Hearing aids are an effective treatment option for patients who both suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and a hearing loss that would benefit from hearing instruments. Three manufacturers of hearing aids- Siemens, GN ReSound, and Widex include a variety of tinnitus treatment options within the hearing aid circuits. These options include white noise, pink noise, or "Zen" noise introduced into the hearing aid. Activated by the audiologist, the customized sounds are mixed into the hearing aid at a loudness level that attenuates the tinnitus and amplifies speech. Maskers are no longer recommended. Over time (six to eighteen months), the user reports diminished perception of tinnitus. A control can be provided to change the ratio of the tinnitus noise to the gain of the hearing aid for those who report fluctuating tinnitus.
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