tinnitus masker

[missjessepink]

ok so i am just wondering if anyone here who has not got significant hearing loss but has tinnitus, has used maskers and what are their opinions of them .
Thanks :-)

[bwv565]

ok so i am just wondering if anyone here who has not got significant hearing loss but has tinnitus, has used maskers and what are their opinions of them .
Thanks :-)

I got tinnitus maskers back in 2008 from the Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) here in Toronto, because my tinnitus got to the point where I couldn't stand it any longer. The screech and high pitch was actually painful and no matter what I tried (white noise, etc.) nothing really helped.

The audiologist at CHS did tests and she ordered the maskers for me. The clinician there made molds of my ears and when they arrived, they fit absolutely perfectly.

My impression: when tinnitus strikes (it's not constant for me, thank GOD), they work miracles. The volume is adjustable (batteries don't last all that long though) and after a while you don't even realize they're in your ears.

Now, the bad. They're huge (entirely fill in your ear cavity) and look awful. In addition, I have found I cannot use the phone or go out in public with them because other sounds are so muffled and my own voice reverberates so much that it's not helpful. Everyone sounds "far away".

These maskers are made for a very specific situation/purpose, and for that and that alone, I have been VERY thankful for them.

By the way, the brand that I was given is Starkey Destiny.

Good luck.

[missjessepink]

Ah thanks so much for the input and advice. I am seriously considering a masker. I find the white noise is great relief . Do you have a link to or a picture of wat tbey actually look like. Thanks do much :-)

[bwv565]

I don't have a pic of it but you can download the User's Manual from the Starkey web site here: http://www.starkey.com/use-care/operations-manuals

It's the one listed at the very bottom of the page under "Speciality Products". The style I have is the one pictured as the "helix" version.

I should mention that they "mask" the sound of the tinnitus just like what white noise would do from an external source. The masker emits a constant "white noise" into your ear canal, but the volume is adjustable. I was instructed that once you adjust the volume (based on how bad the tinnitus is at that moment), don't change it throughout the day, leave it that way.

Also, I've found it is necessary to be very careful and make sure to clean them with the provided brush very carefully each day to remove any wax, otherwise the sound deteriorates significantly. Starkey provides some little accessories that make it easy to do this.

[missjessepink]

Thanks so much :-) i am finding huge relief listenin to my white noise app! However i cant bring phone to exams with me so i need to get the wearable maskers . I will let u know how i get on! Tbanks :-)

[bwv565]

Thanks so much :-) i am finding huge relief listenin to my white noise app! However i cant bring phone to exams with me so i need to get the wearable maskers . I will let u know how i get on! Tbanks :-)

Lots of luck. Please feel free to ask any questions you have, and I'll do what I can to answer them for you based on my experiences.

I repeat, however, that for what they do in the instances where the tinnitus is worst (high-pitched painful screeching wail), they are a blessing.