Tinnitus

Who is affected by tinnitus?

Everyone, regardless of their age or hearing status, has experienced tinnitus at some point. 70%-80% of people with hearing loss will experience some degree of tinnitus, but may not be bothered by it. From this group, about 10% will experience tinnitus to such a severe degree it affects their quality of life.

Can tinnitus be treated?

Depending on the cause, it may be possible that tinnitus can be diminished or eliminated. For example, if the tinnitus is caused by an excess amount of earwax in the ear, then removal of the wax will generally lead to the elimination of the tinnitus. If a medical condition, such as an autoimmune ear disorder or metabolic disorder is the cause, then treatment with medication may offer relief. If it is a result of permanent hearing loss and there are no underlying medically treatable conditions, the solution will involve managing the tinnitus. There are various ways to manage tinnitus, such as changes in lifestyle, behavioral therapy techniques, education, and counseling. These approaches produce varied results among individuals. In some cases, use of a hearing aid may offer relief. In other cases, the use of sound therapy, either through a table-top device or an ear-level device, has been shown to provide relief.

What is sound therapy?

Generally, it is recommended that tinnitus sufferers avoid silence because the difference between the silence and perceived tinnitus is most pronounced in quiet, which exacerbates the tinnitus. To avoid this effect, sound therapy is a technique that may help diminish (manage) the tinnitus. Through the use of sounds (tones, music, or nature sounds), produced through a table-top or an ear-level sound generator, silence can be avoided. The sound generator gives the ears a neutral stimulus to listen to, which may help relieve the annoying effects of tinnitus. In some cases, a "masker" can be used; in other cases, a sound generator may be used.

What is the difference between maskers and sound generators?

Masker: A masker is designed to cover up the tinnitus, making it difficult to hear by using a specific type of noise to mask the tinnitus. The stimulus used in a masker can be either a narrowband or a broadband noise, which sounds like static. In order to mask the tinnitus, the sound of the masking noise is set to a loudness level so the tinnitus is no longer perceived. In some cases, the volume needed to mask the tinnitus may actually interfere with conversation.
 
Sound Generator: A sound generator (table top or ear-level worn), generally provides a greater variety of sounds compared to a masker. The sounds can be broadband noise, narrowband noise, music, specialized tones, or nature sounds. It provides you with sounds that will help take your mind off the tinnitus, but generally is not designed to 'cover up' the tinnitus. The overall volume of the sounds can be adjusted based on your loudness preferences.
 
For individuals with hearing loss, there are hearing aids with maskers and sound generators built in. These can be set to provide amplification to treat the hearing loss and offer relief from the tinnitus.

What can the Widex hearing aids offer for those who are bothered by tinnitus?

•The Zen program in the mind440 series is an optional listening program that generates a choice of melodic tones or broadband noise, to aid in relaxation, increase concentration, and provide relief from tinnitus. The Zen tones are based on fractal technology which ensures the music is 'predictable but non-repeating'. The Zen Noise is a broadband noise option. Zen tones and Zen Noise are created by the various fractal generators inside the hearing aid. For individuals with a hearing loss and tinnitus, these devices can be used as a combination hearing aid and a sound generator.
 
The Widex Zen program generally includes amplification of your surroundings through the hearing aid microphone. It may also be used without amplification in quiet environments if the wearer chooses not to hear surrounding sounds.
 
For those with normal hearing who are bothered by tinnitus, the hearing aids can be used as a sound generator alone. The Widex Zen program may provide a distraction from, and/or fully or partially mask the tinnitus to provide relief.

ZEN - Proven User Benefits

In a recent test, over 85% of hearing aid users found that Zen tones, tuned to their specific requirements, helped them to relax.
 
Zen can also help hearing aid wearing tinnitus sufferers. In an 'everyday' situation trial, participants recorded that the effects of tinnitus were milder, or a decreased nuisance, after just six months of daily use.