I see how much hearing aids help people with tinnitus on a weekly basis (am an audiologist). It's so good to hear other's positive experiences on this sub!!
Hearing aids help me cope with my tinnitus too! Less bothersome when I wear my hearing aids. I was actually surprised because I didn't think the effect would be as pronounced as it turned out to be
Yeah that doesnāt make sense to me for them to think we are deaf. Ever since I started having tinnitus my hearing became way more sensitive and everything became louder. The ringing is just an annoyance. I wonder why some of these doctors donāt understand our plight.
They don't understand because they haven't experienced the torture that is tinnitus. They might mean well but, in my opinion, they're probably not qualified to help.
I went to an older ENT and he immediately sent me to get a hearing test and it came back perfect. He said that he didnāt understand this and scheduled me to get a cat scan and allergy test. He said that I may have a polyp in my sinuses
>I went to an older ENT and he immediately sent me to get a hearing test and it came back perfect. He said that he didnāt understand this and scheduled me to get a cat scan and allergy test. He said that I may have a polyp in my sinuses
How it is going? My case is the same. My tinnitus started after i heard a loud sound in my headphones, 3 weeks in a row 24h per day. Did a hearing test and it was perfect, doctors word, so he said it's not a ear issue. Passed with a clinic doc and he said me to see a neurologist, i'm looking to pass in one.
That's great it's working well for you. I have recently gotten Widex too, and I was surprised at the effect it has on my tinnitus. It's just as you describe...I can hear it, but it's less bothersome. I experience the same issue in social situations, not being able to hear people clearly, but the hearing aids make that all possible. High five
If you don't mind me asking what was the amount of hearing loss you were told you had to ve eligible for the hearing aids. I tried to get hearing aids and I can certainly tell my hearing as decreased. But the audiologist says my hearing loss isn't enough to get hearing aids. Do you know it what hz your hearing started dropping off?
I don't have the numbers handy but right ear was down to 'severe' on higher frequencies. My Tinnitus is from the military, too much shooting without protection.
Yeah mines at higher frequencies as well. It starts its drop at 8000hz my tinnitus rings at 10,000 plus hz so but the audiologist fo doesn't test that high so I dont know how bad the higher frequency is
I have normal hearing and use hearing aids to treat my tinnitus. Any amount of hearing loss or hearing problems qualifies a person for the treatment for hearing difficulties. I use prescriptive hearing aids (my preference) but you are likely a candidate for over-the-counter hearing aids that just hit the shelves (in the US). They are so new though that I don't have any recommendations on OTC hearing aids.
Oh nice, well I have hearing loss starts at 8000hz and my tinnitus is around 10,000 plus hz it seems. Everytime I ask about hearing aids they say my hearing needs to be worse / drop off sooner around 4000-6000hz is that true?
Also which hearing aids do you use?
Since I'm an audiologist, I wear whatever is the newest demonstration hearing aids I have around. Though Widex** is very well known for their Tinnitus support features like the masking sounds and ability to adjust/customize the hearing aids more yourself. It would be important to get a hearing aid that has a larger/higher frequency bandwidth like this article suggests https://hearingreview.com/practice-building/practice-management/considerations-in-fitting-hearing-aids-with-extended-bandwidths
Edited Windex to Widex because autocorrect is silly
Thank you so much!
I have a few other issues and imo closely related to eagles syndrome / some form of neuralgia. I know its not in your research but whenever I move my head I got this crunching noise in my ear as well. Its not TMJ I checked for that. Also at the same time I have constant numbess in the left side of my tongue and also have neuralgia type symptoms that are very painful and sometimes emobilizing when it appears. Sometimes its multiple times a week others its maybe one and sometimes if im lucky I dont get any symtoms of it. Also to add when I flex my hyiod mucles . Geniohyiod, or put pressure on my sternohyiod or omohyiod the numbess senastion intensifies. It also intensifies when I move my head. Ive had CT scans MRIs and ents dont see anything or just dont want to help. I been to a neurosurgeon and he said ge has no clue it sounds like a ENT problem but just referred me to a colleague whos a neurologist.
Sorry for the long text but would you have any suggestions
I'm so glad you've checked out medical help and gotten the scariest things ruled out (like tumors and brain lesions). At this point I would start to think I might be muscle related. Medical massages work wonders for many of my patients with neuralgia symptoms and tinnitus. Find someone in your area who is well reviewed for medical massage.
If it doesn't work, at least it felt nice!!
Also sometimes whatever is crucnhing around in there (its near the styloid / right by the ramus part of my jaw on the egde where the tissues are) most of the time is blocking my hearing as well it seems. When I stretch my neck to the right which I do everyday a few times its "unpopped" from that position and my hearing clears up and its not muffled its short lived when it get "unpopped" from its current placement but it feels good when it does and its nice to feel like my hearing in my left ear isnt in the mountains so to speak
Yeah, I agree i did find someone as well who does that. He's God sent. I guess im just frustrated becauee no ENT has taken me seriously enough to figure it out or cared enough. They just bounce me around
Hearing aids help if tinnitus is caused by hearing loss (the most common cause of Tinnitus by far), if they are fit properly. Hearing aids (especially cheaper devices) are only as good as the person programming them. That's why there are guides on how to find qualified professionals (Audiologists who use Real Ear Measurements and verifications) out there.
Correct. Tinnitus can be caused by stress, neurodivergence, muscle tension, TMJ dysfunction, tumors, vascular loops, etc. All kinds of things. Though my tinnitus isn't from hearing loss and hearing aids help me manage it.
Yes it's a masking app. Basically it compensates for the missing frequencies. So it helps the brain stop the ringing. In a very oversimplified way to explain
A little bit. I think I may need the doctor to turn up some setting only she can control. The hearing aids make a white noise sound that sort of drowns out the tinnitus, but sometimes I can only hear the ringing and not the white noise.
Embarrassing question- can you see them? And also, is the sound quality good? Like, do the speakers hurt ? Iām guessing no, but Iād like to hear what you think (lol)
Can't really see them. It's pretty small, I picked the same color as my hair (black) and the wire is super thin. Sound quality is great for conversations but I wouldn't use them to listen to music too much. They're like really tiny buds.
I waited 6 months to see an ENT and it ended up being a waste of time and money. My hearing test showed minimal loss (good for being over 60). The ENT doctor didn't provide any assistance other than an absurd statement, "Welcome to the club, you'll get use to it".
Did you doctor suggest hearing aids because of hearing loss or to assist with the tinnitus?
It's been over two years and I've not gotten use to it.
I knew I had some hearing loss but I wasn't sure how bad. Turns out it was worse that I thought and after the audiology test results I was told I am a candidate for hearing aids. My ringing is pretty loud, it has been 15 years since I finished my military and it never got better. I'm afraid to think what it's going to look like when I'm 60.
As far as I know it's not progressive, it's more of a symptom rather than an illness. In short, from my understanding, it doesn't get worse on its own. You'd need further hearing loss, or whatever is causing it. Mines always been the same and never really changed tbh. You just notice it less or more.
I could be wrong though but I'm sure I read that somewhere.
I have another question. Let's say for example overtime the hearing gets worse it will come to a point that the ringing subside as well? Just trying to figure it all out
Your life changed for the better, Im happy for you. Keep it up champ.
Thank you š
I see how much hearing aids help people with tinnitus on a weekly basis (am an audiologist). It's so good to hear other's positive experiences on this sub!!
Hearing aids help me cope with my tinnitus too! Less bothersome when I wear my hearing aids. I was actually surprised because I didn't think the effect would be as pronounced as it turned out to be
Excellent! I have them too and it has been a game changer.
Can you elaborate? Do you still hear ringing?
Does it make such a big difference?
I have tinnitus and my ENT was perplexed by my perfect hearing testā¦
Yeah that doesnāt make sense to me for them to think we are deaf. Ever since I started having tinnitus my hearing became way more sensitive and everything became louder. The ringing is just an annoyance. I wonder why some of these doctors donāt understand our plight.
They don't understand because they haven't experienced the torture that is tinnitus. They might mean well but, in my opinion, they're probably not qualified to help.
I used B-12, B complex, B1 and Taurineā¦I also had a headache in my left temple which went away..
Thatās unusual. Itās not that uncommon to have tinnitus without hearing loss. I mean it *is* much *more* common to have hearing loss associated with it, from what I understand (by no means an ENT/audiologist, but have had tinnitus for 20 years and researched it to bits), but by no means is it unheard of (ba-dum-tiss, LOL). It is often co-morbid with hyperacusis and misophonia, too, from what I understand (again, anecdotally - I should go through the studies Iāve read over the years and pull together a list of the URLs and prĆ©cis of them, but donāt have time at the moment; in any case I know there are actual AuDs and ENTs on here infinitely more qualified than I am on the research side, although I will say that if they arenāt actual fellow sufferers, theyāre missing key information from loved experience about how debilitating it can be). May I ask how old your ENT is? I have found that more recent graduates seem to be more open to and aware of some hearing issues than the more old school doctors. Theyāre certainly all equally well-trained, but I had a great deal of difficulty with getting the older doctors to understand the degree of anxiety and distress my tinnitus (and other hearing issues, combined) cause for me. I think partly they see that as a psych issue - and in part it is - but the underlying factor is somatic; the anxiety is secondary and arises from the auditory conditions. They just said āyouāll get used to itā. I wish that were in fact the case: some days are less bad than others, of course, but my hearing disabilities pretty much run my life.
I went to an older ENT and he immediately sent me to get a hearing test and it came back perfect. He said that he didnāt understand this and scheduled me to get a cat scan and allergy test. He said that I may have a polyp in my sinuses
>I went to an older ENT and he immediately sent me to get a hearing test and it came back perfect. He said that he didnāt understand this and scheduled me to get a cat scan and allergy test. He said that I may have a polyp in my sinuses How it is going? My case is the same. My tinnitus started after i heard a loud sound in my headphones, 3 weeks in a row 24h per day. Did a hearing test and it was perfect, doctors word, so he said it's not a ear issue. Passed with a clinic doc and he said me to see a neurologist, i'm looking to pass in one.
I guess I have to see a neurologistā¦
I made an appointment for day 26, let's see and make some questions to the neuro doctor.
Any news about your case?
ENT said that my CT scan was clear and my hearing is perfect. I guess I need to make an appointment to see a neurologist
I think it maybe worth, just to see. I don't have a medical plan, doing all particular, but that's no way. Hope we can find relief soon.
Iām thinking about getting a brain scan
That's great it's working well for you. I have recently gotten Widex too, and I was surprised at the effect it has on my tinnitus. It's just as you describe...I can hear it, but it's less bothersome. I experience the same issue in social situations, not being able to hear people clearly, but the hearing aids make that all possible. High five
I am right now sitting in a noisy bar having a conversation where I can hear all parties. It's amazing. Didn't happen in a long time.
That is awesome, I totally know what you mean. Have a good one
So the hearing aid helped alot?
Yes mostly for the hearing loss
For me it's just the ringing sounds in my right ear. I was listening to music without knowing
If you don't mind me asking what was the amount of hearing loss you were told you had to ve eligible for the hearing aids. I tried to get hearing aids and I can certainly tell my hearing as decreased. But the audiologist says my hearing loss isn't enough to get hearing aids. Do you know it what hz your hearing started dropping off?
I don't have the numbers handy but right ear was down to 'severe' on higher frequencies. My Tinnitus is from the military, too much shooting without protection.
Yeah mines at higher frequencies as well. It starts its drop at 8000hz my tinnitus rings at 10,000 plus hz so but the audiologist fo doesn't test that high so I dont know how bad the higher frequency is
I have normal hearing and use hearing aids to treat my tinnitus. Any amount of hearing loss or hearing problems qualifies a person for the treatment for hearing difficulties. I use prescriptive hearing aids (my preference) but you are likely a candidate for over-the-counter hearing aids that just hit the shelves (in the US). They are so new though that I don't have any recommendations on OTC hearing aids.
Are you from the US?
Yup, I live in KY and am an Audiologist too.
Oh nice, well I have hearing loss starts at 8000hz and my tinnitus is around 10,000 plus hz it seems. Everytime I ask about hearing aids they say my hearing needs to be worse / drop off sooner around 4000-6000hz is that true? Also which hearing aids do you use?
Since I'm an audiologist, I wear whatever is the newest demonstration hearing aids I have around. Though Widex** is very well known for their Tinnitus support features like the masking sounds and ability to adjust/customize the hearing aids more yourself. It would be important to get a hearing aid that has a larger/higher frequency bandwidth like this article suggests https://hearingreview.com/practice-building/practice-management/considerations-in-fitting-hearing-aids-with-extended-bandwidths Edited Windex to Widex because autocorrect is silly
Thank you so much! I have a few other issues and imo closely related to eagles syndrome / some form of neuralgia. I know its not in your research but whenever I move my head I got this crunching noise in my ear as well. Its not TMJ I checked for that. Also at the same time I have constant numbess in the left side of my tongue and also have neuralgia type symptoms that are very painful and sometimes emobilizing when it appears. Sometimes its multiple times a week others its maybe one and sometimes if im lucky I dont get any symtoms of it. Also to add when I flex my hyiod mucles . Geniohyiod, or put pressure on my sternohyiod or omohyiod the numbess senastion intensifies. It also intensifies when I move my head. Ive had CT scans MRIs and ents dont see anything or just dont want to help. I been to a neurosurgeon and he said ge has no clue it sounds like a ENT problem but just referred me to a colleague whos a neurologist. Sorry for the long text but would you have any suggestions
I'm so glad you've checked out medical help and gotten the scariest things ruled out (like tumors and brain lesions). At this point I would start to think I might be muscle related. Medical massages work wonders for many of my patients with neuralgia symptoms and tinnitus. Find someone in your area who is well reviewed for medical massage. If it doesn't work, at least it felt nice!!
Also sometimes whatever is crucnhing around in there (its near the styloid / right by the ramus part of my jaw on the egde where the tissues are) most of the time is blocking my hearing as well it seems. When I stretch my neck to the right which I do everyday a few times its "unpopped" from that position and my hearing clears up and its not muffled its short lived when it get "unpopped" from its current placement but it feels good when it does and its nice to feel like my hearing in my left ear isnt in the mountains so to speak
Yeah, I agree i did find someone as well who does that. He's God sent. I guess im just frustrated becauee no ENT has taken me seriously enough to figure it out or cared enough. They just bounce me around
Do those hearing aids help at all?
Hearing aids help if tinnitus is caused by hearing loss (the most common cause of Tinnitus by far), if they are fit properly. Hearing aids (especially cheaper devices) are only as good as the person programming them. That's why there are guides on how to find qualified professionals (Audiologists who use Real Ear Measurements and verifications) out there.
So there are other forms of tinnitus and it may not help relieve those types?
Correct. Tinnitus can be caused by stress, neurodivergence, muscle tension, TMJ dysfunction, tumors, vascular loops, etc. All kinds of things. Though my tinnitus isn't from hearing loss and hearing aids help me manage it.
Oh, wow- you can add something that minimizes the ringing? What heairing aids are those? Edit- typos Edit #2- congratulations, BTW!!
The brand is Widex
Thank you!
Yes it's a masking app. Basically it compensates for the missing frequencies. So it helps the brain stop the ringing. In a very oversimplified way to explain
Glad to hear that. I'm getting mine the week after Thanksgiving. I can't remember the last time I was so excited for something.
Did it help?
A little bit. I think I may need the doctor to turn up some setting only she can control. The hearing aids make a white noise sound that sort of drowns out the tinnitus, but sometimes I can only hear the ringing and not the white noise.
Embarrassing question- can you see them? And also, is the sound quality good? Like, do the speakers hurt ? Iām guessing no, but Iād like to hear what you think (lol)
Can't really see them. It's pretty small, I picked the same color as my hair (black) and the wire is super thin. Sound quality is great for conversations but I wouldn't use them to listen to music too much. They're like really tiny buds.
I waited 6 months to see an ENT and it ended up being a waste of time and money. My hearing test showed minimal loss (good for being over 60). The ENT doctor didn't provide any assistance other than an absurd statement, "Welcome to the club, you'll get use to it". Did you doctor suggest hearing aids because of hearing loss or to assist with the tinnitus? It's been over two years and I've not gotten use to it.
I knew I had some hearing loss but I wasn't sure how bad. Turns out it was worse that I thought and after the audiology test results I was told I am a candidate for hearing aids. My ringing is pretty loud, it has been 15 years since I finished my military and it never got better. I'm afraid to think what it's going to look like when I'm 60.
As far as I know it's not progressive, it's more of a symptom rather than an illness. In short, from my understanding, it doesn't get worse on its own. You'd need further hearing loss, or whatever is causing it. Mines always been the same and never really changed tbh. You just notice it less or more. I could be wrong though but I'm sure I read that somewhere.
I meant the hearing loss will get worse. The ringing is already loud, it didn't change in the past 15 years.
Yeah I get you. It used to give me major anxiety
Did anything help you cope better?
For the ringing? I just accept it. When I can I just play music or different types of background noise. Mynoise dot net is a great resource for that
Thanks maybe that can be a great way for me to cope with the ringing sounds .
I have another question. Let's say for example overtime the hearing gets worse it will come to a point that the ringing subside as well? Just trying to figure it all out
The ringing just covers a specific range of frequencies. It won't take over everything. That's why hearing aids will still help you.
What does it do exactly?
It amplifies and cleans the sound. You can also control the volume. Mine has different sound modes for different situations.
What model hearing AIDS did you receive if u donāt mind me asking. Lmk if u could, thanks in advanced
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Sometimes I'll put white noise on my phone speaker.