Overview

  1. What is Tinnitus?
  2. What causes Tinnitus?
  3. How is hearing loss connected to Tinnitus?
  4. How do you cure Tinnitus?
  5. How can hearing aids help Tinnitus?
  6. How much do hearing aids cost?
how can hearing aids help tinnitus

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a common condition that affects people of all ages; approximately 200,000 New Zealanders live with Tinnitus. Tinnitus refers to the phenomenon of perceiving noise, like ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling, without an external source of sound. It is often described as a high-pitched or low-pitched sound that can be continuous, or occur intermittently and it can occur in one or both ears.

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What causes tinnitus?

Each case of Tinnitus is unique to the individual and although it is difficult to say what causes ringing in your ears, there are some leading causes of Tinnitus:
  • Exposure to loud noise/noise-induced hearing loss (noisy work places, music, gunshots)
  • Side effects of certain medications
  • Age-related hearing loss
  • Ear infections
  • Underlying medical conditions
  • Bone degeneration in the middle ear
  • Neurological disorders
  • Illness or upper respiratory infections, like COVID-19
  • High blood pressure
  • Untreated hearing loss
  • And earwax build-up
hearing aids helping treat tinnitus

How is hearing loss connected to tinnitus?

Hearing loss and tinnitus are often connected! When hearing loss occurs, the brain tries to compensate by amplifying the signals from the remaining functioning auditory nerve fibres. This increased activity in the auditory system can lead to the perception of tinnitus. In other words, your brain is trying to fill in the gaps left by the hearing loss and creates its own sound to compensate.

In some cases, tinnitus may be the first symptom of hearing loss, while in other cases, hearing loss may occur first and followed by tinnitus. No matter which way the onset occurs, an audiologist is the best person to speak with to determine whether your Tinnitus is a result of hearing loss.

If you are experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, contact our Hearing Care Specialists on 0800 45 45 43 to book a free appointment.

book a tinnitus appointment

How do you cure tinnitus?

Tinnitus can have a significant impact on your quality of life, causing anxiety, irritability, stress and sleep disturbances. Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways you can manage your symptoms.
  • Wear hearing aids
  • Reduce your exposure to loud noise
  • Manage stress
  • Get enough sleep
  • Limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption
  • Avoiding long periods of complete silence

How can hearing aids help with tinnitus?

Wearing hearing aids is often successful at alleviating some of your symptoms. They do so in multiple ways. For instance, hearing aids shift your attention away from the Tinnitus sounds by amplifying the external sounds that you hear.
They can also help by introducing soothing sounds and white noise into the ear. This strategy is called tinnitus masking. Tinnitus-masking sounds are typically either built into the device, or can be programmed by your audiologist with the help of an app.
Your Triton Hearing audiologist is the best person to help you decide whether hearing aids will help you manage your symptoms of tinnitus! Give it a go and book an appointment to speak with them by calling 0800 45 45 43
young man with hearing aid

How much do hearing aids cost?

The cost of your hearing aids will depend on the features and level of technology you choose. However, hearing aids are available across a range of prices to suit individual budgets and listening needs. Our devices start from $495 or $1 a day including the Government subsidy.

hearing aid prices for tinnitus
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. You should not use the information as a substitute for, nor should it replace, professional medical advice. If you have any questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.