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At Egan’s, our goal is to help you understand and gain control of your tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound by the ear when there is no corresponding sound being produced in the real world. This can be very distressing and individual experiences can vary from person to person. Sound therapy and amplification are commonly used as successful management options.
The sound can take many forms, such as ringing, buzzing, hissing or roaring. Some people experience it occasionally, while for others tinnitus is with them constantly. Tinnitus has many causes and more than 80% of people with tinnitus also experience some degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus can have a major impact on one’s daily life, inducing stress, anxiety, anger and sleep loss.
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease – there are many possible causes. Inside the ear are tiny hair cells that convert the sounds you hear into signals the brain can understand. If some of these hair cells are damaged, the brain receives fewer signals. Research suggests that our brain tries to compensate for the missing signals by producing a new sound in their place. This is the most common cause diagnosed for those affected by tinnitus. There are many reasons why hair cells may be damaged – the natural aging process, exposure to loud sounds or sudden impact noises being the common. However, tinnitus can also be caused by a reaction to certain medicines, neck or head injuries, or other untreated medical conditions. You should always consult a physician or hearing professional first if you are experiencing symptoms.
Some people can ignore their tinnitus most of the time. For others, however, the symptoms can become so disturbing that a proper night’s sleep is impossible. A negative cycle can begin, causing tinnitus to take centre stage in everyday life. Although tinnitus can have a negative impact, effective treatments can be found.
There are many ways to take control of your tinnitus and reduce its impact on your life. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, your hearing care professional can help you take back control and manage the symptoms. Education and counselling, along with sound therapy can be an effective combination. Just as no two people experience the exact same symptoms of tinnitus, treating it needs to be personalised to your own needs.
Sound therapy means listening to sounds. It can be a helpful tool in managing your tinnitus. Sound cannot eliminate tinnitus, however sound can make it seem like the tinnitus is eliminated or reduced. Sound can help you focus your attention on something more pleasant. By listening to different types of sound, it becomes easier to shift your attention away from the tinnitus sound. Together with your hearing professional, you can find the sound therapy that gives you the most relief.
Many people with tinnitus also experience hearing loss, although many are not aware of this. Treating both tinnitus and hearing loss simultaneously can have a positive impact on your ability to hear speech with less distraction or frustration. Wearing a hearing aid alone can be an effective treatment of tinnitus. When the sounds around you are amplified, tinnitus tends to be perceived as being more in the background, and therefore less annoying.
Oticon’s latest hearing aids (OPN S) combine the benefits of sound amplification with sound therapy options.
Treating tinnitus with sound
Millions of people worldwide experience tinnitus, including many with hearing loss. The fact is, just wearing a hearing aid can help relieve tinnitus. As the hearing aid makes it easier to hear conversation, music and ambient sounds around you, the tinnitus is pushed to the background and becomes less noticeable. Hearing aids such as the OPN S goes further than this, employing built-in tinnitus management technology to keep the effects of tinnitus at a minimum.
Built-in Tinnitus SoundSupport™
It might sound counterintuitive, but one effective method for managing tinnitus actually involves adding sounds to the sound you already hear. Just as improved hearing can help push tinnitus to the background, carefully selected ‘relief sounds’ can help drown out tinnitus without themselves sounding unpleasant or even especially noticeable. Our built-in Tinnitus sound support technology generates a selection of carefully sculpted relief sounds you can hear directly through your hearing aid. Tinnitus SoundSupport™ provides both broadband relief sounds – including white, pink and red noise – and a selection of ocean-themed relief sounds. The neutral-sounding broadband options provide a steady background ambience without calling attention to themselves. The ocean sounds are more dynamic and are often found to have a soothing effect. Your hearing care professional will help you decide which relief sound is best for you.
Stream relief sounds to your hearing aid from the Tinnitus Sound App Relief sounds – a personal choice
The Tinnitus Sound App puts you in control of your tinnitus relief sounds. Finding the right relief sounds is a matter of personal choice. Choose from different sound types, and decide which give you the best results. You can also add sounds from your music library, so you can have everything in one place, ready to go. With the app, you can organise sounds and create a practical sound plan that works for your life and your tinnitus. What kinds of sounds are helpful varies from person to person.
Help to relax
Relaxation exercises may help you relax and stay calm. The app provides two relaxation exercises; a breathing and a muscle relaxation exercise
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