Tinnitus Masking: In-Ear Maskers

I've been reading Jack Vernon/s book "Tinnitus: Treatment and Relief" and discovered a treatment I hadn't heard of before that is supposed to be very successful---wideband noise generators. The author says these are different from masking devices. What exactly are they and does anyone here have any experience with them and how/where do you find them? I hadn't come across that term til now.

 

It's quite the read but this might be interesting.

http://www.tinnitusjournal.com/detalhe_artigo.asp?id=442

 

Thanks. He's the guy who wrote the chapter in Vernon's book on tinnitus. I did read that. I'll see if I can manage to get through this. I'm suffering from vertigo as well as tinnitus now, so it's a bit difficult to concentrate.

One more question: it appears that broadband noise generators are something one gets when going through TRT and I understand that TRT is very costly. Is there a way to get these generators without doing TRT or is that a necessary component? And are there less expensive generators?

I tried a masking device for a month and didn't like it, but maybe I didn't give it enough time and didn't wear it often enough. I didn't like hearing both the masking noise and the ringing.

 

Old post in know but how did your maskers work out?

 

Going to fit mine now,i really need it for the night time,wish me luck.

Edit: Damn it,they have to order it,gotta wait another week .

 

Today I tried the Starkey in-ear T Masker and I was impressed. I only had them on for few minutes and I had to actually look for my T. I can't even explain how I felt! The noise that was generating was a very so very soft like snow noise that was soothing to my ears and it pushed the annoying T to a place where I had to actually look for it to hear it. I cannot say that it helped with the hum because I couldn't hear the hum in his office to begin with. ( The furnace was on and was masking the hum). These are hearing aids with masker, top of the line.,3 year warranty and lifetime service. The cost for them is $6,800. Which my husband said "If it helps you I'll pay him 20,00 for them"! I really love my husband...

Here's the link: http://www.starkey.com/hearing-aids/technologies/xino-tinnitus

@jazz I now you have used these before. Can you tell me your experience and are you still using them??

I'd appreciate any feedback from those that have tried any in-ear maskers. I am trying to make a decision weather I should get them or do the TRT. I have an appointment on Friday at the Center for Hearing and Communication in NYC
( http://chchearing.org/nyc/tinnitus-specialist/) to get information on TRT. I am sure they will also talk about in-ear maskers.

And I can also go here: http://tinnitustreatmentnyc.com/ and do Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy and it is covered by my insurance. So praise God I have a few choices.

Who has used the in-ear maskers?? Did it help? Thanx!

 

I tried the Starkey maskers, the illusion that T is gone lasts just a few seconds. It always returns. You can cover your ears with your hands and play drums with your thumbs against the back of your neck and you will get the same result as you get with the Starkey device, cheat the brain just a few seconds.

 

Thanx for he reply. I did not mean to say that T was completely gone, it is there and I could hear it but it was not in the front of all he other noises... not sure how to explain. It was not the "focus", I guess because on the masker and the competition?? I do have 60 days trial so I can see wether it will work for me or not. How long did you used them for??

 

I can't believe hearing aids with masker functionality can cost as much as a semi good used car!

What is so expensive about them?

 

That is hearing aid industry. Say that I am conspiracy person, but those 10.000 euros for 50gr of plastic is what makes them powerful, and what gave them position to slow everything they want, t. drugs, hearing restoring treatment, cell treatments etc...

Hope this will stop once!

 

I agree. Reading this article opened my eyes: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/the-hunt-for-an-affordable-hearing-aid/

 

Yes Atlantis, this is just one small part of ordinary story in greedy hearing aid lobby.
When I am talking about it, some members say- it sounds like a conspiracy.

In a fact it is not, all people here are kind of collateral victims of that industry.

 

I asked the same question! Well...he is looking to see if the in-ear masker for T only is cheaper. This particular device allows them to match my T and I can control volume and pitch with my Ipod. And I can generate different sounds that would work for me or that I like... (something like that) It was too much information for me to process last night... I will get more information on my next visit. But hey, if they help me I do not mind the money at all... Peace and relief is most important than the money ...In my humble opinion. If Mom is happy, everybody in the family is happy!

 

I did a two weeks trial. They adjusted the device for my T, they fine tunned for each ear, and every time I removed the device, T was gone, but then slowly returned. The price was way too expensive, and I never heard that someone find cure or permanent decrease in volume with these sound brain training therapies.

 

I use hearing aids with white noise maskers, and have benefited from them greatly. Let me know if anyone has any questions I can help answer.

 

Masker is not working this time because my tinnitus is being caused by Xanax withdrawal. But a few years ago I tried turning the volume of my masker just loud enough so that I just STARTED to hear the sound. Unlike TRT it took three weeks to work and not 18 months. I was so afraid of the tinnitus returning to the previous volume that I purchased a second one as a back up. The white noise was down so low that after about an hour I didn't notice it at all. I called it my "sweet spot." If I woke up to a bad day all I had to do was set the masker volume and in about one hour the tinnitus was very quiet and sometimes gone. After a couple of years I started forgetting to use it. Didn't need it.
Last april I was stopped cold turkey from a couple of antidepressants that I was on for years instead of tapering off. I also started a xanax taper at the same time and after a couple of months my xanax came back at a horrific level. And, my masking trick isn't working this time for some reason. I think it's the withdrawal.
If you use a masker give my method a try for about three weeks.

 

Probably i will give it a try because the sound that i hear it's based on my T and it's a better sound. Sound teraphy work for me: i use a lot of sounds in my home to masking Tinnitus. Its a pretty illusion.

 

Maskers are incredible for people with suicidal T. I don't even remember how much it cost because it saved my life literally saved my life.

 

I have duel purpose hearing aids with masker setting.
Just had my 3 hearing amplification settings increased and my masker setting increased and amplification added to it.
My tinnitus is sever in both ears and my hearing in both ears is 50db.
Don't know what I would do without them....lots of love glynis

 

After reading all the positive feedback and listening to the purple noise, I think I might go back to the hearing aid dispenser to have my masker turned on on my hearing aid. I should try it. My ringing is being loud today.

 

I have just one masker for my hyperacusis ear, which I've worn for six weeks now. I'm pleased to say that after 5 weeks of wearing for 10 hrs a day, the hyperacusis is much better leaving me with just the tinnitus. I know that I should have two maskers but I got this one free from the UK NHS service. I have asked for another and will hopefully be fitted with it at the end of January. My masker, which plays pink noise, took a few days to get used to but I can say that it has really helped. I should have got them ages ago. I should add that I have been using sound enrichment at night and following general TRT principles.

 

I also had wearable wngs for hyperacusis. They helped a lot for hyperacusis but not for tinnitus. I don't use them for t. I sometimes use them to check my hearing by testing if I can still hear the white noise at the usual volume.

 

it's weird how white noise annoys me worse then my tinnitus

 

Me too. I've moved from white noise, through pink then brown, onto nature sounds, and finally my current favourite "bells and bleeps". Each type gave me relief for a little while before it started to sound harsh and irritating. I've tried notched noise too but that doesn't tend to work when you have tones at multiple frequencies.

 

It works for a bit then becomes irritating and I can’t seem to settle although I only have waves or white noise. What brand are yours?

 

I can relate with so many. My ringing was driving me crazy but I truly have gotten better at ignoring it. Funny enough white noise does not help me much but nature sounds like birds and crickets are amazing. I have a noise machine that has water waves, birds and crickets. I also play gospel music to help me sleep. I need a spiritual uplift at night because I dread going to bed. Its definitely not easy when your brain becomes your nemesis. I am just grateful my hubby has gotten used to my noise machine, the fan and my phone playing gospel music all night long ‍♀️. Girl gotta to do what she can to get some sleep .

 

Has anyone noticed with tinnitus that some sounds which are very low pitched can be very annoying? My boss pc speaker make a very low sound when on but not playing music and it completely annoys me. I can hear it so loud. Can someone explain to me why is that.

 

What do people, especially those who have worn/are wearing WNGs, or those using white/pink noise for sleep, think about this article:

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/09/04/1564812/0/en/The-Dark-Side-of-White-Noise.html

"Studies on the impact of unstructured noise on tinnitus further argue for caution in its use as a therapeutic. The authors write that such strategies may be “driving patients’ brains further toward, rather than away from, the pathological disinhibitory state that has long been associated with tinnitus.”

As an alternative form of sound therapy, the authors recommend exploring the use of structured sounds – such as music and speech – to mask or cover the phantom sounds heard in the head by tinnitus patients. This approach may have none of the negative impact on the structural and functional integrity of the brain."

 

I do use WNGs not for sleeping but to function daily, I would not be ale to work without them. Honestly I don't care what they write in this paper, I need masking to get through the day, I know my brain is messed up anyway with or without maskers.

 

Out of curiosity: for folks who've had success with in-ear masking sounds, why do you think they help you?

The reason I ask is the following. One view on in-ear masking is that the sound could be just as annoying as the tinnitus itself. However, is the masking sound less annoying than the tinnitus for some reason? For example:

• Does the fact that the masker is outside the ear, rather than inside the ear like tinnitus, make the masking sound more pleasing than the tinnitus?
• Is the masking sound more broadband than the tinnitus, and thus more pleasing for that reason?
• Any other reason you find in-ear masking to be successful?

Any thoughts and experiences are most appreciated.