Hearing Aids

I hope not! I'd like to stay unilateral

I hope you're keeping both hearing aids, Karl!

Keep us posted on your progress!

 

Thank you for this advice Louise. I really wasn't so sure about this. I see my audiologist tomorrow. Today was one of my better days with these hearing aids.

I am happy to hear that pregabalin seems to be helping you. It must be a much better drug than clonezapam. Lyrica is a very popular medicine in the U.S. for fibromyalgia. The "gaba" part of it must be doing the trick.

 

I have had tinnitus since 2000. I also have 50% hearing loss in each ear.
My tinnitus was driving me nuts(and still does!! ), in particular because I couldn't have a decent conversation without saying "could you repeat that" several times.
I eventually found digital hearing aids that helped. It didn't remove the tinnitus, BUT I am able to hear what people are saying now.
The aids do partially mask the tinnitus, in that I can now now pick up many of the natural surround sounds that I wouldn't normally hear.

The company I bought the aids from were offering 30 days free trial, so if you take that route, I suggest you don't buy them without trying.
All the best,
JaiSea

 

Glad those aids work well for you Blair. Good luck with future improvements. It must be awful to be told you're one of the most severe cases ever etc. That would've given me a panic attack.

I dont think I'd want to see what the hearing loss has done to my brain. It would leave an indelible picture in my mind and I'd find it upsetting.
I've been told about not sleeping in silence also for at least two reasons; 1. it makes the auditory pathways even more sensitive (and increased sensitivity is already an issue). 2. The ears/brain will be searching for something to hear and what will they find? Yup, tinnitus noise and so this will reinforce the T further.

All the best Blair.

 

Hi Jazz, yes I have read those things about Lyrica. However, it has not affected the noise of my T. It has totally reduced my anxiety though. That's worth its weight in gold, nay diamonds

 

Hi Karl, you could be right with this hypothesis. Its 'funny' (in a horrible dark way) that the brain/ear thinks that the noise is coming from outside!!

Mine started off only in one ear but I but the appearance of it in the other ear down to the Soundcure device I was using. I only used the Soundcure in the ear with the T for about 5-6 weeks. Then one night whne I had the device in the left ear I started to hear the tones clearly in the right ear. This happened for two nights and I stopped using the device. Shortly afterwards I heard, literally heard, this high pitched hissing just 'switch on' in the right ear. Then it went away, kepts coming and going and eventualy turned into a high-pitched whine that is always constant.

The moral of this story is; always use sound therapy & hearing aids on BOTH ears!

There's a flaw in your theory though of course, there a loads of people on here who have had T only in one ear for years.

 

If your audiologist says only have one aid then I would sack them. All this advice is to use them bilaterally.

Pregabalin gives a different sort of anti-anxiety effect than Clonazepam. You're more aware, its not as 'tranquilising'. The main advantage is that its not supposed to build a tolerance and there arent the withdrawl issues (they say).

From my reading it didnt affect Gaba (though why is it named thus?) it affects Glutamate. I'll have to read up on it again. So much reading that I forget sometimes.

 

Thanks Jaisea. Thank goodness for hearing aids then

 

I have two questions in the area we've just been discussing.....

1. I've heard that some people experience a reduction in T "as soon s they put the aids on". What I've always wanted to know is does this mean that this happens when they put them on and listen to something or just when they put them on! So is the effect really that they are boosting more background noise that couldnt be heard before and so this masks the T? Is that how they give relief, or is it some other way in which they are working???

2. My T started off only in one ear and then got worse and worse and now is in the other ear too which also seems to be getting worse. To your knowledge, especially the people whoh ave been to the OHSU or understand what they do there, once its started does more and more of the brain become affected (and hence T gets louder/worse). Can it be a progressive thing?

 

This is all new to me so if I say or describe something incorrectly, bear with me. Widex divides up the normal
hearing spectrum into blocks or zones and can program each zone independent from the other zones. In my
case, my hearing starts to fall at 4,8oo and at 6k and up I have a 50% hearing loss. My aids are programed
to bring up the sounds in the higher zones while leaving the lower zones un-amplified.

OSHU ran a battery of tests that pin pointed where my hear loss started, the decline in hearing at specific frequency
ranges, and how my T started at the exact point where my hearing loss occurred.

No insurance, all out of pocket. I knew within one minute of hearing the Zen that it was working and that this
was the answer for me. I'm on Medicare with supplemental insurance and they said no..

Another thing about the Widex. I can turn them directionally, focusing them to the right side to listen to my
wife while driving, or focusing then straight ahead for normal hearing. If I'm in a live room with a lot of sound
bounce, I can turn up the volume to compensate.

My T is similar to a door bell. Some of you youngsters won't know this, however in the old two story houses
in the town I grew up in, when you rang the door bell, a metal clanger would vibrated between two bells, which
was loud enough to wake the dead. It was usually up on the wall in the hallway leading to the kitchen. This
is what I get to "listen" to 24/7. Never varies, constant as the devil.

 

Blair,

Thanks for all the great information! I'm going to use your post to develop questions for my audiologist. It's cool that you can "turn them directionally." I don't know if my Starkey's are offering this. I know Widex makes the most technologically advanced hearing aids--hence, their very expensive price. Starkey is probably middle range, but so far their Xino is working well. I can't believe how much the noise from the hear aid detracts from my tinnitus. It's still there, but not nearly as noticeable.

I'm not surprised insurance paid for nothing!! I have a high deductible policy. I'm hoping the to deduct the price of my hearing aids from the annual deductible. My luck, they will just deny it. The only reason I have insurance is in case I get really sick. You can't afford not to have insurance as hospital bills are outrageous!

I love the information OSHU gave you about your tinnitus. I can't really match mine, but my audiologist said it was 4K. I'm not so sure as I have different tones, and they vary in their intensity. (This is why I believe in fMRI's and other tests instead of sitting in the ol' hearing booth, raising your hands!) I'd love to know more about my T's profile. I believe this information is very important for masking, etc. Plus, a little knowledge never hurt anyone!

Thanks again!!!

 

Today, I went to my audiologist, and she showed me something very cool. I was debating if I start a new thread about this. Might as well bury it here for some future digital archeologist, when we become Planet of the Apes.

My hearing aids are the Widex "Dream"series. There is a "Zen" gong musical thing that I can listen to, but I don't listen to the Zen thing too much. In my opinion it's "No Big Whoop". I've been to Japan, and I don't the need to get into that frame of mind. Call me anti-Zen.

I really want to hear a rain forest, with the birds and monkeys howling. So I asked her, "Is there a rain forest sound?". Yes - but for a price. Specifically $350 for this special remote. Cool.

Let me clarify, I am not a Widex salesmen or a Remeron salesmen, just a fellow a person with buzzing ears. I tried this thing, and it is very cool It is so cool, that people without hearing loss will be jealous if they don't have this hearing aids!

The special $350 remote connects to a Bluetooth enabled phone. You have this little clicker that you carry in your pocket. My audiologist demonstrated that I can listen to anything on the phone, such as music or podcast, the sound of rain forest.

My audiologist rigged me up and called me on the phone. Somehow I answered the phone, listening through my Widex hearing aids. I felt like a I was in the Secret Service, listening to all this stuff in my hearing aids.

Already I want them, but I need to wait. I'm interested in getting an electric bike. One thing at a time.

 

I'm using Starkey Xeno hearing aid. It streams out white noise. I wear it to school. It really helps me to concentrate better in class. They cost $2,000. If your a veteran you can get these hearing aids with a co-pay if you are non-service connected status.

 

Hope -
I've been wearing the Widex Dream hearing aids 2-3 weeks. I like them. I don't use the Zen feature, though.

Lisa's Starkey Xeno sounds like a good deal at $2000. The Widex Dreams cost $3000, and are for people with slight to moderate hearing loss. There are higher end Widex aids that cost quite a bit more.

A really cool feature of the Widex aids (which you can purchase for an additional $350) is a special remote that allows your aids to connect to a Bluetooth enabled phone. I don't have the remote, but I tried it at my audiologist's office. I was able to answer the phone and listen to music through my hearing aids. I was very impressed.

If you get hearing aids, it takes a little time to get use to improved hearing. I had hearing loss which I had grown accustom to. When I started wearing the aids, it was somewhat overstimulating, and I was wiped out at the end of the day. Now I'm used to them.

 

Karl, you're incorrigible!

But you're right about the remote being cool!

 

Lisa,

I have Starkey's too and they cost $3800. But they include the hearing aid feature. Does yours? I wasn't sure from the post. Also, are you a veteran and, if so, is this the reason for your price? I'm curious. Perhaps, I can negotiate a discount!

 

Louise,

I need to update you on Monday after I visit my audiologist. I hope you're feeling good!

BTW, my tinnitus is doing GREAT! I no longer want the Widex, even if they are cooler!

 

Excellent Jazz! Is the T doing great because of the aids? Does it stay great when you take them off? What is your hearing loss Jazz?
Those Xtino's you have are the ones that my very knowledgeable Hearing Specialist recommends. I wish I had the money to try them!!

 

I have the Zen Widex Hearing Aids with Zen Tones to help with Tinnitus. White noise and soft smoothing Bells and charms noises. I can use them amplified or notamplified. I have five different noises with a remote control. The white noise seemed to help me cope with the tinnitus better but it bothers me sometimes too. I don’t need to wear them because I can hear fine. I have high frequency hearing loss. The hearing aids did not help my tinnitus But they did not hurt it either. Cost $5900.00 dollars. Insurance paid the first $3000. Had 30 days to return them.

I wear them off and on. Sometimes at night when the tinnitus is real loud I will wear them to help sleep with the Soft bell noises. Like I said they did not get rid of the tinnitus. But I did not return them because I felt they helped take the edge off I little. Anything that anybody needs to know just ask me and I will tell you my experiences with them. Everybody is different when it comes to hearing aids or anything else. What may help one person may totally be different for another person.

 

Mike,

Regarding sleeping with them, they are so small, aren't you afraid you'll lose them in bed? I like the idea of wearing them if your tinnitus is loud. I have Starkey and love the white noise. It really lets me focus on other things besides if my buzz is getting louder or not! I've been able to focus--really focus--with these hearing aids. Do you find they help you do work? Or perhaps you're tinnitus didn't affect your ability to focus. Mine definitely did!

Do you like the fractal sounds? I tried Zen but the fractals irritated my tinnitus, and the white noise just wasn't "right" for some reason.

 

I don't have a hearing aid feature. VA gets their contracted hearing aid at cost. They don't get the market price. I might have a co-pay since my status is non service connected but I haven't recieved a bill yet.

 

Thanks!

 

Hi Louise,

I wish you could try the Xino's too. But when you get back to work...it could be an option! I don't believe you're working right now, am I correct? What is your profession? Perhaps, as you're recovering, you could "dip you toe" into something that would not be stressful, like a volunteer job. That could lead to bigger, better things in a few months. I know you'll be better soon !

I had to cancel my appointment with the audiologist because of snow. I'm scheduled for next Monday. I can't believe how winter just won't let go.........

Regarding your post, my T is lower, and I believe it's because of the hearing aids. But it is NOT gone, which is my hope. But it's still soon. That said, I now wake up with NO tinnitus, which is new, but it does come within an hour after waking. The T does not increase when I take out the aids, which is nice as I was afraid it would.

Tonight, however, the tinnitus does seem louder. I can hear it over the hearing aids. In part, this is an evening thing with me; but I also had to take several ibuprofen after working out in the gym. I know I shouldn't take any NSAIDs, but when you're sore they the only things that work. But I only took two so I'm sure the noise will go back down. But it's discouraging to know I really can never take ibuprofen again on a regular basis. I used to take them for many reasons, though I never abused them.

I just read on another thread that your tinnitus is getting louder (it's now in your right ear, if I remember), but your attitude is improved because of your medications. That's really important. Anxiety always magnifies these things. Are you planning seeing someone for the increased noise?

One last thing, my hearing loss is in the 4000-6000 hz. It's a minor hearing loss since my hearing threshold is 30db from 4-6000 hz. But anything over 20db is considered a loss. I also have a hearing loss over 8000. I'd have to find my audiogram. I will get back after I see my audiologist next week. That loss is more than 30 db. What is your hearing loss? Is it above 8K? I'm not sure the hearing aids work above 8K because that's beyond speech. If, however, you also have a hearing loss--even if its minor--below 8 K then these hearing aids can help.

Just a thought: Maybe your hearing specialist will let you try white noise generators, like the ones they use in TRT. If she can match your sounds with the white noise, wearing these noise generators might further get your mind off the tinnitus. I know the Starkey's white noise helps me. Even when I hear my T, it is less prominent because of the white noise. As such, I have an easier time tuning it out. I could never tune it out by just playing nature sounds. (Well, the cricket sounds are great for me, but they aren't conducive to concentration.) No matter what you use--whether through in-ear noise generators or hearing aids with white noise--you'll benefit from being able to mask your tinnitus. As the white noise reduces the tinnitus' prominence, your mind is able to tune it out so you can work!

BTW, TRT generators might be covered by your health program !

 

After 8 months and many visits to my ENT he ask me if I wanted to try a masking device for my right ear. $900 30 trial period, if I want to return it there is a $85 deduction off the $900.

This particular masker just gives a steady white noise, exactly like a FM radio when it is not tuned to a radio station. It has a volume control and on/off switch. Feels comfortable in my ear, looks just like a hearing aid. Volume and on/off switch are very easy to use.

I got it a few days ago, I must say the white is way better than the T-noise, of course the T-noise comes right back when I turn it off.

I will give it a try, and decide if it is worth it. I like the idea it is easy to use and very portable, no wires hanging from my ear. However I would like to be able to change it from white noise to something else, like Jim suggested here in another thread, but I don't like the idea of carry around a ipod and have wire hanging from my ears.

So here I am, with three weeks to decide what to do. Most of my shirts do not have pockets. Where else do ipods or mp3 players fit that is convenient. Is there a wireless/bluetooth device that I could use.

Open to opinions.....

 

Called the Audiologist today and ask about a masker with pink noise. She said they just came out with one that is a combo hearing aid and pink noise masker. I ask if I could use them interdependently, she was not sure, she said she just found out about this today. I asked if I could set the volume separately, seems there might be a remote control to do that. I told her I know the hearing aid only needs to be set once usually, but the T-noise varies so much I would need to be able to control the volume on the masking.

Anyway she said to give her a few weeks to gather all the info and she will call me back. The unit is made by Unitron, that's all the info she had.....

 

Hi Louise, I'm a newb here, but want to offer my two cents' worth... I just tried Siemens Pure Carat 510 aids (bilaterally) to see if the T program could mask my bilateral 40-60 dB, high-freq T. I hoped to experience that reduction when I put the aids in, and thought that I did...kind of...well maybe...please, oh please, let this work! Long story short, I thought the aids were working while in the testing room and then in the audiologist's quiet office. Unfortunately, the minute I walked outside, I knew I could hear both the masking white noise and that my T seemed louder. Worse yet, the aids didn't really amplify anything, just made my voice sound tinny.

I'm hoping to try the Widex aids and see if they make any difference. Keep the faith!

 

Hi,

Sorry about your Hearing Aids experience.Hope the widex ones work better or if not then maybe the Starkey Xtinos?

 

Hi,

Louise's recommendations are right! The hearing aids designed specifically for tinnitus are the best. Widex's model is called Zen, and Starkey's is named Xino. They are both known to reduce tinnitus. In general, hearing aids reduce tinnitus in about forty percent of people. And some hearing aids are better than others, like the ones just cited.

I use the Starkey Xino's and have experienced a significant reduction in my tinnitus. But it does take time. When you first put the hearing aids in, your tinnitus will probably increase. Mine increased--it became very loud--for the first two days. But then the tinnitus began to settle down. My audiologist told me it takes your brain around six months to get used to the hearing aids. (I'm three weeks into my hearing aids, and my tinnitus keeps getting lower.)

Most people freak when they try something new that adversely affects their tinnitus. I was the same way. But hearing aids are different. They won't permanently increase your tinnitus. But don't take my word. Talk to your audiologist and get his/her advice.

For me, the aids are definitely worth it, and they are quite small. No one knows you have them. My only complaint is the price!

 

Thanks Jazz, I just ordered some Starkey Xino T hearing aids for about $4000 for both ears. I have 45 days to try with no restocking charge. I am running out of options as the cervical injections are not doing the job. It will be May before I get them programmed to my ears. She is very busy and has much lower prices than the other person who is a Starky only dealer. Just does'nt make sense. I think I will still take Gabapentin + Klonopin in the near term as well as trying a Arches formula package for $150 for 3 months. The doctor at Silverstein recommended them. My last other hope is left TMJ disorder where my hope is diminishing.

 

I had a bad day yesterday and that is why I talked negative. I had bad T and negative thinking also, so was a little doom and gloom. Not sure about Arches, just what Dr. Wazen said to patients about it. I am still unclear if I should have more dexamethasone injections to left ear or not. My former T doc thought I was heading towards Meniere's or a variation of , and that was their treatment for both Meniere's and T. Other ENT docs say there is no proof that injections help. I just want to be happy like Elton here.