How Are Hearing Aids with Maskers Different Than Wearing Headphones?
- Thread starter Marie79
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i looked into something like that as well thinking that i could just have a masker on all the time. But i didnt have any hearing loss. The two are different in a couple of ways. I was told i couldnt use the hearing aids because i didnt have hearing loss. The aids would add the T signal at the Hz of my hearing loss only to restore a full picture sound.
The headphones or earbuds block out all other outside sounds which close off your ears. When outside influences would spike my T I would put in ear plug in that ear thinking it would help, but all it did was focus my T louder. Thinks thats what is behind the process.
The headphones or earbuds block out all other outside sounds which close off your ears. When outside influences would spike my T I would put in ear plug in that ear thinking it would help, but all it did was focus my T louder. Thinks thats what is behind the process.
This is something that I've wondered about, too. I think the rationale is that a headphone will block out all external noises. I had audiologists tell me to occasionally use an earbud in one ear with very low masking sounds. When I tried that, I could still hear outside sounds.
I think the other rationale is the volume. Yet, when I tried a hearing aid with white noise, we realized I would often need to be able to turn the white noise up so that I could still hear it and keep it just under my tinnitus.
I also read something about headphones directing the sound right at your ear drum, but hearing aids with maskers do the exact same thing. And with the hearing aid that I tried, it was inserted far deeper in my ear canal than a simple ear bud.
So really I have no idea. Obviously I'm not going to wear an earbud with music or white noise blasting. I didn't find the experience of using a white noise masker all that different from using an earbud set to the lowest volume. But, I will say that I tried a hearing aid with Zen tones and thought it was far better than the annoying sound of white noise.
I think the other rationale is the volume. Yet, when I tried a hearing aid with white noise, we realized I would often need to be able to turn the white noise up so that I could still hear it and keep it just under my tinnitus.
I also read something about headphones directing the sound right at your ear drum, but hearing aids with maskers do the exact same thing. And with the hearing aid that I tried, it was inserted far deeper in my ear canal than a simple ear bud.
So really I have no idea. Obviously I'm not going to wear an earbud with music or white noise blasting. I didn't find the experience of using a white noise masker all that different from using an earbud set to the lowest volume. But, I will say that I tried a hearing aid with Zen tones and thought it was far better than the annoying sound of white noise.
MemberI'm not sure where you got that rule. None of the professionals I consulted with (my surgeon/neurotologist, ent docs, audiologists, and a tinnitus expert) said we shouldn't use headphones (to mask or do anything else really). They were actually all - without exception - positive about headphone use, as long as the volume remained reasonable/safe.
If you need to hear outside sounds then less isolation is better obviously (i.e. open designs, BTE hearing aids), but if you don't then closed designs (i.e. noise cancelling headphones, in ear monitors - what pro musicians use, closed headphone designs) allow you to not to crank up the volume to compete with external sounds.
Well this is reassuring! None of the audiologists I saw were against proper headphone use, some even have tinnitus. I was still hesitant due to posts on TT cautioning against headphones.
Yet, it did seem odd to me since there are wireless headphones for individuals with hearing loss to better watch TV. Obviously they're not causing further hearing damage, audiologists sell them.
It's probably wise not to question them. Ask me how I know...
XD
I'm still a bit afraid of headphones as it is difficult to judge volume.
I can easily set my HiFi system to around 60dB by ear, while I can't guess how loud is music on my headphones.
Any hints? Hard and fast rules on how to choose safe volume?
That's a good question. Several years ago I bought my kids headphones to use for watching movies or playing on their tablets during long car trips. The headphones were designed for children and to not go above a particular volume level. Now I can't remember what it was, they advertised a particular decibel. No matter how high they set the DVD player volume, the headphones have a max level and it's actually not very loud.
I can also set their Apple devices to not go above a particular volume. I wonder if it would be possible to test it out without headphones and set the level for other headphones.
It can be a bit of a guessing game indeed, but you can follow the exact same process that you do with your HiFi: adjust to the volume that you feel comfortable with. You'll be surprised at how low that volume is, especially if you use well isolated headphones.
One "mental trick" you can play while adjusting your hearphones is to close your eyes and ask yourself "if I was hearing this out of my HiFi, would I think it's too loud?"
- Apr 15, 2017
- 1,419
- Tinnitus Since
- 2008
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Noise
- Aug 21, 2014
- 5,049
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- 1999
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I asked this question of a clinician who was trying to sell me $4000 maskers a few years ago, and was told "these are very small and low profile, and people will assume they are hearing aids if noticed, so it's more socially acceptable than wearing earbuds everywhere".
That pretty much told me everything I needed to know. I am not enthusiastic about spending $4000 so that I can better align with someone else's arbitrary view of what is or isn't socially acceptable.
That pretty much told me everything I needed to know. I am not enthusiastic about spending $4000 so that I can better align with someone else's arbitrary view of what is or isn't socially acceptable.
That is kind of funny given that I see people with earbuds or bluetooth devices in their ears all the time. In fact, when I tried out a hearing aid my husband said most people would probably think it was a bluetooth device and pay it no attention.
- May 8, 2012
- 1,601
- Tinnitus Since
- 04/15/2012 or earlier?
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Most likely hearing loss
I masked with headphones (over the ear) for almost 12 straight months in the beginning and it worked great for me. Tried SoundCure for 30 days and didn't like them nor the $$$.
I think it was on here that I read that you shouldn't use them. OMG so I can? That would be so helpful. Part of the anxiety is that if I use things that help the T goes away but then I am plagued with anxiety about if the thing that helps will make it worse.
That doesn't surprise me.
It can be. It is to me.
There's never any certainty with any treatment, which means there's always a risk somewhere. If you peruse this forum you'll find some people feel the risk of an airbag deployment is too high, so they want to disable their airbags. You may find that excessive, but that's where their thinking is at. It's all about your risk tolerance.
I think the risk with headphones can be mitigated if you're fairly disciplined about its setup and know to not "fool yourself" into pretending that something isn't too loud because you're enjoying it. If you're mature enough to take away the "fun" in order to save your future, you're probably mature enough to handle headphones.
I've been concerned about headphone use too after reading some posts on here. I think because I read it it put the thought in my head and I was so anxious at the time that I imagined it was making my T worse. The ENT and other sources don't have a problem with it as long as you practice "safety".
I've always believed in safe headphone use. If it's nosey I never bothered with them because I knew I would have to turn the volume up way too loud to compete. (Like the car or something.)
Though I have now switched to headphones again, and dumped my earbuds. It totally makes since.
The ear guy wanted to give me maskers and the feeling and noise from it alone was too much. I'd rather listen to my T than what they were using to mask. Besides that I have glasses and it's too much. The $ amount was also ridiculous. (Not to mention that that thing was right up on my eardrum. Even after he kept shortening it.)
Though now I'm trying to figure out what ear protection I want to use when I'm using power tools. Mine isn't noise induced, but I'd rather be safe then sorry.
I've always believed in safe headphone use. If it's nosey I never bothered with them because I knew I would have to turn the volume up way too loud to compete. (Like the car or something.)
Though I have now switched to headphones again, and dumped my earbuds. It totally makes since.
The ear guy wanted to give me maskers and the feeling and noise from it alone was too much. I'd rather listen to my T than what they were using to mask. Besides that I have glasses and it's too much. The $ amount was also ridiculous. (Not to mention that that thing was right up on my eardrum. Even after he kept shortening it.)
Though now I'm trying to figure out what ear protection I want to use when I'm using power tools. Mine isn't noise induced, but I'd rather be safe then sorry.
@Michael Leigh is awesome. 
@Jim51042 Actually it was before I read anything from Michael and it was pretty intense. Scared my over anxious brain witless. I totally get the reason for it though.
@Jim51042 Actually it was before I read anything from Michael and it was pretty intense. Scared my over anxious brain witless. I totally get the reason for it though.
Yea i get it better safe than sorry. We still don't know exactly what happens deep inside the cochlea especially post noise injury.
My views on headphone use apply to people whose tinnitus was caused by "noise exposure". Tinnitus caused by other problems not associated with noise trauma to the auditory system may not be so easily affected by headphone use. When a GP or ENT doctor, tells a tinnitus patient that has suffered tinnitus from noise trauma, there is no problem with headphones as long as the volume is kept low, they are telling the patient what they want to hear, they don't really know of the risks. These people are good health professionals but the majority of them have never experienced tinnitus or know of the emotional impact that it has on an individual. They won't be the one that's going through the suffering if the tinnitus gets worse due to headphone use.
It is true, some people with noise induced tinnitus are not affected by headphone use but I believe there is always a risk. Someone that I used to counsel, was told by her Audiologist headphone use is perfectly okay as long as the volume is kept low. The person in question used headphones keeping the volume low, and her tinnitus and hyperacusis become unbearably loud.
Michael
It is true, some people with noise induced tinnitus are not affected by headphone use but I believe there is always a risk. Someone that I used to counsel, was told by her Audiologist headphone use is perfectly okay as long as the volume is kept low. The person in question used headphones keeping the volume low, and her tinnitus and hyperacusis become unbearably loud.
Michael
So I do not think the original question was truly answered.
For everyone who says headphones should not be used even on low volume, how are hearing aids different? Why is it safe to use hearing aids with maskers but not safe to use an earbud with white noise?
Both can allow you to hear outside noise. Volume levels can be adjusted on both. And both direct sound into the ear canal.
For everyone who says headphones should not be used even on low volume, how are hearing aids different? Why is it safe to use hearing aids with maskers but not safe to use an earbud with white noise?
Both can allow you to hear outside noise. Volume levels can be adjusted on both. And both direct sound into the ear canal.
- Aug 21, 2014
- 5,049
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- karma
nah.
since I moved out to the sticks and work from home 100% of the time with almost total control over my sound environment, I don't tend to think about masking much. I do have a little bubbling water fountain thing in the room I work in -- but I end up blocking that out with earplugs a lot of the time, because sometimes it seems like all the high pitched electronics I work with are tiring and I prefer to just put earplugs in, especially if I need to focus.
Why do you wear earplugs when you're in an almost silent room? Also doesn't wearing earplugs make your T louder, thus making it harder to focus?
- Aug 21, 2014
- 5,049
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- 1999
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My office has lots of high pitched electronics (computers, fans, 4 LED displays, a rack full of synthesizers and drum machines, HVAC, etc), and when my ears are the most annoying those pitches are really annoying so sometimes I'd prefer to just not hear them.
Earplugs have no impact on the objective volume of my tinnitus, but of course, they do make it subjectively louder. I decided a few years ago that I was going to learn how to be comfortable in earplugs again, especially to be able to sleep in them, tinnitus be damned. So, I did that. Actually my tinnitus tends to distract me less when I have earplugs in, because I can hear it very loud and perfectly clear but I am not trying to listen to other sounds around it.
Tinnitus is a pain in the butt, but I can't do anything about it. On the other hand, I deal with a lot of pain-in-the-butt environmental noises (electronics, snoring wife, screaming kid, energetic pets) -- and I really need to be able to sleep through that stuff*. So, learning how to tolerate and sleep in earplugs has been fairly critical for my mental health.
Also note that I've been dealing with tinnitus for the significant majority of my adult life, so there's nothing new and scary about any of this, it's just an annoying drag.
* of course, one of us DOES have to get up when kiddo is screaming in the middle of the night. I work full time, and my wife is not working at all right now, so she's been doing more than her fair share of midnight shenanigans
I do believe maskers are 'safer' than earphones because an audiologist can set the volume at a safe level and you cannot adjust it yourself.
There is always the risk that one sets their earphone volume too high and does further damage to their ears.
There is always the risk that one sets their earphone volume too high and does further damage to their ears.
