ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: chriswalker on October 06, 2016, 08:50:25 am
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I just found out that there are hearing aids which will aid in the masking of tinnitus. This would be great relief to all who suffer with this - even those without AN :)
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They have helped me about 75%; however, nothing will give me "silence" from my tinnitus.
I've heard some people have cochlear implants in an attempt to find some relief; however, it's in the early stages.
I use the WIDEX hearing aid with the ZEN feature. It cost me around $3300 cash last summer (2015).
You can likely find it half price at COSTCO.
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Wondering if downloading certain zen like tones to my phone, using my wireless headphones, would save on cost of a hearing aid for tinnitus. Anyone tried using their own downloaded tones which help?
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Some people have done exactly that with fantastic results from what I've read on the Tinnitus forums. I think it's from the American Tinnitus Association website.
Speaking for myself, I find my tinnitus responds best when I exclusively use the simple basic hearing-aid function. That basic feature enhances sound, and the better I hear natural sound the less my tinnitus bothers me.
On days when my tinnitus is really bad, then I use the "masking" feature which basically is just a constant but equal sound matched up to my tinnitus (kinda sounds like air constantly being let out of a tire) . This masking helps mitigate the annoyance of severe tinnitus. Thank goodness I still have nerve function in my AN ear where hearing aids are beneficial, as opposed to being completely deaf and still suffer from severe tinnitus. In that case I don't know what I would do, as it causes me anxiety about the future if-and-when that day will come.
I rarely, if ever, use the Zen tones. I prefer the high-quality WIDEX brand name as a stand alone hearing aid, even though it happens to have the Zen tones as a feature.
At the end of the day, some people prefer the store brand while others do better with the higher-end "Gucci" hearing aids. It's a matter of trial-and-error.
Speaking for myself, when the time comes to purchase a new hearing aid I will likely select the best "basic" hearing aid which functions as the highest quality stand-alone hearing aid, as this has proven to be most beneficial for my severe tinnitus; however, the masker really does provides significant relief on days the tinnitus is out of control.
I paid $3300 cash for one hearing aid last summer in 2015. Prices vary significantly depending on where you shop.
What gives me the most sadness is that I will never hear silence again, even if I go deaf.
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Funny you should mention never hearing silence again. Just the other day I found myself thinking that, for just 5 minutes, I'd like to have no ringing in my ear. Also sadly found myself thinking that I barely remember what that feels like. Have just started thinking about hearing aids and how they may help with the ringing. Just had GK in May, so I guess I'm supposed to wait a while before getting anything.
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Yes it's very sad. Many sufferers become depressed without a good support system.
The "better" hearing aids can be continually adjusted by a competent audiologist, so there is no need to wait. Audiologist continually tweak it to match up and "synchronize" with your most recent audiogram results.
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Just had GK in May, so I guess I'm supposed to wait a while before getting anything.
No need to wait.
I got my hearing aids 8 months before my GK.
If you need them, get them.
You'll be much happier.
Go back over our hearing forum for discussions about hearing aids.
http://www.anausa.org/smf/index.php?board=17.0