“Hearing aids should not be causing one’s tinnitus to worsen and if they do, a visit to the audiologist is necessary,” says Rivka Strom, AuD, CCC-A, Director of Audiology, Advanced Hearing NY Inc.
“The audiologist should check that the hearing aid is not set inappropriately loud,” continues Strom.
Hearing Aid Adjustments
“It is important that the audiologist perform a test called real ear measures (REM) to ensure appropriate settings of the hearing aid and to make sure the hearing aid never gets too loud to the point where it can exacerbate the tinnitus,” explains Strom.
“Further, there is a condition known as hyperacusis which is highly comorbid with tinnitus.
“Hyperacusis refers to sensitivity to loud sounds. Severe hyperacusis occurs when an individual has difficulty tolerating everyday sounds which do not seem loud to others.”
Hyperacusis is not a disorder that’s caused by anxiety or the so-called all in a person’s head. It’s a real condition, and it’s not just a mere dislike of certain sounds.
Many people with hyperacusis do indeed suffer from tinnitus.
So while plugging one’s ears at the sound of piercing screams from playing children or an ambulance siren do not reflect hyperacusis, plugging one’s ears to the sound of leaves rustling, the sound of two people on TV kissing, or the sound of a fan would be very suggestive of hyperacusis, or at least, selective hyperacusis.
Sometimes, the noise of everyday sounds can literally cause ear pain in someone with severe hyperacusis. Here are examples of those sounds:
• Loud Music: Concerts, loudspeakers, or headphones at high volumes.
• Traffic Noise: Car horns, engine noise, and sirens.
• Appliances: Vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and dishwashers.
• Construction Sounds: Hammering, drilling, and heavy machinery.
• Office Noises: Keyboard typing, phone ringing, and printer sounds.
• Public Announcements: Loudspeakers in stations, airports, or shopping centers.
• Crowded Places: Background noise in restaurants, malls, or busy streets.
• Household Items: Blenders, coffee makers, and hair dryers.
• Animal Sounds: Barking dogs, chirping birds, or loud animal calls.
• Emergency Alarms: Fire alarms, car alarms, and emergency vehicle sirens.
• Social Interactions: Loud talking, laughter, or shouting in social settings.
“If an individual with tinnitus has hyperacusis and it is not addressed prior to wearing hearing aids, it can appear that the hearing aids are worsening the tinnitus — when it can just be that having access to everyday sounds from the hearing aid could result in the experience of hyperacusis and possibly tinnitus,” says Strom.
Dr. Strom is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and has received several awards including Brooklyn College’s Excellence In Audiology Award.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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