Tinnitus Masker
Masking tinnitus is when a sound is produced externally which can inhibit tinnitus. A tinnitus masker can work in four main ways. A tinnitus masker is an electronic noise producing devise which is inside a hearing aid case. This is an ear level device. Other tinnitus maskers include a tabletop generator and tinnitus instruments (a combination of a tinnitus masker and a hearing aid).
There are also Cd's tinnitus sufferers can purchase which contain white noise masking. These are available to purchase online or you can make your own. These types of masking noises are specifically developed to assist tinnitus sufferers in masking their tinnitus. Tinnitus Masker Pro is one example of this sort of treatment.
Some tinnitus sufferers feel short term relief from tinnitus maskers but long term find that the noise of the masking simply substitutes the sound of the tinnitus, and therefore becomes just as annoying as the condition itself. The effectiveness of a tinnitus masker is completely dependant on the individual. Some people find they are better off without them, whilst others feel they could not get by without a masking device.
Hearing aids in themselves are a form of tinnitus masker. Hearing aids are not just for hearing loss, they can in fact assist with the symptoms of tinnitus. The reason hearing aids can help tinnitus is because they are able to amplify background noise. This can mask tinnitus sounds for some people. Hearing aids are a good choice for a tinnitus masker.
Tinnitus maskers are constantly being researched and improved. There was recently a device developed which can be tuned to match the frequency of the tinnitus. This sort of technology means that the device can be tuned for each patient on an individual level, rather than every patient using the same blanket solution. This sort of personalization is the future of tinnitus maskers as they provide much more flexibility.
If you suffer from tinnitus and have not yet tried a tinnitus masker, speak to your physician about the best device for you.