Wearable In-Ear Maskers and Tinnitus

[Alue]

Now the functionality is turned off and I never use it. It was good when my anxiety was high.

What do you mean the functionality is turned off? They are no longer effective for you?

 

[Michael2013]

What do you mean the functionality is turned off? They are no longer effective for you?

There is a button on my hearing aid that I could setup to control what I want. In my case I used to have it set up so that it would turn my sound generators on when I clicked it. I no longer have it set up that way right now, the button is set up to control volume instead. This is configured by my audiologist.

And it's not that it is not effective for me anymore, it's just that I don't need it. The ringing no longer bothers me and so I don't need the distraction from it using noise generators like I once did.

 

[Alue]

There is a button on my hearing aid that I could setup to control what I want. In my case I used to have it set up so that it would turn my sound generators on when I clicked it. I no longer have it set up that way right now, the button is set up to control volume instead. This is configured by my audiologist.

And it's not that it is not effective for me anymore, it's just that I don't need it. The ringing no longer bothers me and so I don't need the distraction from it using noise generators like I once did.

That's good to hear, did you just get habituated? Do you hear it all the time still and are not just bothered by it, or do you forget about it most of the time?

 

[Michael2013]

That's good to hear, did you just get habituated? Do you hear it all the time still and are not just bothered by it, or do you forget about it most of the time?

I used to hear it pretty much all the time and as I have become habituated I started hearing it less. It's still there if I start thinking about it and especially if I had any anxiety about it. I think it has went down in volume now that I lost all the anxiety and don't focus on it much.

 

[Telis]

I know nothing about noise generators alone, but my Linx hearing aids do what you describe. It has Bluetooth functionality that connects directly to my iPhone so I can stream any kind of sound I want (think tinnitus sound therapy apps). They are expensive though.

Okay cool. I will check those out! Thx man !

 

[Sgguy46]

i wear Siemens Octiv R+. I got them for about USD 2,600? Be using them for about one month now. They help. Tinnitus is still an annoyance but life is bearable and dare i say, becoming enjoyable. I used to have massive headaches and constant fleeting T in my right ear , SInce wearing these, the headaches are much reduced and less severe and the fleeting Ts are also reduced and less severe. Also i used to get hypercusis but since wearing them, the H is also gone. I think i am doing something very akin to TRT although my audiologist did not use those exact words.

I see that many people here complain about the prices of WSG. Actually, if you don't mind something from China, you can get a WSG for about $140 bucks? I am not advocating this and i am not distributing this product. I just googled it and found it where i expected to find it for that kind of price.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...p=affiliate&s=p&spm=a2700.7724838.35.1.boEYuJ

 

[Jeff taylor]

I AM PRETTY SURE THAT HEARING AIDS AND ALL THERE SPIN OFFS IS THE WAY TO GO, jT

 

[Cillian]

Hello everyone had T for 7 weeks now while it's not a jumbo jet I still would like to get maskers my audiology department has a huge range.

I have no hearing loss but don't know which ones to get I heard Starky and Widex are very good ?

 

[Poyraz]

Same here Cilian. I have no hearing loss but I have T almost for 3 months. It used to be my left ear only but I have it now in both. Mine is benzo induced and I have no hope it will perish. I'm also looking for maskers and need advice.

 

[Cillian]

Benzo? I've been taking diazepam for the last 6 weeks could that be making it worse ?

 

[Poyraz]

Yes, they may cause temporary or sometimes permanent tinnitus which sometimes comes along with undetected hearing loss. I had no T or and any issues with my ears before touching a benzo but now, I'm considering to use hearing aids. I'm only 24 years old and they have ruined my life. Did you taper them or go cold turkey?

 

[Cillian]

Hi Poyraz I'm taking 2mg for the anxiety caused by T but I'm still taking them

 

[Cillian]

I've been seeing a counciler with CBT therapy for the last few weeks it's helping but still need maskers I'm going to another session in a few mins m

I'll talk to everyone later

 

[dberg]

I have to put in my 2 cents here and second the people saying they are life savers.. Mine is at 20khz so they don't mask it even when on loudest setting, I keep them at the lowest setting and that just adds some sound when in silence and makes it sooo much bearable.. I can't really hear the maskers when outside but can hear my T (even though it's much more bearable when outside, wish it was like that everywhere). I sleep with mine and if I don't I will wake up 2-3 times. With them, I usually wake up max 1 time but more often than not have full sleep.

I think it's when I take them off I full realize how beneficial they are, because it feels horrible without them.. And it's not that big of a difference sound-wise, but it's just very comforting in some way to have this small background hiss going on. I get mine from the health system but if you are thinking of getting a pair I highly recommend you try it out. I could see further up in the thread there is a possibility to get cheap ones from China if you can't afford the medical ones.

Took mine off for a few mins and thought, shit, my T is much louder than before.. But I do believe it's because they make the T feel just a little less loud, takes of the edge sort of.. I've been wearing mine for about 2 months now I believe.

 

[Hotspur]

Okay cool. I will check those out! Thx man !

Hi Telis,i have a high frequency noise like yourself i found one on you tube helped me ,try either headphones or speakers,type in high frequency noise six hours,start off low and see how you get on,as i say it seems to help mine

 

[cowdodge]

I wear zen maskers and they do help! The hearing aids come with the noise feature Zen and also white noise with three white noises. I have had them for almost two years and would feel lost without them. I still have great Anxity problems and keep on looking for away to resolve that stuff. I might try out antidepresents to help but a little bit apprehensions. Anyone here take antidepresents to help with there Anxity? I can see why people with this junk can tend to think of harming themselves.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@cowdodge Although white noise generators and hearing aids are good they must be used correctly. When applying the white noise, make sure it doesn't cover your tinnitus. In other words, make sure you can hear your tinnitus above it, otherwise your brain will not learn to habituate to the tinnitus. Anti-depressants can be helpful. However, have you ever had tinnitus counselling from a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist? If you haven't then I advise you to pursue this option. Tinnitus counselling can help to takeaway and demystify a lot of the negative thinking that people have about their tinnitus, so that in time they can carry on to lead a fulfilling life.

Another important thing to use sound enrichment at night. Use a sound machine by your bedside and set the volume it just below your tinnitus. It should play throughout the night until morning.
Michael

 

[cowdodge]

I have had this junk for 18 years and pretty much know about how th

 

[Samantha R]

Hi Everyone. Just after opinions on in ear maskers / white noise generators.
I went to my audiologist today with the impression of trialling in ear maskers.
I drove an hour and a half to be told to buy some Baggi cordless earbuds and stream music / sounds from apps downloaded to my i-phone.
Clearly this woman didn't want my money as I mentioned concerns around usage of earbuds for long periods of time - based on a valued member of this forum's advice. She told me that listening at low volume would be fine. However my ENT said if I had to use ear buds, then to hang them over my ears as that way the noise isn't playing directly into my ears.
Also, I can't be carrying my phone all day.
So I walked out disappointed.
I am going to try another audiologist who will hopefully be more helpful.
I have a notch loss of 30db in my right ear at 8000 khz along with a mild ring in that ear. My hearing in both ears then falls after 8000 with a 50db loss at 16000.
I don't need hearing aids, but maskers would help me greatly at this point. I had habituated to the right ear ring, but 3 months ago I had sudden onset of tinnitus which as left me with a yucky head hiss/sizzle. Not sure why this came on all of a sudden.
Feedback on maskers would be welcomed along with brand recommendations if you have time. Would like ones that don't just use white noise, as I find this a little annoying (but prefer it over my head tinnitus). I don't care about the ringing in my right ear.
Thanks in advance,
Sam.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Samantha R
I don't recommend you using ear maskers or to give them their proper name: white noise generators and this is my reason.
You haven't had tinnitus that long and you don't know what's caused it. Furthermore, white noise generators should be used as part of TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy) unless you have the therapy which is tinnitus counselling, as briefly explained in my article in: Introduction to tinnitus, they will not work.

Tinnitus counselling done by a trained Hearing Therapist as part of TRT helps take away and demystifies a lot of the negativity associated with tinnitus that many people new to tinnitus have and is very important and shouldn't be overlooked. I will explain more about this in a future post on the forum.

Please don't waste your money on buying white noise generators. They are very expensive and have to be used with care and you need counselling to gain the maximum benefit from them. I use white noise generators and have done so for quite some time but I also had TRT.

Hope you don't mind my giving you advice on this. You are much better off at this time using sound enrichment. It is far to early in my opinion for you to be using white noise generators.

Michael

 

[Samantha R]

@Michael Leigh thanks for the feedback. I was going to trial the maskers first, but appreciate the feedback.
Was just typing you a PM - thanks again.

 

[Samantha R]

@Michael Leigh do you see any harm in 'open ear' head phones? You know the ones that sit outside of your ear using bone conduction technology?
I just want to mask at times when I am particularly bothered by the tinnitus.

 

[Michael Leigh]

In my opinion Samantha I don't recommend the use of any type of headphone over the ears. You have had all the tests which is very good. I feel your tinnitus will calm down and could go away completely. Your brain needs time to adjust to the tinnitus and if you rush things ( I know it's hard for you) you'll make your recovery more difficult. Please just ease up a little. Use some background music during the day such as classical or whatever you like playing softly for sound enrichment. At night use the sound pillow. I will write the post later in the forum. I have been thinking about doing this for a while .
Hope this helps.
Michael

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi Samantha,
Just a quick note as I am going out. I know exactly how you feel regarding your anxiety caused by the tinnitus. In theses situations talk to you GP who may recommend an antidepressant, it is quite normal for people new to tinnitus to be prescribed them as it's a lot to deal with. Some people are adverse to antidepressants but believe me, it will help you not getting too low...It acts as a safety net.
Tinnitus affects our emotions deeply and that's why tinnitus counselling is so important which if you could get that I recommend but it has to be someone trained in tinnitus such as a hearing therapist. As I said, I will be writing about this later
All the best
Michael
PS: St Johns Wort, is a nature herb that is for mild depression and is none addictive.

 

[Candy]

Hi Samantha

Have been given NHS ear maskers, unfortunately they only play white noise, which combined with my t, makes the sound "drill like" on some days. I am therefore using headphones more and more with bird sounds. The Oticon app my audiologist gave me is good, My Noise app also good. The pain is to have the earphones tangling with everything and carrying my phone so I'm now looking at blue tooth ones. May look at out of ear following Michael's advise to avoid in ear. Never had used in ear before in any case...ironic.

Take care

 

[stophiss]

Some maskers have Bluetooth connectivity so could potentially stream crickets from your phone. Just a thought.

Could someone explain the notion of masking to me? For example, I don't see how streaming crickets...let's say your tinnitus sounds like crickets...why having an external source of crickets is much different than having an internally generated cricket sound aka tinnitus?
My tinnitus sounds kind of like a shower running for example. I can go into the bathroom and turn on the shower which basically masks my tinnitus...or take a shower....but why would this be any different than simple hearing my tinnitus shower sound without hearing a shower running externally?

Thanks for explanation.

 

[Candy]

Should your t have an unpleasant tone, screechy, masking makes it softer. Also psychologically knowing that noise isn't produced by your head helps...

 

[Michael Leigh]

Could someone explain the notion of masking to me?

@stophiss
Masking tinnitus is an old terminology and is out dated because it isn't as successful as sound enrichment. Tinnitus shouldn't be totally masked or covered up with another sound so that is can't be heard. If a person does this the brain will never be able to habituate to the tinnitus.

Whether it's white noise generators, sound machine or music, if they are used correctly for sound enrichment they can be beneficial. Always keep the external sound slightly below the tinnitus, in other words make sure you can hear your tinnitus above the sound.

Please keep in mind sound enrichment takes time to get used to especially for someone that is new to tinnitus. I have written a post titled: Sound enrichment and white noise generators for tinnitus newbies, on this forum explaining the benefits: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/sound-enrichment-and-white-noise-generators-for-the-tinnitus-newbie.18130/

Michael

 

[Michael Leigh]

NHS ear maskers, unfortunately they only play white noise,

When White noise generators are used correctly and with tinnitus counselling, they can be very helpful for treating tinnitus and hyperacusis. You haven't had tinnitus long, and I suspect that you are not having tinnitus counselling with a hearing therapist? Without the counselling the white noise generators will not help you much.

Also, by masking your tinnitus so that it can't be heard and using headphones, in my opinion, you're making habituation more difficult - if you are not careful you could make your tinnitus more intrusive by listening to audio through headphones. I don't want to undermine your Audiologist, but I have to say: whilst health professionals know about the anatomy of the ear the majority of them have never experienced loud intrusive tinnitus and therefore, no nothing about it.

Someone that I am counselling at the moment, was told by her Audiologist to listen to music through headphones at low level, as it would help her tinnitus. Sadly, this person's tinnitus and hyperacusis got worse and she had to stop using headphones. Please click on the link below as you might find the information helpful.

Michael
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...ise-generators-for-the-tinnitus-newbie.18130/

 

[SoulStation]

Could someone explain the notion of masking to me? For example, I don't see how streaming crickets...let's say your tinnitus sounds like crickets...why having an external source of crickets is much different than having an internally generated cricket sound aka tinnitus?
My tinnitus sounds kind of like a shower running for example. I can go into the bathroom and turn on the shower which basically masks my tinnitus...or take a shower....but why would this be any different than simple hearing my tinnitus shower sound without hearing a shower running externally?

Thanks for explanation.

Sounds like you answered your own question.