.

Noise reduction technology in hearing aids has come a long way and continues to evolve. Newer hearing aids have an improved ability block out background noise and elevate conversation. But given that tinnitus is a perceived sound, rather than an actual sound, it can’t be muffled in the same way background noise can. That said, noise cancelling hearing aids for tinnitus offer relief through auditory stimulation. The hearing aids’ amplification of sound will override the ringing sensation and make it less noticeable.
Hearing aids shown in a Miracle-Ear center

Miracle-Ear Hearing Aids for Tinnitus

Finding relief from tinnitus can be life-changing. Miracle-Ear’s wide range of hearing aid styles—controlled easily and discreetly from our app—offer the solutions you need.

Cost of hearing aids for tinnitus

A hearing aid for tinnitus costs the same as standard hearing aids — but there is a wide price range to choose from. Of course, what you pay for hearing aids depends on multiple factors including features, technology and brand. More high-tech features, such as tinnitus control, Bluetooth® and directional microphones, add more cost.

Hearing aids are an investment that can enhance your quality of life. While over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids are a cheaper option, they don’t always offer the personalized support that you get by working with a hearing care professional. A hearing care professional will help define your hearing needs, educate you about your options and ensure you get the best option for budget. This applies as much for OTC hearing aids for tinnitus work as it does for standard hearing aids.

How can I receive a hearing aid for tinnitus?

If you think you have tinnitusbook an appointment to see a hearing care professional (HCP). They will ask specific questions to better understand your symptoms and perform an exam, including checking your ears for wax or fluid buildup. No matter the cause of your tinnitus, your HCP will work with you to find the best hearing aids and programming options to manage your symptoms. 

Many insurance policies do not cover hearing aids. However, it’s important to speak to your insurance provider to confirm what is and is not covered.

Like many weighing their tinnitus treatment options, you may be wondering, “does Medicare cover hearing aids for tinnitus?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. Medicare does not cover the purchase of hearing aids or fittings, no matter if it’s for tinnitus or general hearing loss. All costs are out of pocket. However, if you have Medicare Advantage Plans, you may have extra hearing-related benefits. Inquire with Medicare for more information on this. 
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Find tinnitus relief today

If you experience tinnitus, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor or hearing instrument specialist about how you can best manage the symptoms.

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How long will it take to adjust to hearing aids?

Adjusting to hearing aids will differ from person to person, depending on the severity of your symptoms and your unique hearing. Remember that hearing aids aren’t quite like glasses, which you can put on and immediately see better.

Hearing is a function in which your brain is heavily involved, and your brain will need to adjust to the changes, which might take several weeks. As you work with your hearing care professional, your hearing aids can be adjusted to find the settings that are most comfortable and effective for you.

Check out more related content

Learn more about how your hearing works from our experts and review our blog, for the latest in hearing care news.

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