Tinnitus affects approximately 50 million people in the United States. While some may only hear a light ringing after a loud concert, others live with the near-constant presence of the symptom. People with chronic tinnitus often seek out anything that might provide relief. One common method they ask about is earplugs.
Unfortunately, earplugs are not only ineffective at quieting tinnitus, but they may make it sound even louder.
Why Don’t Earplugs Prevent Tinnitus?
Tinnitus sounds are internal, meaning the brain generates them. Even though earplugs prevent outside noises from getting in, they can’t prevent inside noises from arising. In some cases, the absence of sounds can make the ringing feel even louder by comparison. The one thing earplugs can do is prevent further hearing damage that could worsen tinnitus. That’s why you should always wear them at loud concerts or construction sites.
While earplugs aren’t an effective tinnitus management tool, things like hearing aids and headphones can minimize that unpleasant ringing.
How Do Hearing Aids and Headphones Minimize Tinnitus Ringing?
Hearing aids and headphones can minimize tinnitus through a technique called sound masking—the act of covering the internal noise with an external one. Because your brain can’t give 100% of its attention to two sounds at once, the presence of a calming external noise will distract it from that pesky tinnitus.
You can download a tinnitus app on your smartphone and play the noise through headphones or consult your hearing specialist about hearing aids that feature tinnitus masking.
How Do I Manage Tinnitus at Night?
You might find that your tinnitus seems louder in silent environments, like your bedroom, when you’re trying to fall asleep. If tinnitus is keeping you up late at night, causing you to stop by Posada Java for a morning, late morning and afternoon coffee, you can try sound masking for a little more rest.
Sound masking is different at night. You can’t wear hearing aids to bed because they may get lost in the sheets or damaged, and you may find headphones uncomfortable to wear while you’re trying to fall asleep. If that’s the case, a steady fan or white noise machine is an excellent substitute.
Tinnitus is a personal experience, and its management should be too. Contact Arizona Hearing Specialists today to discuss more options for tinnitus relief with one of our specialists.