Tinnitus and How Quality Hearing Aids Can Help.
Tinnitus is a hissing, buzzing, whistling, or ringing in the ears that only you can hear. Tinnitus is not a disease but rather a symptom caused by an underlying condition. For some people, tinnitus impacts daily life leading to increased anxiety, anger, and disturbed sleep. According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, about 90% of people with tinnitus also suffer from some degree of hearing loss. (Wondering if you suffer from hearing loss? Try our free online hearing test.)
What Causes Tinnitus?
In many cases, tinnitus is a reaction in the brain to damage in the ear and auditory system. While tinnitus is most often associated with hearing loss, there are roughly 200 different health related issues that have been linked to tinnitus symptoms. Here are some of the most common causes:
Hearing Loss: While the connection between hearing loss and tinnitus is still being researched, findings show that the loss of hearing at specific sound frequencies leads to changes in how the brain processes sound. Tinnitus appears to be how the brain fills in the missing sound frequencies it no longer receives naturally. Hearing often deteriorates as people get older which is why tinnitus is so prevalent among seniors. In addition, noise-induced hearing loss can also cause tinnitus symptoms. The good news is that the restoration of high frequency sounds via hearing aids often alleviates tinnitus symptoms.
Obstructions in the Ear: Blockages in the ear canal can cause pressure to build up in the inner ear, causing tinnitus symptoms. The blockage could be caused by excessive ear wax, head congestion or even, dirt, water or foreign objects. The removal of the blockage will often alleviate tinnitus symptoms.
Injury or Trauma: Often tinnitus symptoms can be caused by other trauma or conditions. A severe injury to the head or neck can cause issues that result in the perception of tinnitus. Tinnitus can also be a symptom of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Traumatic brain injury, caused by concussive shock, can damage the brain’s auditory processing areas and generate tinnitus symptoms.
Sinus Pressure: Nasal congestion from a severe cold, flu, or sinus infection can create abnormal pressure in the middle ear, impacting normal hearing and causing tinnitus symptoms.
Extreme Changes in Air or Water Pressure: Occasionally individuals can suffer from damage of the middle and inner ear while diving, snorkeling, scuba, or flying which can lead to tinnitus symptoms.
Prescription Medications: Tinnitus is a potential side-effect of many prescription medications. In most cases, tinnitus symptoms are short-lived and recede when the patient stops taking the medication. However, there are some drugs known to cause more permanent tinnitus symptoms. If you are concerned about tinnitus as a side effect of your medications, consult your physician or pharmacist.
Is There a Cure for Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease, and therefore there is no cure. Symptoms can often be alleviated by treating the underlying issue or cause.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Alleviate My Tinnitus Symptoms?
Because most people suffering from tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss, custom programmed hearing aids can significantly reduce tinnitus symptoms by restoring natural high frequency hearing and the use of Tinnitus Sound Therapy Software.
Certain activities, like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, or stress can make tinnitus symptoms worse. Efforts to control or avoid these situations may also alleviate individual tinnitus symptoms.
How do Embrace Hearing Aids Help with Tinnitus?
Embrace Hearing sells some of the best hearing aid options for tinnitus sufferers. Every Embrace Hearing aid is programmed by our US-based, board-certified Audiologists according to the precise specifications identified in your hearing test. Our devices are easy to use, beautifully discreet, and affordable.
When dealing with tinnitus, we offer these features:
- Custom Programming: The loss of hearing at specific sound frequencies leads to changes in how the brain processes sound. Researchers believe that the brain fills in the missing sound frequencies it no longer receives with the sounds often associated with tinnitus. To counter this, our Audiologists carefully program each individual frequency to provide precisely the amplification required as determined by your hearing test. Not only does this enhance speech clarity for the user, but many people also find that their tinnitus symptoms lessen or disappear once their brain regains its ability to hear the missing ‘natural’ sound frequencies from their environment.
- Tinnitus Sound Therapy Software: All Embrace Hearing aids are equipped with the latest hearing aid technology, including Tinnitus Sound Therapy software which many people find helpful in countering certain common tinnitus symptoms. The software can be turned on/off anytime with the smartphone app or the button on the hearing aids.
- Bluetooth: Beyond the software provided in the hearing aids, there are many tinnitus apps available for hearing aids with Bluetooth. Our X-Series hearing aids have integrated Bluetooth so you can stream any of the many sound therapy apps available through your iPhone or Android Phone.
- Ongoing Audiologist Support: Your hearing aids will be programmed by one of our experienced board certified Audiologists. This Audiologist will call you to check in the day after you receive your new hearing aids and will continue to work with you for as long as you own our hearing aids. Our Audiology team is highly experienced in dealing with tinnitus challenges and have developed many creative techniques to deal with difficult tinnitus symptoms. You can reach us 7 days a week without an appointment.
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