Hearing aids
Here we look at the claims for hearing aids.
Treatment details
Type
Physical device
Safety
Regarded as safe
Efficacy
Evidence that it is effective
Recommended?
Speak to your GP
Claims for treatment
Reduces tinnitus symptoms by a number of means.
What is the treatment?
In-ear amplification device in one or both ears.
What are the downsides of this treatment?
Regarded as safe.
Cost, if accessed privately.
Has there been research into this treatment?
Yes, with a number of very recent papers.
What does the research say?
Using hearing aids reduces tinnitus loudness and distress (measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory [THI])[1] [2] [3], although effects are greater if the amplification is verified[1].
Hearing aids are “remarkably effective” for patients with single sided tinnitus and hearing loss in the same ear[4].
Whilst a previous systematic review stated that there was no evidence to support or refute the use of hearing aids for tinnitus[5], recent papers have confirmed that they are effective.
NICE guidelines say that hearing aids should be offered to people with tinnitus who have a hearing loss that affects their ability to communicate, and that they should be considered for people with tinnitus who have a hearing loss but who don’t have difficulties communicating[6].
Comments
More randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies with large sample sizes are needed to confirm the effectiveness of hearing aids for tinnitus patients. Uniform, validated, tinnitus-specific questionnaires and measurement scales should be used in future studies.
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Give what you canAll online references accessed 2 November 2022 unless noted.
1. Waechter S, Jönsson A. Hearing Aids Mitigate Tinnitus, But Does It Matter if the Patient Receives Amplification in Accordance With Their Hearing Impairment or Not? A Meta-Analysis.
American Journal of Audiology. (2022)
Sep;31(3):789-818. doi: 10.1044/2022_
AJA-22-00004.
2. Yakunina N, Lee WH, Ryu YJ, Nam EC. Tinnitus Suppression Effect of Hearing Aids in Patients With High-frequency Hearing Loss: A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial. Otology and Neurotology.
(2019) Aug;40(7):865-871. doi: 10.1097/
MAO.0000000000002315.
3. Joergensen ML, Hyvärinen P, Caporali S, Dau T. Broadband Amplification as Tinnitus Treatment. Brain Sciences.
(2022) May 31;12(6):719. doi: 10.3390/
brainsci12060719.
4. Ueno M, Shinden S, Oishi N, Suzuki N, Suzuki D, Ogawa K, Ozawa
H. Effects of hearing aids in patients with unilateral tinnitus with acquired ipsilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Ear Nose Throat Journal. (2022)
Jun 29:1455613221112346. doi:
10.1177/01455613221112346.
5. Hoare DJ, Edmondson-Jones M, Sereda M, Akeroyd MA, Hall D. Amplification with hearing aids for patients with tinnitus and co-existing hearing loss. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2014).
Issue 1. Art. No.: CD010151. DOI:
10.1002/14651858.CD010151.pub2.
6. National Guideline Centre (UK). Tinnitus: assessment and management.(2020). Mar. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng155