MemberFor most of us, our tinnitus is due to hearing loss. I have read that 27.4% of people over the age of 64 have some tinnitus. Although my own hearing is normal, I have loss at 4KHz and 10KHz. My tinnitus was initially a pure tone of 4KHz in my right ear.
Many audiologists say that by using hearing aids to restore volume at diminished frequencies, a person will find tinnitus more tolerable. Trouble is, hearing aids can be expensive.
My tinnitus becomes bad whenever I watch TV. I don't know what causes this, but watching TV guarantess that my tinnitus will get worse.
I decided to do something about this. (I will call this Tinnitus Experiment No. 372. I've come a long way from Experiment No. 1, which was ear drops). Some of you who have the same problem listening to TV can try this.
1. If your TV is connected to a Home Theater System, there should be a head phone plug. I ran a 20' long stereo audio cable from by TV, under my crawl space, to "my" chair.
2. I purchased a decent pair of over the ear head phones at Guitar Center:
3. I also purchased what is called an "equalizer". The one I purchased was only $64 at Guitar Center:
This equalizer is fairly small. I'd say about 4" x 8".
4. In the above image, you will see there are 9 slider buttons for this particular equalizer. Each button represents a frequency that can be amplified. In my case, since I have tinnitus at 4KHZ, I've increased the volume of the 4KHZ frequency.
Although I've just begun using this setup, I can tell you that it seems much better watching TV. There are no longer outside distracting noises.
I've also tried another setup: Turning 4KHZ to zero - sort of "notched TV". There may be some logic to using a setup like this. Researchers have determined that by amplifying "sideband frequencies", above and below the tinnitus frequency, the overexcited neurons at the tinnitus frequency will be inhibited.
Anyway, I wanted to post this for others who may have the same issue watching TV. An equalizer such as this can also be used for listening to music, of course. It's almost a "Poor Man's Hearing Aid".
Many audiologists say that by using hearing aids to restore volume at diminished frequencies, a person will find tinnitus more tolerable. Trouble is, hearing aids can be expensive.
My tinnitus becomes bad whenever I watch TV. I don't know what causes this, but watching TV guarantess that my tinnitus will get worse.
I decided to do something about this. (I will call this Tinnitus Experiment No. 372. I've come a long way from Experiment No. 1, which was ear drops). Some of you who have the same problem listening to TV can try this.
1. If your TV is connected to a Home Theater System, there should be a head phone plug. I ran a 20' long stereo audio cable from by TV, under my crawl space, to "my" chair.
2. I purchased a decent pair of over the ear head phones at Guitar Center:
3. I also purchased what is called an "equalizer". The one I purchased was only $64 at Guitar Center:
This equalizer is fairly small. I'd say about 4" x 8".
4. In the above image, you will see there are 9 slider buttons for this particular equalizer. Each button represents a frequency that can be amplified. In my case, since I have tinnitus at 4KHZ, I've increased the volume of the 4KHZ frequency.
Although I've just begun using this setup, I can tell you that it seems much better watching TV. There are no longer outside distracting noises.
I've also tried another setup: Turning 4KHZ to zero - sort of "notched TV". There may be some logic to using a setup like this. Researchers have determined that by amplifying "sideband frequencies", above and below the tinnitus frequency, the overexcited neurons at the tinnitus frequency will be inhibited.
Anyway, I wanted to post this for others who may have the same issue watching TV. An equalizer such as this can also be used for listening to music, of course. It's almost a "Poor Man's Hearing Aid".
Be careful not to listen to it too loud though. Even if the sound is notched, it can still cause more damage if used too loud!
Founder
