INSTRUMENTS TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH TINNITUS

An important principle behind tinnitus management is to avoid silence, that is, to direct your attention towards sounds other than your tinnitus. To achieve this purpose a range of devices or instruments may be considered for people with tinnitus. There are five main categories:

Hearing Instruments

More than half the people with tinnitus also have impaired hearing, which affects their reception of environmental sounds and of conversation. Having a hearing loss may cause you to focus more upon your tinnitus because external sounds are less easily heard. A hearing instrument will enhance natural sound input, distracting you from your tinnitus and reducing your awareness of it. It gives your ‘hearing brain’ a real job to do so that it is less likely to generate the ‘junk’ signals perceived as sound.

A hearing instrument does three things:

it makes soft sounds louder so that you can hear them
it increases particular frequencies according to your hearing loss to make sounds clearer
it makes loud sounds softer so that they are not irritating to you

An audiologist can recommend a hearing instrument based upon the degree and type of your hearing loss, your communication needs in the different listening situations you encounter, and your budget.

Cochlear Implants

These are implantable hearing devices which are suitable for some people who are severely or profoundly deaf. Some people who receive a cochlear implant to assist their hearing also find that it makes them much less aware of their tinnitus.

Wearable Sound Generators

Reduction in awareness of tinnitus, and lessening of annoyance, can be significantly sped up by the use of a wearable sound generator (in the context of a counselling program). This instrument generates quiet sound which is set at a level where you can still just hear your tinnitus. This helps to reduce your awareness of the tinnitus noise over time. Wearable low level noise generators are small in-the-ear or behind-the-ear instruments which resemble hearing instruments. The Neuromonics program uses a programmed device which presents music and neutral sound through small high-fidelity earphones. For more information see www.neuromonics.com.au.

External Sound Sources

This includes anything which introduces a pleasant low level sound into the environment. Ideally, the sound should not be meaningful, so your favourite music is not suitable. Pleasant sound sources you could consider include a small table-top fountain, a wind chime outside the bedroom window, or recordings of natural sounds. A digital sound source with timer – useful for avoiding silence when you are trying to drop off to sleep at night - comes in many different shapes and sizes; even some that are safe to slip under your pillow.

Combined Instruments

These wearable instruments combine the features of a personal hearing aid and a personal sound generator. An audiologist can recommend an instrument which will both enhance hearing and introduce a neutral sound to reduce tinnitus awareness.

SOURCES FOR INSTRUMENTS TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH TINNITUS

Wearable sound generators, hearing instruments and combined instruments are selected and fitted by qualified hearing professionals. To find an audiological service near you, look under “Hearing Aids, Equipment and Services” in your local Yellow Pages telephone directory, or click on “Our Services” on this website. Some audiologists in Adelaide also provide the Neuromonics Protocol (see www.neuromonics.com.au).

Cochlear implants are specialised devices only available through specialist cochlear implant clinics. In South Australia, contact the South Australian Cochlear Implant Centre (8203 8362) or the Flinders Medical Centre ear, nose and throat outpatient clinic.

Table-top fountains and wind chimes can be purchased from garden shops, gift stores and larger department stores.

Recordings of natural sounds are sold by music retailers and some specialist bookstores (e.g. Cosmic Pages in King William Street, Adelaide).

Digital table-top sound generators are available from hearing service providers. Consider: option of a timer, type(s) of sounds, ease of adjustment, e.g. volume controls.

You can also order table-top sound generators and sound recordings on the Internet. See below for some sample sites or do your own search (we searched for “tinnitus sound generators”):

www.sharperimage.com                                Travel Sound Soother
www.dawne.co.uk                                          Several items, including pillow speaker
www.gold-line.com/pwn1.htm                                    Personal white noise generator
www.sulger.net/soundsculptures                    Free sound files on the Net
world.std.com/~reinhold/truenoise.html          Build your own white or pink noise generator
www.finefettle.com/sounds.htm                     Digital sound source
www.puretone.ltd.uk                                       Desktop/pillow white noise generator
www.marpac.com                                          Digital sound sources
www.hypnosishealthcare.com                       Sound CDS for purchase
www.peterhirschberg.com/mysoftware         Aire Freshener – noise generator software

Some sites of Tinnitus Associations that also offer suggestions for devices and recordings:

www.ata.org American Tinnitus Association

www.tinnitus.org.uk British Tinnitus Association

www.kadis.com/ta/tinnitus.htm Tinnitus Association of Canada

SOURCES FOR PERSONAL INSTRUMENTS FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES

Pensioners are eligible for subsidised hearing instruments. Ask your doctor to sign an Office of Hearing Services voucher application form.

If you are not a pensioner but do hold a Commonwealth Government Health Care Card (or can otherwise demonstrate financial hardship) you are eligible for up to $500 per year for assistance with the purchase of a hearing instrument or tinnitus device through the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) Da Costa Fund.

If you are a patient at RAH, your hearing will first be assessed by an RAH audiologist and your eligibility determined. A referral letter, including a copy of your results, will be sent to you. You should then arrange an appointment with the provider of your choice. Take the letter and copy of results with you to the appointment where the devices available will be discussed. It is highly likely there will be a gap between what the Da Costa Fund provides and what the device costs. You should discuss with your provider the amount of money you will be expected to contribute.

When you have decided to proceed you should contact the RAH so an application can be lodged, on your behalf, with the Da Costa Benevolent Fund, with details of the provider you have chosen.

If you have your first hearing assessment with a private provider, he or she will discuss your eligibility to access the Fund and will lodge the application on your behalf. You can choose any provider in the market place; however there are a few providers who have assisted Da Costa applicants in the past. Please call the RAH Audiology Department on 8222 4288.

(Information provided by RAH Audiology Department)

Potential Providers

Adelaide Hearing Consultants – Adelaide Ph: 8410 2900
Adelaide Hearing Consultants – Glenelg East Ph: 8376 0999

ONDC – Audiologists, Adelaide Ph: 8232 4488

Ron Kendall - Audiologist
Modbury Hospital & Tanunda Ph: 8563 2149