If you suffer from tinnitus, you probably already know that there is no cure for it. However, there are many ways to treat or minimize it. Hearing aids are commonly used to help with tinnitus, and for good reason.
The Connection Between Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Tinnitus and hearing loss frequently occur together. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, most people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss, although some people with hearing loss never develop tinnitus.
Researchers do not yet fully understand exactly how tinnitus develops. One leading explanation is that damage or changes within the auditory system reduce or alter the sound signals traveling from the ear to the brain. The brain may respond by changing neural activity, which can contribute to the perception of sound when no external sound is present. This is still an area of active research and does not explain every case of tinnitus.
Tinnitus and hearing loss can also have some of the same underlying causes, including age-related changes, exposure to loud noise, certain medications and injuries affecting the head, neck or auditory system. However, tinnitus does not necessarily indicate measurable hearing loss, and hearing loss does not necessarily mean a person will develop tinnitus.
How Hearing Aids May Help
For people who have both tinnitus and hearing loss, hearing aids may improve hearing and make tinnitus less noticeable. They do not cure tinnitus, and results vary from person to person. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders recognizes hearing aids and other sound-therapy devices as options that may help reduce tinnitus symptoms.
- Improved access to sound. Hearing aids amplify sounds that are difficult to hear. Increasing access to environmental sound may reduce the contrast between tinnitus and a person’s surroundings, making the tinnitus less prominent.
- Clearer speech. By improving access to speech sounds, hearing aids can make conversations easier to follow when hearing loss and tinnitus occur together.
- Greater awareness of soft sounds. Amplifying quiet environmental sounds may make tinnitus less noticeable, particularly in quiet settings.
- Sound-therapy features. Some hearing aids include optional sounds intended to reduce awareness of tinnitus or make it less bothersome. These features may use noise or other customized sounds and should be selected with guidance from a hearing care professional.
What the Research Shows
- This 2022 study found that patients with chronic tinnitus and untreated sensorineural hearing loss who started wearing hearing aids showed significant improvement in tinnitus impact and perceived annoyance, and the minimum volume of sound needed to effectively mask tinnitus decreased.
- This 2023 study found that tinnitus patients with mild or borderline hearing loss (i.e., patients who typically wouldn’t be referred for hearing aids) who used hearing aids to help with their tinnitus saw nearly identical improvement levels in their tinnitus as those with moderate to severe hearing loss.
- This research review, compiled in 2021, surveyed 28 primary research studies on hearing aids and tinnitus relief published since 2011. It found that almost 70% of studies showed positive results for hearing aids as tinnitus relief, and 14% found no change, highlighting that the majority of research supports hearing aids as a helpful tool for managing tinnitus, and very little research would claim that it’s detrimental.
How to Get Started
Our audiologists at Waterville Audiology are well-versed in tinnitus and modern hearing aids, and we’re equipped to help you manage your tinnitus with the appropriate technology. Call us today to learn more or schedule an appointment for a tinnitus consultation.