Apple AirPods vs. Hearing Aids with a Tinnitus Program Function?

I've had 2 audiograms up to 8 kHz - they showed perfect hearing.

My tinnitus is bothering me during the day and I feel like I would benefit from in-ear sound enrichment from either streaming my sound apps to a wireless earbud like Apple AirPods or getting a hearing aid that has a tinnitus program function.

Are the wireless earbuds idea terrible because they will just aggregate the tinnitus and make it worse? I can stream literally the same sound on low volume from the same app as I would with a hearing aid.

Is a hearing aid a waste of money simply for the tinnitus relief programs they offer? I have zero hearing loss and I don’t need them for hearing purposes.

Thanks.

 

My concern would be the earbuds, while giving some symptomatic relief, could induce noise damage, and the risk is not worth it. I have no experience with this sound enrichment. Have you tried listening to it via an external speaker?

 

Yes but I think that gave me a spike.

I need something for on the go, for constant relief. I have no hearing loss up to 8 kHz so hearing aid is a no. Only other option is a White Noise Generator and even the founder of TRT said you can use earbuds and a phone OR White Noise Generators for TRT...

Someone on this site received TRT from him and he told her that at the start.

On low volume playing ambient sounds, I don't know if it would necessarily make tinnitus worse? Glynis wears Bluetooth Ear Buds AND hearing aids.

If I could find an audiologist to sell me White Noise Generators without TRT I could do that.

 

I think you're asking a good question. I blame earbuds for my tinnitus yet use a hearing aid to stream sounds to mask my tinnitus. Sounds crazy I know. Hope others respond.

 

I just found this tinnitus relief device from Widex that is NOT a hearing aid. It is a sound generator for any tinnitus sufferer.

http://webfiles.widex.com/en/products/zen2go/

 

Maybe I am in the minority, but I think you need to be able to hear the tinnitus to habituate to it. I am thinking a WNG, while giving some relief, may be delaying the process over the longer term.

From my own experience, I went from intrusive, loud tinnitus to mild in 6 months, and never listened to any white noise. While of course everyone is unique, I would not advocate for a WNG.

 

The WNGs or Hearing Aid Maskers are set just below your tinnitus level. But if you can’t concentrate as well at work and need to, and these things help, why wouldn’t you use them?

Is it better to lose your career because you couldn’t focus well enough in a quiet office?

WNGs have been proven to facilitate habituation.

 

I used a Widex hearing aid with the Zen but it didn't help me personally. I found that I needed something relaxing but closer to my actual tinnitus pitch. For me the Zen didn't come close to it.

 

It's not a terrible idea. There is no scientific evidence that it would aggravate the tinnitus more than a hearing aid or any other source of masking.

In my opinion, yes.

 

@PureNoise

I know you are having a difficult time with tinnitus at the moment but I have advised you against using earbuds to play white noise into your ears. If you must use this therapy which I don't advise at this moment, then use proper white noise generators that are made specifically to play white noise into the ears. White noise through WNGs sounds completely different to earbuds. I have already explained this to you.

Please think carefully of what you are doing as you have enough on your plate without risking making your tinnitus worse.
Please see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in WNGs

Michael