Hearing Aids

I think I might be interested in looking at hearing aid especially with some kind of sound therapy. My hearing loss is 20 until 6000 where it dips to 40 then back up to 20 again. I don't really have problems hearing people, though I am sure that I miss something somewhere more than someone with perfect hearing does.

My real issue is Tinnitus. I'm 7.5 months in and though emotionally well balanced, not anxiety ridden or depressed, the 24/7 ~65Db high pitch sounds do take their toll. On good days I still hear it but easily imagine habituating to it. On bad days, blah, just a slog. My biggest thing is that I have really cut back socializing because if I am just hanging in there, hanging out isn't much fun.

So my question, selfishly asked so I don't have to click through 25 pages of responses, is what is out there? Would hearing aids potentially help me? What are the basic options brand-wise and therapeutic methodology wise? I'm not terribly cost sensitive so I am not necessarily looking for the best way to save a buck but the best way to treat my tinnitus. I am living overseas so it would help if I had some idea of what I was looking for/at before I started looking.

 

I have Resound RE961-DRWC

Link

 

@AfroSnowman These are mine & they work very well for my specific type of hearing loss with tinnitus.

I have one-sided hearing loss with tinnitus, sound fluctuations, static & fullness.

 

Update: 12-01-19 The hearing aids are really making a world of difference for the better. It definitely feels like my tinnitus has reset to a lower and quieter range & some sort of neuroplasticity has occurred. The old (horrible) tinnitus patterns have changed and I can concentrate much better, hear slightly better and the general imbalance and cloudy feelings have lifted. The static and ear fullness are still gone. So happy for these changes!

 

Hearing aids were a huge help for me. Got hit with severe sudden single sided hearing loss (unknown cause, happened overnight), and as a result had pretty bad tinnitus from the effected ear. After about a year, I tried a hearing aid, figuring that increasing the hearing signal might improve the tinnitus. It for sure makes a difference with my tinnitus. Not sure if it's because of improved signal, or just amplification of ambient noise that provides some masking (I suspect the latter), but either way, really helped with the tinnitus. Brand I use is Widex Beyond with a custom ear mold (recommended, much more comfortable).

 

Several (all?) top-line hearing aids have tinnitus therapy programs. Two that come to mind are the Widex Evoke Fusion and Phonak Audeo Marvel. I've not used either myself, but they have programs that play things like gentle alternating tones, music, I think white noise etc. (And checking, I see Widex says all their newer hearing aids have their Zen therapy as an option).

Sometimes even without such programs, just getting decent hearing aids helps as you can see in this thread. It's thought that it's because the brain starts getting signals again from the outside world, reducing whatever neurological somersaults it's been generating after that loss. If funding isn't a constraint I highly recommend giving it a shot.

 

@Chriscom, @Shem, @Quiet please

Thanks for the input. I have a follow up question about whether it might be a good fit for me.

My Tinnitus though undoubtedly related to my hearing loss came on suddenly and likely due to a viral event. Though I believe that my hearing has been non-problematic but less than perfect for some time my Tinnitus came on instantly sometime between April 15th when I went to sleep at 11pm and when I woke up at 2am on April 16th and has never ceased since. 95% of the time at a moderate to severe level.

My question is if my hearing loss wasn't the direct cause of the Tinnitus, that I had had the same hearing profile for years and never experienced Tinnitus at all, but something weird blew up my neural systems one night, do you know whether I would still expect relief from use of hearing aids?

As a follow-up how important is the quality of the audiologist in fitting one of these? I am in Indonesia and the quality of care here is pretty meh. You can get everything here at a great cost savings, but I've been underwhelmed at times by the quality of the medical system. My alternative is to fly to Singapore that has first rate medical care. Thoughts?

 

@AfroSnowman, It’s my opinion that the audiologist's hearing aid expertise, experience, empathy, patience and understanding of the effects of tinnitus on the auditory system is key.

I must have seen 6-7 audiologists in my tinnitus journey and it was by the guidance of my newest audiologist that made the difference for me. She has all the qualities and qualifications I needed.

 

Hi @Quiet please,

How long did it take for the hearing aids to start making a difference? I tried some for about 6 days and I think I began to see an improvement, but not sure. I don’t have too much problem hearing.

 

Am I correct in saying that it is now 2019 (soon to be 2020) and there are still no hearing aids that cover high frequencies? (or anything above 10 kHz really).

My tinnitus comes from a 14 kHz hearing loss in the left ear, and I find myself lacking any options thus far.

 

Hi @PeterPan,

In my case, my Cochlear Endolymphatic Hydrops symptoms started changing for the better within the first week. The tinnitus went to a softer pitch and the static and fullness was reduced. This is mostly only when I’m wearing the aides. When I take them off, the tinnitus part comes back to about the same loudness but I seem to be much less bothered by it. Almost like the hearing aids have helped me move forward to habituation which has been difficult for me.

So for my situation, I can say it’s been an improvement using my Phonak Audio Marvel hearing aids. To be able to just tap the aide to turn on the custom masking sound or to use my cellphone to turn on any tinnitus app & listen to music or soothing nature sounds has been most helpful.

 

I have not found any (I've been looking too).

 

The quality of the audiologist is key. "Quality" includes both technical skill and a willingness to keep tweaking things until improvements take place--bearing in mind there is only so much that can be done. I'm working with a "hearing instrument specialist" at Costco who has less formal training than my main audiologist but is easier to make appointments with and is very willing to keep fine-tuning things. I don't know how large a city you live in in Indonesia, but I'd at least try asking around before flying to Singapore. Even with a skilled and willing audi, ideally you'll want at least a tweak or two after the first appointment. Some (expensive) hearing aids permit online adjustments, though I don't know if that's practical for you--it requires a decent laptop and connectivity on your end.

Another route to go, if you're patient and a little technically inclined, is do-it-your-self tweaking.

As for whether the onset of your tinnitus says anything about how much hearings aids may help, I'm not educated enough to tell. But tinnitus is so variable--maybe!

 

I want to add something. I eventually checked your description of your hearing loss. I've only been in this game since May, but I would rate it as relatively mild compared to most of what I've seen. My own hearing has fluctuated but I'm down to 55 or even 60db at high frequencies in my bad ear and 35-40 in lower frequencies, and there are many with far worse.

So I wonder if your loss is enough to benefit from the "mere" sound amplification/frequency compensation of a hearing aid. I'm not saying that to discourage you at all--because I don't know if that's even a factor--but if you can buy aids with a refund policy that would be wise. Also be aware there are people with great hearing and tinnitus, and bad hearing + no tinnitus, it's just a roullette wheel.

You might spend some time in the forums at HearingTracker.com though it can be overkill over there.

https://forum.hearingtracker.com/

 

That's what I was wondering. Unfortunately I am a bit on my own out here and don't really have a specialist I can work with. Both because of the extremely sudden and mysterious onset (sudden extreme and unexplained...so viral?) and somewhat modest hearing loss I wonder if that excludes me as being a good candidate for hearing aids.

When I had the original onset I was med-evaced to Singapore and saw some good ENT's and audiologists, none of them suggested or even mentioned hearing aids other than saying that I didn't need them.

At this point I am looking for relief. I am blessedly emotionally stable and relatively well under the circumstances and have accepted this is going to be my reality at least until Susan Shore gets her device to market. I no longer have a panic response or even major negative response to the sound even at its extremes. The only exception is that when my Tinnitus is really rocking I find it difficult to hear and I get a bit frustrated. When it is moderate to low I don't really have any hearing issues.

If anyone has any insights to this I'd appreciate input. Again I can get good quality hearing aids here, I just don't have anyone to work with to tell me if I am a good candidate or not.

 

Well there are two main avenues for moderating tinnitus with hearing aids. One is the reintroduction of sound into damaged hearing. As mentioned before tinnitus reduces for some because the brain isn't grasping for missing inputs anymore, and on top of that the background sounds of daily life can help distract from tinnitus especially if it's mild enough.

The other avenue is tinnitus therapy, the tones and nature sounds and such, and I'd expect that's potentially helpful regardless of whether you have any hearing loss whatsoever. @Quiet please has hearing aids with that feature, the Phonak Marvel Audeo. I'd wager it's worth investigating.

 

Where does somebody get access to high frequency audiograms? As it stands my audiogram is “fine” but they can only measure at 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 6 kHz and 8 kHz as per the “national standard”. What a joke.

 

I’m waiting to hear back whether Embrace’s Luna indeed covers up to 12 kHz.

Edit: just heard back. The representative was incredibly understanding and helpful. He verified that one of their hearing aids provide help up to 12 kHz, and their new model includes a tinnitus masker which is basically a white noise switch. He was forthright about this model’s rudimentary masking feature and actually suggested that since tinnitus is my primary concern, that I should see my ENT/audiologist to get fitted with Widex hearing aids as their masking/suppressing technology is evidently far more sophisticated than Embrace’s. He suggested this because my hearing profile up to 8 kHz is perfectly normal, albeit with a few modest dips in the bad ear. I see my ENT on the 11th. I will post an update after my visit.

Although he literally referred me to a competitor, I have a sneaking suspicion that Embrace’s expanded upper limit will be more useful than the superior masking tools provided by the Widex.

 

Where did you get tested up to 16 kHz??

 

Currently trialing the Widex Evoke.

Initial impressions are that they are comfortable. In quiet rooms and in front of the television my HF tinnitus competes with this kind of interference noise. I’m not sure if they’re not programmed correctly as my audiologist does not seem very technically proficient, or as she suggested, that my hearing is “so good” that I can hear the circuitry? Sounds unlikely. The zen tones might be a good form of sound therapy, even though I can hear my HF hiss above all of it.

I’ve got them for a week. If this doesn’t play down the HF hiss I have, I’ll send them back and forward my audiogram to Embrace, who has a unit that can increase hearing up to 12 kHz.

 

Any hospital can test you up to 20 kHz if they want to.

 

Update on the Widex Evoke.

Took my aids off before bed, was using them while reading this forum in mostly silence (save the interference sound from the aids themselves). Spiked my tinnitus so fiercely that I laid in bed awake from 12:00-1:00am on 250mg Quetiapine and 15mg Mirtazapine. Had to take 10mg Ambien to get some shitty sleep. Tinnitus is worse this morning. I’m sure it will go back down because I definitely didn’t sustain any acoustic trauma. I doubt I will try another hearing aid now.

 

I had the same effect when I tried TRT, the hearing aids drove me to tears the following day... It was a trial so I returned them.

 

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I used Widex Evokes for a week and fwiw didn't hear any "interference sound from the aids themselves," and re your audiologist I rather doubt your hearing is "so good" that you can hear some internal circuitry tone that mere mortals cannot. The aids themselves may have been defective, and if you ever get the nerve after that experience I'd try another set.

 

I’m going to get my hearing re-tested next week and I may send the results to Embrace for one of their 12 kHz devices.

 

Do you have a web link for that Embrace Luna device?

 

Luna is actually 4-5 generations old now. If you call up Embrace and inquire about it, their receptionist will note your concerns and you should be called back promptly. For me, it was within a few hours.

 

Wow... just got my audiogram back and on paper I wonder how I get by.

He said it was “normal for someone 50”... but it goes into 35 dB at 4 kHz and 55 dB at 8 kHz where the chart stops.... I imagine it continues the free fall higher than 8 kHz.

But I feel I can hear ok... ??

Does anyone know what clinical trials, drugs, Lenire, etc. someone like this would be excluded from? Not knowing what high frequency my tinnitus is, and not having a test that high... I’m guessing mine is worse than 55 dB. :-(

Like Dr. Shore... ”No greater than a moderate hearing loss at the tinnitus frequencies (≤55 Decibels Hearing Level)”

Thanks.

 

Has anyone ever looked at digital earplugs? I didn’t know such things existed.

Basically... like a hearing aid where it can amplify sound, and also like a hearing aid... it will stop amplification for anything over 85 dB (danger levels).

It might be a cheap alternative for people that don’t have the 1000’s for real hearing aids or are borderline.

Anyone?
Thanks

https://www.earplugsguide.com/electronic-ear-plugs-reviewed/

Guns are Loud: Save Your Hearing

 

That was a trial inclusion criterion. We'll have to wait if that still stands with the finished product.