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Jimbob's question


Will a hearing aid make much difference?

In Tinnitus treatments asked by Jimbob on 07 Apr 2008

7 answers

Topic
Tinnitus treatments
Detail
I was given a hearing aid at the weekend, I have moderate loss of hearing in my left ear, which has been put down to tinnitus. I suffer in environments where there is a lot of background noise. Unfortunately I am completely deaf in my right ear, diagnosed when I was a child as nerve damage. I tried the hearing aid out in a busy shopping centre yesterday, and have to say I didnt notice a lot of difference, its useless testing it at home as I dont really struggle at home. What I was wanting to know is, is it worth continuing, will a hearing aid actually make much difference? Appreciate any of your views on this.
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7 Answers

I wear hearing aids in both ears and whether I have them in or not, I can still hear the tinnitus, especially at night when trying to get to sleep. I need the hearing aids to hear but it does not stop me from hearing the tinnitus. I would say, yes wear them for hearing but as you said you did not notice any difference when wearing it, you still heard the tinnitus.

from lgg, 08 Apr 2008

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We sound that we have a similar background with T. I am also completely deaf in my right ear from birth and an operation revealed poss nerve damage. I developed T five years ago in my left ear and has recently got so loud I can not hear external sounds. I now use my digital hearing aid all the time. You will find noisy difficult but if you switch to no. 2 setting it should pick up more immediate sounds. I work in a noisy office and can only have a conversation if the person is near to me. I had a hearing test and my digital aid has been altered to reflect my loss. It has been set too high for me to deal with and I'm having it altered. Make sure your close up sounds aren't uncomfortable for you. Because of our similar deafness and T I thought I'd mention the cross-sectional hearing aid. I am currently waiting on NHS which I should get in 6 weeks. The idea is that the small hearing aid on your right ear will pick up speech etc. and transfer that sound to your other ear. Emm

from Emma, 29 May 2008

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I wear two digital hearing aids and i perceive tinnitus mostly as i try to go to sleep, i cannot sleep in my aids so i havent found a resolution yet either. lainee

from elaine fletcher, 20 May 2008

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I have high tones hearing loss in both ears and significant loss in my left ear. I was given a digital aid last year, mainly for my tinnitus. I must say amplifying all sound means I notice my tinnitus less, especially at work when trying to concentrate. There is no lasting effect/help when I take my aid off. But it helps at work. It does obviously help my hearing too, a bonus. Aids can seem less helpful in crowded, noisey situations because they amplify all [most] sound so don't be too quick to judge your shopping centre experience.

from Steve PLOD, 16 May 2008

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I have high tones hearing loss in both ears and significant loss in my left ear. I was given a digital aid last year, mainly for my tinnitus. I must say amplifying all sound means I notice my tinnitus less, especially at work when trying to concentrate. There is no lasting effect/help when I take my aid off. But it helps at work. It does obviously help my hearing too, a bonus. Aids can seem less helpful in crowded, noisey situations because they amplify all [most] sound so don't be too quick to judge your shopping centre experience.

from Steve PLOD, 16 May 2008

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I have worn one analogue aid since the age of 14 (fast approaching 45) and went digital and stereo two years ago. It has made a difference to me. My hearing loss is related to an ongoing sinus condition. It has made a difference to me. As a teacher I couldnt function without them. The initial going stereo was weird as having sound from both sides of the head was strange. Slowly coming to terms with using induction loop systems using the T switch. You have to remember the sound closest to the microphone is amplified so the Bionic Woman dream solution (Lindsay Wagner 70s or Michelle Ryan 08 version where you pick distant sound sources and ignore sounds inbetween is rubbish) . Try having conversations with people outisde in the shopping centre, the new digital iads should be able to delete some of the immeadiate noise so you can hear conversations better. Background noise is always our biggest pain. Give it more time. Does "given" imply it is not the result of an hearing test?

from twinaided, 05 May 2008

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Tinnitus is a symptom and not a "cause." It is however likely that your tinnitus and hearing loss are connected. Background noise situations are difficult for everyone. With one "dead" ear you will always struggle. Stick with the new aid; use it all day/everyday and the hearing will improve as the brain re-tunes.
Tinnitus is best handled with distraction. Join the "Tinnitus Society." It can take time for hearing aids to work effectively against tinnitus.
Good Luck!

from Cricket (RHAD), 09 Apr 2008

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