Hearing Aids

[PeteJ]

'Completely faded away - Unexplained' and 'Completely disappeared with no apparent reason.' Where do I sign up? :-(

Did any of them mention the nature of their t or rate it out of 10 of what it was?

 

[emmalee]

Good News: When I visited the Whole Foods Supplement Department, the saleslady said that she had this for five years but that it finally completely faded away (and she has no idea why).
Also, an older man recently told me that he got this from high pitched sound exposure from flying a private plane and had this for seven years, but that it also eventually completely disappeared (with also no apparent explanation). This is even more astonishing, since one would think that tinnitus-induced tissue damage from acoustic trauma would be irreversible and permanent.
So, there are two verifiable examples that this can really, eventually disappear on its own.

Thank-you for posting this, @DaveFromChicago.

Today, in particular, I really needed to hear some positivity. I cope as best as I can with my tinnitus and most days I feel as though I am in control and can get through the day. This morning I woke up to a much higher pitch than normal and I felt a dread come over me. The pitch has returned to base line, thankfully. Not sure what caused it, yet we all know there is not point trying to figure it out, tinnitus plays by it's own rules.

 

[DaveFromChicago]

To Pertej: I was unfortunately not in a position to interview them in depth.

The audiologist who set me up with Desyncra said that she had also heard of various instances among patients where this had in fact disappeared on its own.

I have fantasies about some day arriving at the "M" (Magic Day) wherein I will discover that mine is actually completely gone for good. I have had this fantasy every day for about 1,925 consecutive days (or 5 years and 3 plus months).

What concerns me is that lately I have this recurrent dream where I am in a German Concentration Camp in a striped uniform and am gesticulating desperately to my relatives and friends beyond the barbed wire fence that they immediately secure my release. The more I impress upon them the necessity of doing this the more they stare at me dumbfounded with total incomprehension.

This dream's symbolism regarding the distancing, entrapping, brutally sequestering nature of this condition is all to gallingly obvious.

 

[JohnFox]

I myself don't have hearing aides, but I've read they can fix tinnitus.

Sounds interesting, but I am doubtful that hearing aids will help me as I have total hearing loss in my right ear leaving me with intense hyperacusis induced Tinnitus. I'm hoping that my brain will just figure it out eventually and realize that nobody's home on my right side. BTW, it was sudden hearing loss without known cause.

 

[Matt BRFC]

Hello, I already have a hearing aid to help with not only loss of hearing in my left ear but to help with my tinnitus.

I have been looking on eBay at buying a digital rechargeable one, nothing expensive, as it's rechargeable it will be easier than trying to get batteries.

Does anyone know anything about these as I don't want to waste my money if they are no good?

Thank you.

 

[Piney]

Hearing aids help, but you have to keep using them. Sometimes taking them out, sometimes playing white noise, sometimes turning them down or up. It takes time, but your mind will eventually ruminate less and less on Tinnitus. It's a one step forward two steps back process. Severe SSD in right ear with bad word discrimination. The sound sucks from the aid but you get used to it, quality hearing aids programmed correctly is all you can do or get a CI to suppress the tinnitus and hope for the best. At least until the new stuff comes out that's all you can do.

 

[Mathew Gould]

Hearing aids help, but you have to keep using them. Sometimes taking them out, sometimes playing white noise, sometimes turning them down or up. It takes time, but your mind will eventually ruminate less and less on Tinnitus. It's a one step forward two steps back process. Severe SSD in right ear with bad word discrimination. The sound sucks from the aid but you get used to it, quality hearing aids programmed correctly is all you can do or get a CI to suppress the tinnitus and hope for the best. At least until the new stuff comes out that's all you can do.

Do hearing aids work with reactive tinnitus?

 

[Piney]

It seems to help me, mine goes up and down at different times all day, when it's loud enough to take over half my brain I put the noise generator on until it goes down about 2 hours. I use them till they are too much then I just pull the cone out for awhile. I do this hoping as long as sound is getting in things stay active in case a cure comes around. That's my theory anyways.

 

[Don Tinny]

Good News: When I visited the Whole Foods Supplement Department, the saleslady said that she had this for five years but that it finally completely faded away (and she has no idea why).
Also, an older man recently told me that he got this from high pitched sound exposure from flying a private plane and had this for seven years, but that it also eventually completely disappeared (with also no apparent explanation). This is even more astonishing, since one would think that tinnitus-induced tissue damage from acoustic trauma would be irreversible and permanent.
So, there are two verifiable examples that this can really, eventually disappear on its own.

It's no so strange in mild and moderate cases . The brain eventually adapts to the hearing loss and the tinnitus improves or fade away. The problem is that the ringing comes back easily (and usually worse) when you expose your ears to a new trauma. I think there is only one second chance.

 

[Alfredo17]

I have hearing aids with a tinnitus masking functionality. I paid $4.000 for them and they do not help me at all.

 

[JohnAdams]

They should rename tinnitus, hearing AIDS.

 

[Quiet please]

I live in the US & have severe tinnitus with bilateral hearing loss. I'm leaving my old ENT & audiologist & changing out my 5 year old tinnitus hearing aids.

My new ENT recommended I see a new audiologist to consult for Widex BiCros hearing aids. These are made specifically for people with tinnitus that also have one ear with much less hearing than the other. The sound "jumps" from the worse ear to the better ear & that's the ear you "hear" from. The maskers use colored sounds and ocean sounds. It sounds a bit unusual & I have an appointment to see the audiologist next week.

Was wondering if anyone wears these & what their experience has been.

 

[BrStan@]

I have hearing aids with a tinnitus masking functionality. I paid $4.000 for them and they do not help me at all.

Same with me. I have high frequency hearing loss at 4-8 kHz and was thinking that hearing aids would help. They do nothing for me except for make the situation worse.

 

[Piney]

I know of one person who uses the Widex with Ocean sounds, and she says it helps. As we know everyone is different. I want to try them but the cost is too high right now.

 

[Alan52]

Hi.

I've got tinnitus which I've had for 15 years. Just recently my tinnitus has got worse.

I was just wondering has anyone tried a hearing aid that can play white noise or music etc?

This may cost me £3200. Has anyone tried this therapy?

And has it helped you? Would be great to hear anyone's thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Alan

 

[Mathew Gould]

Do hearing aids work with reactive tinnitus?

Bump... Do hearing aids help with reactive tinnitus?

 

[Tinniger]

Bump... Do hearing aids help with reactive tinnitus?

What exactly do you mean by reactive tinnitus?

 

[Mathew Gould]

What exactly do you mean by reactive tinnitus?

Tinnitus that goes up with external sound like a tv being on or a furnace.

 

[Tinniger]

Reactive tinnitus seems to be a term that does not appear in the "official tinnitus literature". It is usually assumed that tinnitus is "maskable" when ambient noise is loud enough. I myself know that this is not the case.
If a hearing loss has been diagnosed, an "attempt" with hearing aids is not such a bad thing. To get an idea of how hearing aids change the hearing impression expands the spectrum of hearing experiences.

 

[Mathew Gould]

Do you mind sharing your audiogram?

Hearing aid's won't help reactive tinnitus? I have tinnitus from neck and jaw issues. Tinnitus is in my brain and I don't think I have any hearing loss if I had to guess.

 

[GregCA]

Hearing aid's won't help reactive tinnitus? I have tinnitus from neck and jaw issues. Tinnitus is in my brain and I don't think I have any hearing loss if I had to guess.

Nobody can tell you if HAs are going to help you. You need to try. But if you don't have any hearing loss, I don't see what you expect them to accomplish for you: they'll be programmed to your audiogram.

Did you ever do a hearing test?

 

[Mathew Gould]

Nobody can tell you if HAs are going to help you. You need to try. But if you don't have any hearing loss, I don't see what you expect them to accomplish for you: they'll be programmed to your audiogram.

Did you ever do a hearing test?

I go to the ENT in 6 weeks again... I'm sure they will do a hearing test and if they do I will post it here. Thanks.

 

[PeterPan]

I recently received some hearing aids on trial. I've been wearing them since Tuesday afternoon (so about 5 days now). It's a top-of-the-line Phonak (sorry, didn't get the exact model, but to buy both it is $11,000 AUD!). I've got them on loan for 2 weeks, but going back to work on Monday and don't want to wear them at work at this stage.

My hearing is OK and I don't have any issues with hearing people or sounds. My left ear is worse than my right and I have some high frequency hearing loss in both ears (which is normal for my age). I have intermittent tinnitus, and get a break from it about every third day. I am using the hearing aids just as normal hearing aids, i.e. not background noises or anything. The batteries need to be replaced about every 5 days.

I believe that the hearing aids are improving the tinnitus. It doesn't seem as bad now, and the tinnitus breaks seem longer. Having said that however, it's actually quite difficult to be certain that there is an improvement, which is part of the problem with assessing efficacy of tinnitus treatments!

When you wear hearing aids, you have to take them out when you go to sleep or have a shower. Which means that there is quite a long time during which they are not worn. If the lack of hearing aids, are responsible for exciting the neurons which cause tinnitus, then this can be be an issue and it might be expected that continuous use of hearing aids could be of benefit to tinnitus sufferers.

There is a brand of hearing aid called Lyric (made by Phonak) which is entirely in the ear and not visible. They have a non-removable battery which can last up to 3 months. You wear the hearing aids continuously (including during sleep) for the period the battery lasts and then replace them with a new set once the battery runs out. They are charged for on a subscription model independent of the number of hearing aids you require. These hearing aids are sold as being of potential benefit for tinnitus sufferers as they are functional 100% of the time. They require a visit to the hearing clinic to get them installed (which I believe is covered by the subscription).

Here is some information relating to Lyric and tinnitus:

https://www.phonakpro.com/content/d...cles/documents/lyric_jacob_johnson_proofs.pdf

(Caution: The person who wrote it is from Phonak!).

They are seeing an average TFI reduction of over 13 at 2 weeks and 3 months with a sample size of 15. A TFI reduction of over 13 is regarded as "meaningful".

Could be interesting to try I guess...

And if anyone has already tried them, I would be interested in feedback.

 

[GregCA]

When you wear hearing aids, you have to take them out when you go to sleep or have a shower.

I keep mine when I go to sleep, but obviously not when I shower. I have been told it is ok to do that. Perhaps it depends on the type of HA: mine is the Behind The Ear kind.

 

[DaveFromChicago]

To Peter Pan:
I wear mine 24/7 except when I shower; you must make sure that they never get wet (especially when it rains).

 

[Seth4kHz]

Already a lot of responses here so I'll keep it brief: Hearing aids were definitely effective reducing and often eliminating my tinnitus, which seems to stem from hearing loss. I had them on demo from my audiologist, and now trying to figure out how to afford them since my insurance doesn't cover them. Your audiologist might be able to loan you a pair to see if they work for you.

 

[Quiet please]

I got new hearing aids this morning and am very happy so far.

My tinnitus is caused by a condition called Cochlear Endolymphatic Hydrops. I have had severe tinnitus 24-7 for many years with hearing loss predominantly in one ear. I had SSHL & have been suffering like so many of us for years.

I've had other very expensive hearing aid brands that certainly helped with the hearing loss, but did nothing for the tinnitus.

My new aides are Phonak Audeo M. So far, it's been 8 hours and I've not been aware of my tinnitus at all. I know it's still early, but wanted to share.

 

[just1morething]

My new hearing aids are Phonak Audeo M. So far, it's been 8 hours and I've not been aware of my tinnitus at all. I know it's still early, but wanted to share.

Great to hear you are having relief! Do you have these on trial? Did an audiologist steer you in the direction of this brand and model?

 

[Quiet please]

@just1morething,

Yes, I have a 60 day trial period.

Yes, my (newly beloved) ENT recommended them for my specific diagnosis. He took my insurance, but his in-house audiologist did not. But she still gave me a free consultation & demonstration. There are good professionals out there who just want to help. I called my insurance company & there was just one audiologist they took my insurance. They were about 20 miles from my home, but worth the trip & future trips for adjustments. It's a great team where their tinnitus specialist (!!!) concurred that this particular hearing aid set would be the best for me.

Eleven hours & counting! So far, so good. I do hear a whisper of my tinnitus in the background, but it's so slight I can ignore it.

It's been 10 years & 7 months of pure torture. I've seen many ENTs and audiologists. All of a sudden I have hope again. It's important to share that.

 

[Juan]

@just1morething,

Yes, I have a 60 day trial period.

Yes, my (newly beloved) ENT recommended them for my specific diagnosis. He took my insurance, but his in-house audiologist did not. But she still gave me a free consultation & demonstration. There are good professionals out there who just want to help. I called my insurance company & there was just one audiologist they took my insurance. They were about 20 miles from my home, but worth the trip & future trips for adjustments. It's a great team where their tinnitus specialist (!!!) concurred that this particular hearing aid set would be the best for me.

Eleven hours & counting! So far, so good. I do hear a whisper of my tinnitus in the background, but it's so slight I can ignore it.

It's been 10 years & 7 months of pure torture. I've seen many ENTs and audiologists. All of a sudden I have hope again. It's important to share that.

Do you have a lot of hearing loss?

I have lost hearing due to noise and hyperacusis... I have never tried hearing aids.