Can Hearing Aids Effectively Treat Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is commonly described as "ringing in the ears."  An estimated 10% of Americans struggle with this condition on a daily basis.  While there is no known cure to tinnitus, there are effective ways of treating it.  Hearing aids can help manage the symptoms of tinnitus!  However, they are only one component of a comprehensive approach to helping people cope with this condition.

Read how hearing aids can help manage the symptoms of tinnitus.

Helping Loved Ones Cope With Hearing Loss

From our December Newsletter

During the holiday season, we become acutely aware of loved ones who have difficulty hearing. Keep in mind: No one knows they cannot hear unless they are told. They often "mis-hear," often to the glee of friends and family, because the message they perceive is so different from the intended message. During the busy holiday season, this can be readily apparent, because so often, background noise interferes with clear speech perception. How can we help them? Dr. Richard Carmen, a Clinical Audiologist in Arizona, says, "When we think of helping a loved one with hearing loss, we often think of how important it is to repeat ourselves, speak clearly, speak louder or interpret what others say if they cannot hear the message. But when we do these good deeds for loved ones with a hearing loss, what we don't realize is that we're assisting in their failure to seek help. Many people with a hearing loss never realize how much communication they actually fail to understand or miss completely because you have become their ears. However, it takes only a short time for them to realize that without your help, they're in trouble. It is through this realization that one becomes inspired to take positive action to solve their problem." Find out how you can help a loved one deal with hearing loss.   Image provided courtesy of Ambro

Treating Hyperacusis

Advances in hearing healthcare make treating hyperacusis possible. Currently, there are two main approaches to treating hyperacusis: Sound Desensitization Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) Sound Desensitization In Sound Desensitization therapy, the patient is guided by an audiologist to listen to static noise at increasing volume levels over time. The goal of this type of therapy is to gradually build a person's tolerance of loud noises. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) TRT is a variation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. As noted above, people commonly experience both tinnitus and hyperacusis. Because of this, audiologists use TRT to treat both conditions. If a tinnitus sufferer also shows signs of hyperacusis, the hyperacusis must be treated first. TRT uses a combination of low level, broad-band noise and counseling to restore a normal level of sensitivity to sound. To read a detailed explanation of TRT, click here.

Hyperacusis and Tinnitus

It is estimated that 40% of tinnitus sufferers also suffer from hyperacusis. The reason for this is not completely known. However, it is theorized that the central nervous system does not respond properly to an incoming signal, miscuing the amplifying or dampening actions of the cochlea and middle ear resulting or contributing to the presence of both conditions. For more information on the correlation between hyperacusis and tinnitus, click here.         Image provided courtesy Ambro

The Origin of Hyperacusis

Hyperacusis occurs because the protective mechanisms a normal ear employs are malfunctioning. In fact, even with hearing protection, noises can still seem too loud to a person suffering from hyperacusis. It can come on suddenly or develop over time. Causes of hyperacusis include: Exposure to Loud Noise Head Injury Ototoxic Medications Meniere's Disease TMJ Lyme Disease Autism Central Auditory Processing Disorders For more information on hyperacusis, visit our website!

What is Hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis is an abnormal sensitivity to ordinarily tolerable sounds. Sounds at normal volume levels seem intolerably loud to a person suffering from hyperacusis. It can range from a person who is mildly uncomfortable in a social setting like a restaurant to a person who has a painful level of discomfort from many of the sounds encountered in daily life like page turning or television volume. To a person suffering with this condition, all sounds seem too loud. Click here to read The American Speech and Hearing Association's definition of hyperacusis. Image provided courtesty of Ambro

Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids

• How do I know when it's time to have my hearing tested? 
• How often should I have my hearing evaluated?
• How long does a hearing test take?
• What is the difference between an audiologist and a hearing aid dealer?
• How much does a hearing test cost? Why do hearing aid dealers give "free" hearing tests while audiologists usually bill insurance?
• If I purchase hearing aids, how long will it be until they become obsolete?
• Don't hearing aids just make everything louder?

For answers to these questions and more, click on the following links:
FAQs and Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dealers

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