To date, there is no quick fix or cure for tinnitus, but there are effective treatments to help manage symptoms. Well-fitted hearing aids are a key initial step to treating tinnitus. Hearing aids can help reduce symptoms by masking those irritating ringing sounds and amplifying the environmental sounds you actually want to hear. In other words, hearing aids try to distract your brain from tinnitus while teaching it to focus on other sounds.
From the Pros: See our hearing aids buying guide for advice on how to make sure that your hearing aids are properly fitted for tinnitus management.
How We Chose the Best Hearing Aids for Tinnitus
Having a plethora of options to choose from can make it harder for someone to decide on the best hearing aid for their tinnitus. We have narrowed down the choices to our top hearing aids for tinnitus to help you make a confident purchase. To do this, we evaluated criteria like pricing, functions & features available, and ease of use. See what brands made the top of our list!
From the Pros: Unsure which hearing aid is best for your needs? Head over to our hearing aid comparison guide for essential factors to consider!
Inside Tip: Signia and Widex are both well-established brands in the hearing aid industry. Learn more about their product features, including tinnitus relief, in our Signia vs. Widex comparison.
In the past, the general understanding of tinnitus was that it was a side effect of hearing loss, specifically cochlear (inner ear) damage. Devices called maskers were used to cover up the tinnitus, and often people were told to “get used to it.” The good news is that tinnitus treatment has come a long way! Cutting-edge strategies, combined with hearing aids, help those suffering from tinnitus. Based on data from the American Tinnitus Association, we’ve compiled a range of treatments to explore.6
Tinnitus treatment | Method |
---|---|
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) | Involves therapeutic techniques to change thinking and behavioral patterns via goal-oriented strategies |
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) | Instead of attempting to ignore tinnitus symptoms, patients are taught to accept, embrace, and control their episodes |
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) | Emphasizes the need for patients to fully experience and tolerate the emotions, perceptions, and thoughts linked to their tinnitus symptoms |
Tinnitus activities treatment (TAT) | Learning-based method focuses on four areas that impact tinnitus: thoughts and emotions, hearing and communication, sleep, and concentration |
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) | Combines traditional CBT and sound therapy devices like hearing aids or external sound generators |
Progressive tinnitus management (PTM) | Treatment is based on the level of tinnitus care needed by the patient; care may include education, behavioral therapy, and sound therapy |
Veterans are at a higher risk for tinnitus than the general population because of their exposure to loud noises. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tinnitus is the number-one disability among veterans.7 All veterans enrolled in VA health care are eligible for medical services that include diagnostic audiology. Many veterans are also eligible to receive hearing aids from brands such as Oticon, Phonak, ReSound, Signia, and Starkey through their VA audiology clinic. For veterans who prefer to purchase hearing aids online, Eargo provides a 20 percent discount on select models.
Did You Know: Tinnitus can affect individuals with normal hearing. This can be due to a number of causes, including medications, acoustic trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury.
Created by the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, the VA’s Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) program is commonly used to treat tinnitus in veterans.8 PTM isn’t a one-size-fits-all program. After a comprehensive hearing evaluation, a customized tinnitus management plan is created. Components include sound therapy, education, and addressing reactions to tinnitus. The level of care is based on the patient’s needs.
SeniorLiving.org’s hearing aid study found that fewer than 1 in 3 adults over 60 with hearing loss actually use hearing aids. A major factor was cost. Living without hearing aids, especially if you’re experiencing tinnitus, can negatively impact quality of life. Watch the video below to find out if you’re eligible for free or discounted hearing aids.
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Ruth Reisman, AuD MBA, is a licensed audiologist and hearing aid dispenser in New York state and is certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association. After serving as an audiologist in the New York downstate hospital system, Dr. Reisman led the… Learn More About Dr. Ruth Reisman
Harvard Health Publishing. (2020). Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears and what to do about it.
U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021). VA research on Hearing Loss.
Audiology. (2016). Notch Therapy: A New Approach to Tinnitus Treatment.
NIH. (2011). Tinnitus Cure May Lie in the Brain.
Lexie. (2021). TINNITUS TALK – ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.
ATA. (2022). Behavioral Therapies.
VA. (2022). Hearing Loss.
VA. (2022). Progressive Tinnitus Management.