Tinnitus can range from a temporary “ringing” in the ears that is slightly annoying to a long-term condition that can drive you to distraction.

Tinnitus is the medical term for the condition where you hear sound inside your head or ears that is not physically present. Sometimes people describe the sound as: 

  • whistling
  • buzzing
  • whirring
  • chirping
  • ringing 

Tinnitus is a symptom.  It may be caused by noise-induced hearing loss, high blood pressure, ear infection, head injury, or a variety of other reasons.  It can occur at any age.  It may appear gradually or come on suddenly. 

Standard Treatments for Tinnitus

 Since tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease, standard treatments work to resolve the underlying issue that causes the tinnitus.

Dental treatment may be appropriate if the cause is temporomandibular disorder. 

Sound generators, such as tabletop “white noise” machines, can be used as part of acoustic therapy.

Tinnitus retraining therapy is a form of therapy that uses counseling to end the negative reaction to the tinnitus sound, and then reduce its perception.

Masking noises such as fans, radios, and televisions can also be used to minimize tinnitus. 

Hearing Aids and Tinnitus

Since sensorineural hearing loss is a main cause of tinnitus, it is only makes sense that hearing aids can be used to treat tinnitus.  Sound generators aren’t all tabletop units.  Some units can be worn at ear-level to produce white noise.  These electronic devices are housed in hearing aid cases, but they are not true hearing aids.  There are models that fit in the canal and behind the ear. 

Like hearing aids, the audiologist can adjust and program these sound generators in much the same way a hearing aid is adjusted and programmed. Like hearing loss, tinnitus is highly personal; it is a unique situation for each person.  If a sound generator is used either alone or as part of retraining therapy, it is important that it be perfectly tuned to the individual.

True hearing aids that amplify sound and stimulate areas of the ear and brain that are not otherwise receiving adequate stimulation can also help with tinnitus.  The results of a hearing survey published in 2007 showed that 60% of the tinnitus patients experienced at some relief when wearing hearing aids, and roughly 22% found significant relief.  By augmenting and clarifying background noises, the tinnitus noise is reduced.

Whether used alone or as a noise generator or masker, hearing aids can help with tinnitus.