As hearing aid specialists, we’ve seen many patients suffering from tinnitus. Tinnitus is when you hear buzzing, ringing, hissing, or even musical sounds that aren’t actually present in the environment – it’s the audio equivalent of a desert mirage.
While tinnitus can be a frustrating and debilitating condition, relief through tinnitus sound therapy can improve your quality of life.
Understanding Tinnitus and Its Symptoms
Tinnitus affects millions of people worldwide. It’s not a disease, but instead a symptom of underlying conditions.
These include:
- Loud movies, television, concerts, or other musical events
- Gunshots, fireworks, or other explosions
- Mechanical noise at construction sites or other high-noise environments
- Medications
- Aging
- Ear conditions, including infections, excessive earwax buildup, middle ear issues, and ear, head, or neck injuries
- Neurological disorders
- Jaw disorders
Tinnitus can be temporary or chronic, and it can impact one or both ears.
Symptoms vary from person to person. Some patients report mild, intermittent ringing in their ears, while others have constant, loud noise that interferes with their daily activities.
Tinnitus can even cause anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating or completing tasks.
Because of the difficulty in communicating, some patients’ tinnitus can also take a toll on their mental health. This includes social isolation or withdrawal, and it’s one more reason why living with tinnitus can be challenging.
What Is Tinnitus Sound Therapy in Hearing Aids?
Tinnitus sound therapy helps you manage your tinnitus symptoms by providing relief from the constant noise.
It works by masking your tinnitus with other sounds. The therapy can be delivered through a variety of devices, including hearing aids, sound machines, or smartphone apps.
In hearing aids, tinnitus sound therapy provides a customized sound programmed to match the frequency and intensity of your tinnitus. This new sound source helps reduce the brain’s attention to the tinnitus, which in turn can reduce the associated emotional distress.
Tinnitus sound therapy can include white noise, pink noise, nature sounds, or music. The sounds and volume can also be customized to your preferences.
Some hearing aids with tinnitus sound therapy also offer additional features such as directional microphones and wireless connectivity. These help to reduce background noise and improve speech understanding.
Tinnitus sound therapy in hearing aids can also improve sleep quality by providing a soothing sound that can help people to fall asleep and stay asleep. Better sleep can lead to improved mood, increased energy, and better overall health.
Research and Studies on Tinnitus Sound Therapy in Hearing Aids
There’s plenty of proof to back all these claims too.
That’s because research studies have shown tinnitus sound therapy in hearing aids can be an effective treatment for tinnitus.
For example, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that tinnitus sound therapy in hearing aids improved the quality of life for people with tinnitus by reducing its perceived loudness while improving communication and sleep quality.
Another study published in Europe PMC had similar findings, including improved speech understanding in noisy environments and overall quality of life improvements via reduced anxiety and depression.
Beltone’s Tinnitus Sound Therapy Explained
Many hearing aid manufacturers such as Beltone offer devices with tinnitus sound therapy.
Our hearing aids offer a range of features, including directional microphones, wireless connectivity, and customizable sound programs.
We recommend the Tinnitus Calmer app which helps you manage your tinnitus.
Tinnitus Calmer distracts your brain from tinnitus with a combination of sound therapy and relaxing exercises. You can customize your sounds from the app library or upload your own.
You can also layer up to five sounds, balance the sounds between your right and left ears, or turn on a timer so you can fall asleep to soothing sounds.
Plus you can learn how to manage your tinnitus with effective coping skills, which include different exercises such as deep breathing, guided meditation, and useful tips.
The Tinnitus Calmer app will also track your usage. That lets you see which sounds work best for you.
The end result is that you’ll be better able to cope with your tinnitus and live a more engaging life.
And it’s very accessible too. Beltone’s Tinnitus Calmer app is available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android devices.
Is Tinnitus Sound Therapy a Good Fit for You?
While tinnitus can be a frustrating and debilitating condition, it doesn’t have to be a lifelong struggle.
Why not get in touch with us to find out more? We’re the most trusted hearing care professionals in Ohio and Michigan for over 80 years.
Our qualified hearing instrument specialists provide exclusive Beltone hearing aids and accessories, plus hearing assessments and end-to-end hearing healthcare.
You can give us a call at (888) 691-3821. You can also request a callback.
We’re always happy to help.
So go ahead and end your struggles with tinnitus today. With the right treatment and support, we can help you manage your tinnitus symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life.
