Hearing Aids

#271
jazz said:
@just1morething I'm also considering the WidexZen. This Friday I'm getting fitted with their Dream series. Although my audiologist is pleased with my progress, I still have bad days and still spike several times a month.....
Click to expand...

jazz -
I think you are doing great. Based on what you've written, the Starkey's are doing what they need to do. The only thing I can add is, some of these hearing aids have very cool additional features. With the Widex, there is a special remote that allows a person to listen to other Bluetooth enabled stuff - such as the TV and the phone.

I use the Widex Dream series, but I also have my bad days. Tinnitus is a struggle. I know what silence is, and I don't have silence. I am still hearing something, even with the hearing aids - but it's not all that loud. I am fortunate that I am able to sleep.

Tinnitus has required me to think quite a bit about what I can do, and what is out of the question. I have recently thought, if I didn't hear this tinnitus sound, what would I hear? Would I hear "deaf" regions in my hearing, where my hearing is damaged? I've thought that's why I'm hearing this tinnitus sound, as my brain is trying to "crank up the volume" in those deaf regions. I keep hammering that theory, which makes sense to me. However, I'm not quite sure if hearing aids are a fix for everyone.
 
#272
@Karl Thanks for the information! I did think that you had full or near full suppression. I must be guilty of wishful thinking!

I like your idea regarding the brain cranking up volume to compensate for damaged hair cells. But how to fix this in the near future? That's the rub! I was disappointed to read that stem cell regeneration might be twenty years in the future. I like several sound therapy technologies, but they only work for specific populations. Within the next three to five years, drug therapy will be standard for people with acute tinnitus, but whether or to what degree the current pipeline will help people with chronic tinnitus is unknown. Obviously, tinnitus sufferers need multiple therapeutic choices from a variety of technical and pharmaceutical options.

That's why I'm still intrigued with hearing aids as a suppression tool for specific populations. Hearing aid makers have every financial reason to develop instruments that maximize tinnitus suppression. Right now, most hearing aid research is focused on improving "speech in noise." While important, obviously, improving speech in noise won't necessarily help people with tinnitus. Cochlear implants, for example, may be set to either maximize hearing or minimize tinnitus. So there's a trade off. What if hearing aid makers applied this logic to people with tinnitus and began researching which settings work best to minimize tinnitus? The current generation of hearing aids may need tweaked, or a new generation may need to be developed. But the financial reward to hearing aid makers would be great.

On the Widex Dream series, they supposedly improve the speech in noise problem, cited above, along with more faithfully replicating audio sounds across all frequencies. I'm hoping the hearing aids will increase stimulation to my auditory cortex and thus lessen my noise. But from your observations--along with my own theory that hearing aids need to be designed for specifically for tinnitus suppression--I understand the hearing aids might not achieve anything besides the cool factor! And if that's all Widex delivers, alas, I will keep my Starkey's since I already own them. But I will continue to save my money for the next generation of tinnitus technologies.

Thanks again for your insights. Tinnitus has also made me reconsider what is and is not possible. But research is comprised of dreamers, and I still have great hope in our scientific community! As do you and everyone else on TT!
 
#273
I am new to the T forum here and late when replying to this thread.

In regard to hearing aids.. My T is most likely the result of hearing loss in the high F. range. I tried hearing aids with the Zen masking channel..Very expensive at 6K plus..They were almost as bad as the T. The Zen was very nerve racking and did nothing to mask the T. I returned the aids.

On with the story. I then got enrolled in a new program the VA has (TRT) for Vets. Since the VA has determined that my T is military related, they insisted on hearing aids and maskers.. My new hearing aids have a 2 channels. One with a built in white noise masker.. They do help, maybe too much. I now hear sounds I know I never heard even when young. I find it very hard to wear the aids for any length of time. I end up wearing just the simple masking aids most of the time.

I would recommend trying hearing aids but only with a "no Fee" trial basis..If you are a vet talk to your local VA center. I do believe that if a cure is to be had it will be thur government intervention..Not that anyone cares but simply because they are spending close to 3 billion a year on us.
 
#274
The hearing aids might still help you. But please try to wear them as much as possible. The more you stimulate your brain, the great the likelihood your tinnitus will become less bothersome. And you won't know how much you're able to improve until you've worn the hearing aids for about a year. That's because it takes your brain a while to forget the tinnitus sound.

I do know how annoying hearing aids can be: hearing sounds you never would've noticed before, such as buggies clanging in a supermarket. This is because, unlike your ears, your hearing aids amplify all noises somewhat equally within a specific range. Of course, the digital aids are superior to the analog ones. That's because the digital aids will only amplify frequencies where you are deficient. But, unlike your ears, your hearing aids can't soften sounds as well as your ears.

This is all about auditory gain. You have outer and inner hair cells, and, from my understanding, the outer cells control your auditory gain: cranking up softer sounds but reducing louder ones. This built in filter attempts to keep sounds uniform, and it also helps you hear a specific voice in a roomful of people. That's because your brain is looking for that specific voice, and thus it will tamp down extraneous voices will it amps up the one you desire! This is called "speech in noise," and it's something hearing aid research is focusing on. People with severe hearing loss frequently complain how they can hear all types of sounds but not the voices of people they know--or even voices in general. With digital hearing aids, however, your audiologist should be able to adjust their compression features to soften some sounds. The result will be inferior to what your ears can do, but it will be superior to doing nothing. Getting a good audiologist can be the difference between wearing your hearing aids or keeping them in drawer. Because my hearing loss is slight, I don't have significant gain problems. But I still perceive some sounds as totally unacceptable and so I'm researching this problem.

Here are two articles that explain some of these problems:

http://www.healthyhearing.com/conte...ids/Types/41066-Hearing-aids-background-noise

http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/using-speech-in-noise-tests-832
 
#276
Leah,

A lot of people use hearing aids for tinnitus, and they feel that it helps. For me, they didn't work very well, because I have pulsatile tinnitus; the hearing aids just seemed to amplify the heartbeat sound in my ear.

To find out if hearing aids would work for you, you might want to go to an audiologist. They can test your hearing, and fit you with hearing aids on a 30-day free trial basis. It's at least worth a try. They might really help, and you'll never know how (or if) they might help your tinnitus until you experience them for yourself!
 
#278
Does anyone have the Xino 110? I did a demo at the audiologist and reduced most of my T. Very pleased & considering purchasing, but sooo pricey @ $6400 for both ears. I see them at online discounts for about $2500 each. What do you think?
 
#279
i have the windex dream 110 ric $1549 each i love mine.. i have a remote that came with it so i can change the sound and the pitch when ever i need to it's pretty cool. i'm glad i invested in it it helps me ALOT... i can even sleep with it on it's tiny and cant tell... i'm wearing it....
 
#280
Leah said:
Thank you, am checking into it. Will definitely be asking about a 30-day trial.
Click to expand...
I have the Unitron Moxi Kiss model mine is for right ear only. It does what Christine's windix does.

I really like mine, It was $900 through my ENT's office, actually his audiologist ordered it for me and did the initial settings. These type's mention here with remotes are state of the art.

I had the same 30 day trial, that should give enough time to decide.

Of course it will not cure T but it does make it more tolerable for me. It is nice to switch the white & pink noise around at different levels, also at times I use just the hearing aid portion...
 
#281
Who did you see to get your hearing aid? Were you given a prescription for a certain type?
I went on Monday to a hearing center and she suggested I see another ENT first and that she was not
familiar with hearing aids for T. have an apt with the ENT she suggested who seems to know his stuff.
He is with the Cleveland Clinic and found some research he has done on T. Not meeting with him for a couple of weeks, waiting is hard.
 
#282
Leah said:
Who did you see to get your hearing aid? Were you given a prescription for a certain type?
I went on Monday to a hearing center and she suggested I see another ENT first and that she was not
familiar with hearing aids for T. have an apt with the ENT she suggested who seems to know his stuff.
He is with the Cleveland Clinic and found some research he has done on T. Not meeting with him for a couple of weeks, waiting is hard.
Click to expand...
I went to my ENT, he has an audiologist on staff full time. She is the one that showed me the one I have, it was in a catalog, so with the 30 money back I figured what the heck. Just make sure you don't go to one of those places like magic ear etc. She said I could come back anytime for any adjustments it may need, or if there is a problem.

Before you visit, I would call and ask his nurse or assistant, if there is an audiologist he works with that can set you up with a hearing aid/masker

I have heard some very good things about the Cleveland Clinic from my ENT. It is sure worth the wait. be sure to write down all your questions when they pop into your head before you go. Don't want to get there and get tongue tied...
 
#284
gary said:
I went to my ENT, he has an audiologist on staff full time. She is the one that showed me the one I have, it was in a catalog, so with the 30 money back I figured what the heck. Just make sure you don't go to one of those places like magic ear etc. She said I could come back anytime for any adjustments it may need, or if there is a problem.

Before you visit, I would call and ask his nurse or assistant, if there is an audiologist he works with that can set you up with a hearing aid/masker

I have heard some very good things about the Cleveland Clinic from my ENT. It is sure worth the wait. be sure to write down all your questions when they pop into your head before you go. Don't want to get there and get tongue tied...
Click to expand...
Good advice thanks
 
#285
christine kauhane said:
i have the windex dream 110 ric $1549 each i love mine.. i have a remote that came with it so i can change the sound and the pitch when ever i need to it's pretty cool. i'm glad i invested in it it helps me ALOT... i can even sleep with it on it's tiny and cant tell... i'm wearing it....
Click to expand...
Christine -
I have the same hearing aids for the same price. Unfortunately, one of my hearing aids has static in it. I've been going back and forth for weeks with my audiologist trying to get it repaired.
 
#287
Hearing aids help many people with tinnitus. Noted in various research studies and in a long thread on TT, many people try hearing aids specifically to help reduce their tinnitus—and for most the technology does help. But hearing aids are very expensive. People in the US commonly spend between $4,000 to $6,000 for a set of hearing aids—which are typically not covered by insurance. Although research and development have increased the costs of hearing aids, these are not the main price drivers. First, the industry is small, dominated by a few big players. With little competition, prices are uniform and inelastic. According to sources cited by Bloomberg Businessweek, hearing aid manufacturers typically make $425 in profit for a hearing aid sold for $1,000. Second, audiologists—while highly trained professionals—utilize a lucrative business model by bundling insurance and services into hearing aid prices. Mark ups of two hundred percent are common. As such, a hearing aid that costs an audiologist $1,000 will be sold for $3,000. That number is doubled for two hearing aids; there is no discount for the second one.

Enter some new players determined to bring equality into the marketplace. In the past few years, two companies—Audicus and Embrace Hearing—have entered the over-the-counter hearing aid marketplace, offering quality hearing aids at affordable prices. These companies do require you to submit an audiogram, which is then used to program your hearing aids. Reviewed by major media and Internet sources—such as The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, TechCrunch, FastCompany and NPR—Audicus and Embrace Hearing are disruptors in an industry led by six major players—who manufacture approximately 95% of all hearing aids. Each company offers three hearing aids—the most expensive being nearly $1,000 per aid, but includes Bluetooth and other high end features typical of hearing aids costing three times that amount. Embrace Hearing's Luna, costing $949 per aid, even offers extended range frequency up to 12 kHz. This may be important for people with tinnitus whose hearing loss extends beyond 8 kHz, the typical hearing aid limit. Unfortunately, neither Embrace Hearing nor Audicus includes hearing aids with white noise, chimes, or other sound features. It would be useful discover why the omission.

In the US, Costco now offers hearing aids. The wholesale discounter has Hearing Aid Centers in their stores, which offer free hearing tests. Costco's prices are affordable, though not as inexpensive as Embrace's or Audicus'.

A fourth company wants to bring hearing instruments to people through their smart phones. That company is Sound World Solutions. The hearing device, which looks like a small BTE hearing aid, works with Android phones. Not a hearing aid, the device is a personal sound amplifier, probably suited to someone with minor hearing loss. The founder, David Green, says his dream is to bring this technology to the developing world. Priced at $299 and not requiring a hearing test, the device has gotten solid reviews and was featured twice on NPR's blog.

These companies are true disrupters in the hearing aid industry. And they offer proof that capitalism—despite its many flaws—can still work to bring great products to market. The tinnitus industry needs disruptors such as these companies and entrepreneurs, who will bring more devices to consumers. Curing tinnitus may be ten or more years away, but alleviating its symptoms is within reach. For those with high frequency hearing loss, getting a hearing aid might be a start to living tinnitus free.

Sources and Additional Reading:
 
#288
A relative of mine and his wife bought Siemens rechargeable hearing aids at Costco for about 1/2 the price of the other brands thru a audiologist, but with no white noise masker. I actually brought this up to the audiologist I seen, but she only said that Siemens was the only one with a rechargeable hearing aid and did not say anything their prices.
 
#289
Hopefully the hearing aid will help lower the tinnitus volume!

This new doctor really helped me out a lot! She helped explain my situation and I'm getting the bigger picture now.
 
#290
I keep getting info from this site (tinnitushearing.com). Has anyone seen this? Is this just a hearing aid or something else? It says something about a device that uses sound in the ear. Does such a device just replace your T sound with something else? Also says patent pending, does this mean it's being studied and not made yet. Never really understood how hearing aids worked for T. Or is it for T with hearing loss, please forgive my ignorance. I don't see how they would help T sufferers.
My Dad has hearing aid and it squeals when he removes it. He has hearing loss, not T. Confused!
 
#291
Lulubug69 said:
I keep getting info from this site (tinnitushearing.com). Has anyone seen this?
Click to expand...
From: Tinnitus Treatment Solution With Multiflex Tinnitus Technology
Screen Shot 2013-10-31 at 17.01.48.png


From: Hearing Loss Treatment and Tinnitus Treatment in a Single Product
Screen Shot 2013-10-31 at 17.02.59.png


It seems like it's one of those units where a hearing aid and a masking feature are combined, similar to Widex Zen.
 
#292
I describe my T as severe.
My hearing tests show me to have lost my "highs" meaning my hearing test audiogram starts at just below normal and then falls off the chart at 8,000 Hrtz. My T sound manifests as a choir of rabid cicadas. But the choir is mostly just the sopranos and altos. Not many tenors and no basses. I purchased the high end Widex hearing aids with what they call the Tinnitus masking feature. My T is too loud to be masked. So what they did for me was to boost the highs in the regular hearing aid part of the device. So now I can hear water splash in the sink and when I drop something small I can now hear it hit the floor. And I can now more clearly hear people with higher pitched voices. I believe the ability to better hear higher pitched sounds helps to divert my attention from inside my head to the outside world. Usually. Many times however, the T can overwhelm even that help. The Tinnitus masking feature of the Widex devices produces chime or carillon type sounds to further help focus my attention away from the T sound in my head. I can't use this feature all the time because I need it fairly loud and it interferes with hearing conversations etc. But when I am at my desk working alone it is a comfort. The Widex hearing aids cost me $3,500 each, or $7,000 a pair, and are supposed to last for 3 to 5 years before needing replacement. I do think they were worth the investment for my situation. So, that's my story. Good luck to all of you on your T journey. RCB
 
#293
Louise said:
I'm wondering if anyone who has tinnitus caused by noise-induced hearing loss has any experience with using a hearing aid to 'cure' tinnitus?

The use of hearing aids to reduce/eliminate tinnitus is something that the Hearing Specialists sometimes recommend and I am thinking about going down this route.
Click to expand...

Hi Louise - I use hearing aid-like sound generators. They fit like hearing aids and deliver white noise into my ears. I can adjust the volume. They also came with a device that I call plug my MP3 player into and transmit music or my custom tinnitus mixes. This is great when you want to have a conversation because, unlike using earbuds or a headset, the hearing aid lets the outside sound in. It makes conversations less cumbersome. The product name is Resound.
 
#294
Louise said:
I'm wondering if anyone who has tinnitus caused by noise-induced hearing loss has any experience with using a hearing aid to 'cure' tinnitus?

The use of hearing aids to reduce/eliminate tinnitus is something that the Hearing Specialists sometimes recommend and I am thinking about going down this route.
Click to expand...
I have hearing aides and they help, they dont take it away but when you make hearing the sounds you miss easier it kind of makes your ears nor work so hard and the T is better. this was all good until a couple months ago when my left ear went off the chart. but thats another story.
 
#295
Hey Karl....Excellent material here! You get a more than an A+ in my opinion as you explained all that super-conductor-hyper-loopty-doop in a very clear and concise way. Consider a digitally sent "Honorary Degree" from me...Mmmmmm, I wonder if one of this little jump around jelly-bean critters could come in here. Aha! Yes this will do even though no diploma versions.
:dohanimation:
Again, thanks much!!! (I'm still just touching the surface of this site and getting to "Treatments" - which over the decades I have of course tried many)....Zimichael
 
#296
Hi, Louise --

It's been about a year now that I've been wearing prescription hearing aids. They are very high-quality (Oticon) and I purchased them from the audiology clinic at UCLA Medical Center.

While the hearing aids have helped tremendously with my high-frequency hearing loss (music sounds better, I can understand people better in noisy rooms, etc.), they have done virtually nothing to reduce the perception of my tinnitus. There are days when they do have a bit of a "masking" effect depending on the level of ambient noise, but they are far from being a cure for tinnitus.

The hearing aids were very expensive; I think I paid about $3500 for both of them. However, since they help with my hearing loss, I feel the cost was worth it. Next time, however, I might purchase a pair with maskers built-in.

- Jason

Louise said:
I'm wondering if anyone who has tinnitus caused by noise-induced hearing loss has any experience with using a hearing aid to 'cure' tinnitus?

The use of hearing aids to reduce/eliminate tinnitus is something that the Hearing Specialists sometimes recommend and I am thinking about going down this route.
Click to expand...
 
#300
Hi all ,anyone in the UK ....I have NHS aids they have just replaced them with ones called spirit ,they are truly pieces of gold. The thing is they have a volume control ,I keep them in at night hit the biutton to maximum level and strange though it is bearing in mind the room is quiet it basically knocks my t out and i would put my t as severe ,can hear over car stereo for example......and before anyone in the uk pays 1000s for private ,think about something a private audiologist told me ,there is nothing he could do with private that he couldnt do with nhs aids,depends on the skill of the audiologist.

I have sleight to mod high freq loss but can hear ok in everyday life just wear the aids to hit the T.
 

Log in or register to get the full forum benefits!

Register

Register on Tinnitus Talk for free!

Register Now

Similar threads

Mohamed2009
Why Does Insurance Not Cover Hearing Aids?
Replies
6
Views
688
Hearing Loss
momus
M
M
Hearing Aids Aggravate Reactive Tinnitus
Replies
10
Views
1K
Support
Jupiterman
Jupiterman
_Dutchy_
9 Years of Tinnitus Caused by Earplug Pushing Earwax Against Eardrum — I'm Ready for Hearing Aids
Replies
2
Views
442
Introduce Yourself
_Dutchy_
_Dutchy_
SofiaDS
Debilitating Hyperacusis and Reactive Tinnitus: Trouble with White Noise from Hearing Aids
Replies
4
Views
1K
Introduce Yourself
MiaVIL
M
N
Fluctuations in Hearing
Replies
0
Views
171
Health Talk
Noise Ninja
N
Top Bottom
Back
Forums
Members
Donate
Menu