Looking at Tinnitus Maskers
In order to achieve relief from their tinnitus, more and more people are turning to masking devices. The devices are intended to obstruct the noises tinnitus causes so that tinnitus sufferers might have some reprieve from the phantom noises. Even though tinnitus masking is used quite a bit, it is still often misunderstood. People that suffer from tinnitus need to take the time to see what tinnitus masking is, how it works, and if it is effective.
A tinnitus masker is a device that can fit inside the ear like a hearing aid. For some people a masker/hearing aid unit is a necessity, while for others the masker alone can suffice.
First, let’s consider those that use a masker and don’t have hearing problems.
The people that need to use a masker without hearing problems use the masker as a way to hear soothing noises instead of the noises of tinnitus. The intent is to bamboozle the brain. A soothing sound is presented to oppose the tinnitus sounds, and it is this can be used to obstruct the tinnitus.
For most people, this does help. They are able to get some relief through the masking. They might listen to the sounds of waves or something equally soothing and that assists in tinnitus control.
Now let’s look at people who wear maskers and hearing aids in one. The cause for requiring a hearing aid and masker is uncomplicated. Whenever someone has hearing issues, they often cannot hear the frequency of the masker. This means that the soothing noises provide no benefit to them.
In many cases, people with hearing trouble are not able to benefit from a masker until they get a hearing device. At that point, they are able to reap the benefits of wearing a masker.
People are given test to assess how well they respond to a masker. In most cases, people are stood next to a sink with running water. If they feel soothed by the water sounds and their tinnitus lessens, they are good candidates for masking. If they do not see a change, one of two things might be the problem. One, they might not benefit from masking at all, or two, they might have hearing problems that need to be addressed. After the hearing problems are addressed, they can then benefit from masking.
Some people use a tinnitus masker device all of the time, while others only use it when they need to concentrate or rest. Because the masker resembles a hearing aid, it can be removed, and turned off. That gives people some freedom to do what they want in regards to using the device.
Maskers are not one size fits all devices. Tinnitus comes in different frequencies, and people have different problem areas. Thus, masking devices are not one sound fits all. It depends on their individual symptoms. It also depends on the severity of their tinnitus.
This cannot cure tinnitus, but it can provide some relief. People that need a distraction can use tinnitus maskers in order to hear soothing noises instead of the shrill phantom noises that are in their heads. While it does not work for everyone, it has made many people feel much better.
