Some people become aware of tinnitus following a change in their hearing. When deterioration reduces the amount of information being sent to the hearing centres of the brain, it responds by trying to get more information from the ear – a bit like changing sensitivity settings. This increases the amount of external sound detected and can mean that internal sounds – such as electrical activity on the hearing nerve, or the sound of your blood flowing – also gets picked up.
For others, a stressful or emotional event can trigger tinnitus. Emotional stress stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which increases nerve activity in the brain and indirectly increases the tinnitus.
Although there is no known cure for tinnitus, there are lots of things you can do to help manage tinnitus yourself. These are not specifically for people with severe-profound hearing loss but have been proven to help manage tinnitus.
Please note
It’s essential to reach out to a professional for support and guidance. Your GP and hearing aid dispenser or audiologist are valuable resources who can provide assistance tailored to your needs. Many audiology services have specialists, such as audiologists or hearing therapists, who specialize in tinnitus management and can offer valuable insights and support. Don’t hesitate to seek their expertise to help you effectively manage your tinnitus.
Hearing aids
For many individuals, activating their hearing aids can lead to a reduction in the perception of their tinnitus. However, if you find that your tinnitus persists despite using your hearing aids, it’s essential to consult your audiologist for a review of your settings.
Even with properly fitted hearing aids, individuals with severe to profound hearing loss may struggle to detect softer environmental sounds, like birdsong. Hearing aids primarily focus on amplifying speech while safeguarding against loud noises. Your audiologist may offer an additional setting on your hearing aid specifically designed to enhance softer sounds, particularly useful in quiet environments.
Depending on the severity and pattern of your hearing loss, a combination device that integrates sound therapy with a hearing aid may be suitable. However, it’s crucial to manage the volume and duration of sound therapy components to prevent further hearing damage.
Individuals with severe to profound hearing loss often encounter difficulties in noisy environments, leading to increased listening effort, fatigue, frustration, and social withdrawal—factors that can exacerbate tinnitus. Discussing hearing aid settings, assistive listening devices, and communication strategies with your audiologist can significantly improve your ability to navigate such situations.
Regular servicing of your hearing aid and periodic reviews of your hearing status are essential for optimal hearing health and tinnitus management. This ensures that your hearing aid functions effectively and addresses any changes in your hearing needs over time.
Hearing implants
When conventional hearing aids prove inadequate or unsatisfactory, hearing implants may offer a viable alternative. Various types of implants are available, including bone conduction, middle ear, cochlear, and auditory brainstem implants.
Among these, the cochlear implant stands out as the most common choice for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. This small electronic device functions by converting sound into tiny electrical pulses, which are then directly transmitted to the auditory nerve. By circumventing non-functioning inner ear structures, cochlear implants can effectively restore hearing function.
Extensive research has documented the significant improvements in hearing ability and overall quality of life afforded by cochlear implants. Additionally, many studies have reported their potential to alleviate tinnitus symptoms. Despite these clear benefits, it’s noteworthy that a mere fraction—estimated at less than 7%—of eligible adults currently opt for cochlear implants.
For individuals interested in exploring cochlear implants further, the British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG) offers valuable information and resources on this treatment option.
Sound therapy
Many individuals find that adding background sound, known as sound enrichment, can help reduce the intrusiveness of their tinnitus. Sound enrichment can be delivered through various means, including CDs, MP3 downloads, radio, smartphone apps, bedside/table-top sound generators, and wearable sound generators.
However, for those with severe to profound hearing loss, utilizing sound enrichment may pose challenges, as clarity of sound, not just volume, can be an issue. Therefore, it’s essential to experiment with different sounds to find ones that are both pleasant and effective.
Moreover, individuals who remove their hearing devices at night may struggle to hear a bedside or table-top sound generator. Some opt to sleep wearing their hearing aid or hearing implant sound processor to utilize a bedside sound generator, although this should be discussed with an audiologist first.
For those with hearing aids or implants featuring direct audio input or wireless functionality, playing therapy sounds directly through the device may be an option worth exploring.