Will Hearing Aids Help with Ringing in the Ears?

At first, it may not seem like a big deal, but ringing in the ears can become more than background noise. It can develop into something that is quite noticeable and no matter how hard you try to escape it tinnitus will just become more and more apparent. But can wearing hearing aids solve the issue? Well, tinnitus is a symptom of something else, usually. it’s caused by other things such as injury, environment and lifestyle. There could be any number of things that combine to cause a ringing in your ears. Before you ask for professional help, try to pinpoint what the cause could be as it will help you during the hearing evaluation.

Your working environment

For most people who experience tinnitus, it’s usually because of their professional work environment. They may work in a manufacturing facility, where heavy machinery and industrial equipment is being used in close proximity. It could also be that you work at an airport and the constant thundering of jet engines is causing ringing in your ears. Hearing aids can indeed control the frequency of sound.

This means they can be used as a means of filtering sound, which can aid in the controlling of tinnitus. Your everyday lifestyle doesn’t have to change drastically if the hearing aids you wear have been accurately tailored to your needs. In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids are recommended for those with moderate hearing loss. This is a very small device that fits in the inner or middle ear. It’s very discreet and thus, you may feel comfortable wearing it at work.

Something inevitable

Tinnitus is caused by something and is a symptom of another underlying condition. The most common cause is aging. There’s nothing we can do to stop this so it’s highly recommended that you see an audiologist in good time before you develop ringing in your ears. We will give you a thorough hearing evaluation to see if there is a concern in the ear or perhaps purely down to the fact your body is getting older.

We do a hearing evaluation that will test your hearing through a whole range of scenarios. One of our experts will make sure you’re comfortable when you enter our center. Before you begin the tests, you will be asked some questions such as, what is your profession, do you listen to loud music, do you go to sporting events where there are large crowds, do you go to music concerts and do any of your hobbies involve loud noises? Once you divulge this information, you will be taken through the tests. Afterward, you will be allowed to select a hearing aid model that you like.

Health conditions

Hearing aids are useful for concentrating sounds to your ear without overloading them. However, some things are out of the hands of hearing aids. Your health can lead to tinnitus such as high blood pressure, being a very common cause. Chronic pain of any kind can be caused by inflammation, which in turn can cause irregular blood pressure patterns. If you have any kind of neck or back pain caused by a medical condition, chances are you will also have mild to advanced tinnitus.

Stress can also be a very powerful factor in causing tinnitus. If you have a stressful life you will have irregular blood circulation and heart rate. Fatigue is also a cause as your body is being pushed too hard and your muscles are begging for more oxygenated blood, causing an increase in heart rate. As you can see, hearing aids can only do so much, if you have underlying chronic health conditions.

Traumatic injury

If you have experienced a traumatic injury right on your ear or to your head or neck, you may find that hearing aids can help. Ringing in the ears can develop by a sudden impact. Speak with an audiologist if you were playing a full-contact sport such as any martial art, football or ice hockey and see what kind of hearing aid style would be best for your lifestyle. The behind the ear (BTE) style is very powerful and strong but is visible. Completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids are smaller but quite powerful. They remain pretty much out of sight if you would rather be more discreet.

Speak with an audiologist if your tinnitus is really causing you disturbance. It’s vital that we get to the bottom of the root cause before making any decisions about hearing aid styles. If you’d like to know more please feel free to contact us at the Audiology Associates!