What is a Tinnitus Masker
In the effort to find relief for tinnitus symptoms, many people have turned to masking devices. These devices are used to block out the sounds of tinnitus in order to give people a distraction 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 idea is to trick the brain. A soothing noise is used as a contrast for the sounds of tinnitus, and it is held that this can obscure 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 reason that some people choose a hearing aid and masker is straightforward. Whenever someone has hearing issues, they often cannot hear the frequency of the masker. That means there will be nothing of benefit for them in using the soothing noises.
Often, those who have problems with hearing are unable to enjoy the benefits of masking until after a hearing aid is in use. 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 are soothed by the sounds of water and experience less intense tinnitus, they are good choices for sound masking. If no change is evident, the problem could be one of two possibilities. 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 device is much like a hearing aid, it can be taken out of the ear, and it can be turned off as well. 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. Hence, one person’s soothing noise can irritate another person. It depends on their individual symptoms. It also depends on the severity of their tinnitus.
This is not a cure for tinnitus, but it has given many people 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.
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