Hearing Aids That Play Rain Noise

Hi all,
I just have a question. I have hearing aids (zero amplification, I have no hearing loss) that play white noise. It's better than living with tinnitus but it's also highly irritating and the volume needs to be up fairly high making it quite unpleasurable. Rain sound on the other hand is pleasurable and I feel as though I need to have the volume of that far lower so it doesn't interfere with everyday understanding sounds so hard. The question I have is.....hearing aids only have a white noise option. Do you know of any manufactures that have environmental sounds built into the hearing aids? It's fine for me to use just my phone to play rain when i'm at home, but it's highly inappropriate to walk around with earplugs in, in public. So if there was a hearing aid that did it, I'd be so happy. Maybe I should quit Audiology and start Business and set up a hearing aid company, haha. Sigh

 

Hmm, aren't there any wireless in-ear headphones you could use with your phone? I think I remember seeing some...

 

If you figure this out, would you let me know please. I tried listening to the sound of a waterfall last night but it seemed too much and made things worse. I think if I could find some headphones I could wear in the ear and still sleep on my side that would help. Soft rain would be nice.

 

How about this one? http://www.macrumors.com/2014/02/24/first-made-for-iphone-hearing-aid/

@sgal you could maybe try speaker pillows, i.e. pillows that have a speaker inside them?

 

If you can still have your phone with you there are always 'airdrives'. They aren't the cheapest and they don't sound as good as normal earphones, but they sit outside of your ear so they don't interfere with your hearing.

 

@sgal as well as speaker pillows there is a sleep band you can get, worn like a sweatband, with earphones build in - sleep phones. May not be the best in the height of summer, plus if you're a restless sleeper the speaker pillow may be the better option.

 

Sometimes I use these: https://www.aftershokz.com/products/ They are marketed as bone conduction device, and while that is only partly true - good amount of the sound is transferred through air - they leave hearing intact. I guess Airdrives would do about the same. I use wired version, rechargeable battery lasts easily for a day, wireless model probably need recharging more often.

 

@Neenie please be sure to post if you find hearing aids like that! I agree with you, white noise from a hearing aid (or earbuds) sounds pretty much like tinnitus to me! I have an appt with a new audiologist next week to explore hearing aid options so will ask her.

 

Neenie
I wear similar devices (white noise) and I asked my audiologist if they had anyway to make them so they can play nature sounds (et al). He said they wouldn't do it because the white noise is a controlled factor in masking (and eventually degrading your T); they can't control the nature sounds or music that you want.

Bummer!

I know what you mean about the white noise (can be annoying); however, my T was so blasted loud that hearing the white noise was like the difference between having my shins broke or some pinching me in the shoulder really hard (I chose the white noise, obviously). It has worked out extremely well for me; hope it works for you.

Mark

 

There are a number of hearing aids that have built in white noise maskers that can also stream music or other audio files from a paired smartphone or tablet. Most of these hearing aids have an intermediate remote which allows the bluetooth devices to stream to the hearing aids. Most recently hearing aids with maskers and bluetooth streaming have been introduced that do not need an intermediate remote device. These newer units are typically controlled from a free smartphone App.

 

I bought a sleepphone headband on ebay to give it a try. It wasn't a big investment so I figured I could see how it does. If I don't like them, I'll try the pillow phones next. The Resound hearing aids with direct connection to all the apple devices would be great but really expensive. I have to live with the hearing aids I have for the time being.

 

Hey Neenie,

My audiologist let me try these out for the last 3 weeks:

http://www.widex.com/en/products/thewidexsound/zen/

The devices don't play rain noise, but a nice chime/xylophone sound along with white noise if needed. It looks like the website gives a sample of the sounds. They worked okay, but then the T was really spiking I didn't get any relief from them. They are also very expensive, so I ended up returning them. I've downloaded T masking sounds on my iphone and like you, the rain/shower sounds are an amazing relief.

Mike

 

Let me know what they are like.

The Zen ar so expensive for such a basic device, I always say that if they work for you I can make a better masking track in the same style and mail you the file for your MP3 player. Then all you need is comfortable headphones to listen with. Their 'fractal tones' are just a random tone generator, nothing special. And t he sounds are very limited.

 

I've got the Zen for a couple of weeks now. It doesn't work so well for me, the sounds are calming but too subtle for my tinnitus. My brain seems to turn down the zen sounds and turn up the tinnitus sound. I need a much deeper and lower pitched masking sound, it took me a while to find the noise I normally use (jet engine, low). The Resound Linx seem very interesting, I will show my audiologist the information. However, I'm in Sweden and haven't had to pay anything so I don't know if they will let me pick and choose.
I've got a sleepphone headband too, mostly for use when I go on a trip. I like them, though they are a bit warm. They are very handy for listening to audio books as well.

 

They look pretty warm, what is the sound like, how do they compare to other earphones?

I hope you get to make a choice and get the hearing aids you want, maybe the ones that stream to iPod are a good choice for you so you can use custom masking sounds.

 

I would say that the sound in the sleepphones is better than in the in ear type ear phones, but not as good as proper ear phones. At least for me, I have trouble with in ear phones anyway, they never fit properly. And these are more comfortable.

 

I found some drum noises low pitch that seem to help but it's through earbuds using my phone.

 

I believe this is the App that will work with the new Starkey Halo which is rumoured to launch on March 31st.

There are two similar products already on the market with free control Apps. They are the ReSound Linx and the Beltone First. These two products are nearly identical. One major difference is the Beltone First has a built in masker. The control Apps are identical.

 

My zen hearing aids cost 3700 dollars per unit! I would not have them I have tennitus related case wit owcp and they payed for the set! I like them because there simple to use and I'm not a high tech person. My son had to show me how to get an app on my IPad that's how savvy I'm with tech stuff. Wish I was a little better at high tech stuff but I was born befor dirt. Guess when I win a big lotto I can have a garu of tech junk set me up with different types mods to aid with this dam ringing!

 

I am with you on that line of thinking. The sound of water really helps. The ATA website allows you to mix water sounds to your own liking then download the file as a wav file. Works pretty well..not perfect but what the heck its free. You are not alone and I send you and everyone my best wishes and hope for peace in our minds.

 

I am new to Hearing Aids. I got the Linx2 last week and it can come with the built in sounds. I didn't get it yet but can switch if I want. Is it worth it to do this? Right now I can get the sounds thru an app but I think I would save battery on my phone if they were built in to the HA. Will it lessen the battery of the HAs? Mine only lasted 4 days! That was my first time to change the battery so don't know if next time will be longer. Thanks!!