Hearing Aids to Treat Tinnitus

Have you ever experienced hearing something is buzzing or was there ever a time that you picked up the phone because you heard something is ringing, but ended up disappointed because it’s not the one making the sound? Are you already paranoid that you are hearing irritating sounds in your head that almost made you decide to visit a psychiatrist? Well hold that idea and read about this article first since you might be one of those experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a disorder affecting the person’s sense of hearing. The most common symptom is when the person hears some ringing, swishing, buzzing, roaring or other unexplainable sounds. Some may even think that what they hear is coming from their environment rather than from their heads.

According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), almost 12% of men aging between 64-75 are suffering from tinnitus. They also added that this case is more rampant in the United States doubling the number affected in the South and Northeast.

Listed below are some of the possible causes of tinnitus:

-          Exposure to loud noises.

-          Aging

-          Hearing loss

-          Stress

-          Aspirins and other medications, especially those used for the inner ear

-          Other health problems or disorders such as:

• Allergies
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Tumors
• High or low blood pressure

Hearing problems could greatly affect how a person communicate and relate to other people. If not given early attention, this can be a permanent problem and can later on result to hearing loss. One of the solutions invented for hearing problems is the use of a hearing aid.

Hearing aid is a small device worn in or behind the ear. This device helps to amplify the sound and makes the person wearing it perceive it well. It makes it easier for the person to hear sounds without noticing his tinnitus. Amplifying background sound with the use of a hearing aid reduces the loudness and prominence of the sound of tinnitus.

A hearing aid is composed of 3 basic parts:

1. Microphone – receives and converts the sound to electrical signal before sending to the amplifier.
2. Amplifier – increases the power of the signal.
3. Speaker – sends the signal amplified to the ear.

The use of hearing aid develops the auditory portion of the brain through listening. The sound produced improves the capacity of the brain’s auditory.

Tinnitus has a great impact with the psychological health of a person suffering from it. It can result to avoidance or withdrawal from social situations. Although using a hearing aid may not cure tinnitus, the use of it may stop further problems caused by this disorder. This would obviously improve both the patient’s hearing and communication. Improvements on how the patient communicates and relate with other people reduces stress, which will make it easier for the patient to accept or cope with tinnitus.

Patient of this disorder need not suffer. There are available solutions that they can choose from. This can help them live a normal life without being affected by their tinnitus.