Tinnitus Device Trial

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a ringing, humming, buzzing or hissing sound heard in the ear or inside the head when there is no outside sound source. It is not a disease but a symptom that can have different causes. Triggers include hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, earwax, some medicines, stress and lack of sleep.

A doctor's assessment first

If you have tinnitus, we recommend seeing an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor first. Tinnitus in one ear only, tinnitus that starts suddenly, tinnitus that beats in time with your heart or tinnitus with dizziness should be assessed by a doctor.

How hearing aids and sound therapy can help

Many people with tinnitus also have hearing loss. A hearing aid makes surrounding sounds audible again, which can help the tinnitus become less noticeable. The sound therapy (sound generator) feature in some devices aims to soften the perception of tinnitus with a gentle background sound. Results vary from person to person; the aim is not to remove the tinnitus but to live with it more comfortably.

What the trial includes

• A hearing test and a talk about the characteristics of your tinnitus
• Setting up a device with a sound therapy feature
• Trying the device in daily life and reviewing your impressions

Tips for daily life

• Avoid completely silent rooms; a soft background sound (a fan, nature sounds) can help.
• Protect yourself from loud noise.
• Watch your caffeine intake and sleep routine, and try ways to reduce stress.

There is currently no definitive cure for tinnitus. Some people have it together with hearing loss, others on its own. Hearing aids with a tinnitus feature can help make the ringing less noticeable; you can try them at our centre.

At our centre you can try hearing aids from Widex and Rexton with tinnitus features. The Zen program in Widex devices aims to draw attention away from the tinnitus with soft, non-repeating tones; Rexton devices also have an adjustable sound generator. These devices can be set to individual needs, both for people with tinnitus and hearing loss and for people with tinnitus only. We decide together which option suits you after a hearing test.