Preferred Hearing Solutions

"I hear annoying noises, such as ringing, in my ear(s) when the environment around me is relatively quiet. What causes it, and can it be treated?" Ringing, or other similar sounds, such as escaping steam, are classed under the technical term of tinnitus. In the absence of stimulating sound from outside the ear, it can be caused by fatigue, hearing loss, certain medications in sufficient doses such as aspirin, and other causes, some of which are unknown. It is thought that the ringing is generated by spontaneous activity in the cochlea (inner ear). The most common cause of tinnitus seems to be a hearing loss. This is probably because most people with a hearing loss have a sensorineural component and some damage to the cochlea, or inner ear. It is these damaged areas of the inner ear that are presumed to be producing the spontaneous activity that leads a person to hear the tinnitus, or sounds in their ear. 

The most effective treatment for tinnitus to date is thought to be that of masking. Masking is nothing more than presenting a substitute, or alternative, sound to the hearing process. This alternative sound can become the dominant sound and suppress the tinnitus, or unwanted sound. The masking seems to work better when the alternative sound is tuned to a specific frequency. Tunable tinnitus maskers, in the physical form of hearing aid shells, are manufactured to help relieve those suffering from severe tinnitus. For those experiencing tinnitus as a result of a hearing loss, some form of relief is often available by correcting the hearing loss with hearing devices.

Ron Perry of Preferred Hearing Solutions has experimented with digital hearing device fittings on folks experiencing tinnitus. In many cases he has been able to identify the frequency at which the tinnitus is heard in the ear. When the frequency is identified, he can frequently program the hearing device to minimize the effect of the tinnitus, and in some cases make the tinnitus entirely disappear as long as the client is wearing the hearing devices.

Hearing aids can offer hope of better hearing for people who suffer from tinnitus, according to a recent survey conducted by the non-profit educational organization Better Hearing Institute (BHI). The survey of 230 hearing health professionals in the United States and Canada found that six out of ten patients reported some relief of their tinnitus when using hearing aids and two of ten reported major relief.

These findings are particularly significant in light of past BHI research that found that nearly 9 million American adults with hearing loss have not sought a solution to their hearing problem simply because they also have tinnitus and mistakenly believe that nothing can be done about it.

Tinnitus is a persistent ringing, buzzing, or humming in one or both ears that has no external source. It can be intermittent or constant, but for many who suffer from it, tinnitus is so intrusive that it has a debilitating effect on their quality of life. Some 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, and for 12 million the problem is so severe that it affects their everyday lives.

“Tinnitus can have a direct impact on a person’s emotional well being. Not only their hearing can be affected but also their ability to sleep and to concentrate,” according to Sergei Kochkin, PhD, BHI’s executive director, and Richard Tyler, PhD, professor in both the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa as well as recent editor of The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus (Auricle Ink, 2008).

The symptoms of tinnitus “influence basic life functions such as socialization and relaxation,” they said. “In severe cases it can interfere with the individual’s ability to perform adequately on the job, or contribute to psychological disorders such as depression, suicide ideation, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and anger.”

Despite the high prevalence of tinnitus and the disruption it can cause, only a small number of sufferers contact their physicians or an hearing professional for help. One reason is they mistakenly believe tinnitus is untreatable. Many physicians, who are not well-educated on tinnitus or on the latest treatment options, compound the problem by inappropriately telling their patients who complain of tinnitus to just go home and learn to live with it.

“No one should ever ignore persistent tinnitus,” Kochkin said. “Not only is every individual entitled to a chance to regain their quality of life, but in rare cases tinnitus also can be a symptom of a more serious health issue that could demand medical intervention. What’s more, nearly everyone with tinnitus has hearing loss as well.”

In a recent large-scale survey by the BHI of the U.S. hearing-impaired population, who had neglected their hearing loss, 39% indicated they had not sought help for their hearing loss specifically because they concurrently had tinnitus.

“Research shows that untreated hearing loss has its own negative social, psychological, cognitive and health effects on the individual suffering from it,” Kochkin added. “So the individual with both untreated tinnitus and untreated hearing loss suffers an even more diminished quality of life than individuals with just tinnitus or just hearing loss.”

Experts believe that hearing aids can help tinnitus by improving communication and reducing stress, thereby making it easier to accept or cope with the condition. What’s more, by amplifying background sound or producing background ambient noise, hearing aids are believed to reduce the loudness or prominence of tinnitus. A new type of hearing aid, called the open-fit hearing aid, may be designed to be particularly useful in alleviating tinnitus. The open-fit hearing aid can reduce the effects of the tinnitus ringing sensation while still allowing sounds from the outside to pass into the ear.

There are two main types of tinnitus: middle ear and sensorineural. Middle ear tinnitus is transmitted through the middle ear cavity, and can often be heard only by the examiner. Sensorineural tinnitus originates in the auditory sensory or neural system. Tinnitus is most frequently caused by exposure to loud noises, an injury to the head or ear, the use of certain medications, or it develops as a natural part of the aging process. Many causes of tinnitus remain unknown, however.

In addition to being evaluated by a hearing health professional to explore the use of hearing aids to alleviate tinnitus, the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO-HNS) recommends these additional tips for minimizing tinnitus:

“We believe that if hearing health professionals can provide effective treatment for tinnitus; they also can be instrumental in motivating people to concurrently treat their hearing loss,” Kochkin said. “This would have a double impact in improving the quality of life for millions of Americans.”

 For more information or sources of additional information about tinnitus, call Preferred Hearing Solutions @ 951-652-9655, 951-303-8886 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it