Hearing Aids As Tinnitus Treatment

Hearing aids as treatment for Tinnitus 

Hearing aids manage tinnitus by enhancing audibility and increasing awareness of external sounds; they reduce the perception of internal sounds, i.e. tinnitus. 

Tinnitus treatments are currently varied and include Sound therapy, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), pharmacological treatments, hearing aids (HAs), neuromodulation, and neurofeedback. Tinnitus is a subjective perception of internal sounds only heard by the individual. The effectiveness of treatments is often measured with the means of questionnaires including the tinnitus functional index (TFI) and the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), amongst others. 

We have explored how hearing aids manage tinnitus here; here we further explore what the research has shown us to date.  

The Department for Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense in the US in 2024 developed clinical practice guidelines suggesting hearing aids for tinnitus management in adults with hearing loss. Reviews ( Shekhawat et al., 2013) across several studies show support for the positive outcome for tinnitus due to the use of hearing aids. In clinic, we frequently witness the reported reduction of tinnitus in patients we see. 

Despite growing evidence for the benefit of hearing aids, there are still areas of debate. In a small cross-sectional study of 45 (Jeon Mi Lee, 2026), the tinnitus patients strongly preferred non-invasive treatments and declined hearing aids while holding unrealistic expectations for a cure. An absolute cure for tinnitus isn't possible at present due to influencing factors such as age, tinnitus duration, hearing ability, perceived location of tinnitus in head/ears and other factors. These several variabilities can influence results. 

Variability amongst studies on hearing aids and tinnitus

Successful tinnitus treatment appears to be more frequent in those studies including participants with slight to moderate tinnitus, but success seems absent in those with severe tinnitus or those whose sleep at night is affected by tinnitus. Some studies have sample numbers that are too small, research goals funded by manufacturers - skewed in positive or negative bias, methodologies not conducted as randomised controlled trials.  Then there is also the case for studies showing improved tinnitus for patients with normal hearing with the use of hearing aids. (Waechter et. al, 2023). 

Type of sound therapy with  hearing aids

The researchers of a multicenter study tested various types of tinnitus therapy, including increased gain at the tinnitus pitch and notch therapy, where the gain was removed entirely. They found no significant difference in outcomes when compared to objectively fit hearing aids. Howevere, those fit with hearing aids using standard best practice measures reported better speech intelligibility outcomes compared to those fit with increased gain or notch therapy at the tinnitus pitch. 

Hearing aids fit with Real Ear measurements (REM) vs. hearing aids not fit with real ear measurements. 

Comparison using meta-analysis by Waechter and Jonsson (2022) of responses across TFI, THI and Tinnitus severity index scores was made for patients objectively fit with hearing aids using real ear measurements. They found a greater reduction in TFI scores for hearing aid users fit with objectively verified devices after 12 months. If the hearing aids were fit properly for new or experienced users, then there was also a reported reduction in TFI scores. Properly fit hearing aids will manage a hearing loss better than poorly fit hearing aids. So it's understandable that objectively fit hearing aids would work better for managing tinnitus. 

Hearing aid wear time for tinnitus effectiveness

With habituation typically expected to occur over a period of 6 months. It's interesting to note that hearing aid use reportedly suppressed tinnitus symptoms after at least 6 months of consistent use at an average of 7.2hrs in the 1st month and 9.1 hrs by the sixth month. Although with general habituation, 6 months is also reported as an average time for most individuals to naturally get used to their tinnitus. So it remains uncertain about whether wear time alone influences tinnitus management effectiveness. It would be fair to expect that one's tinnitus (if reduced noticeable with hearing aids ) will continue to be reduced as long as the hearing aids are in the ears. Taking out the hearing aids would remove the treatment (in this case, the hearing aids) from it's site of operation. 

Counselling 

Counselling in addition to hearing aids was shown to be more effective for those receiving both modalities of therapy (counselling & hearing aids) than counselling alone in a retrospective study of 116 patients. With significant reductions in THI scores 6 months after intervention in the group fitted with hearing aids, compared to some non-significant improvement seen in patients receiving counselling alone. 

Conclusion 

Evidence from studies, analysis and literature show that hearing aids can help in some cases for tinnitus. However the successful outcomes are not identical for all concerned. Through the use of TFI and THI questionnaires, perceived reductions in tinnitus can be measured. Especially with considerations for other variables including time of hearing aid use, type of therapy, duration of tinnitus, amongst others. Expectations include cures and the use of non-invasive methods and devices. It's very important to educate the patient and help them realise the realities of treating or managing tinnitus. Setting a goal initially should be the priority in tinnitus treatment. 

At Sonant Hearing Clinic we employ evidence-based practice measures for tinnitus treatment that also include use of the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) for a measured means of managing tinnitus. We also offer trials for hearing aids using real ear measurements in line with best practice measures to ensure that the tinnitus and/or hearing loss is accurately managed. We discuss and plan realistic goals with our patients to help them feel supported, increase compliance with management, and in turn, increase the likelihood of succesful habituation. 

References

1.) Cantuaria, M. L., Pedersen, E. R., Waldorff, F. B., Wermuth, L., Pedersen, K. M., Poulsen, A. H., Raaschou-Nielsen, O., Sørensen, M., & Schmidt, J. H. (2024). Hearing loss, hearing aid use, and risk of dementia in older adults. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 150(2), 157–164. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2023.3509

2.) Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense. (2024). VA/DOD clinical practice guidelines: Tinnitus. VA/DoD Health Quality. https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/CD/tinnitus/

3.) How are Tinnitus and Listening Effort Affected by Hearing Aid Use? - Article 29535  Audiology online. (accessed May 2026)

4.) Jeon Mi Lee, Hyun Jung Kim, Yong-Hwi An, Ah. Rang Cho, Jae Ho Chung, Jae Sang Han, Woojae Han, Da Jung Jung, Jung-Yup Lee, Euyhyun Park, Kyu-Yup Lee, Ho Yun Lee, Treatment preferences and values in chronic tinnitus patients: A cross-sectional survey study, American Journal of Otolaryngology, Volume 47, Issue 1, 2026, 104790, ISSN 0196-0709 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2026.104790. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196070926000050) ( Accessed May 2026)

5.) Lee, H. J., Kang, D. W., Yeo, S. G., & Kim, S. H. (2022). Hearing aid effects and satisfaction in patients with tinnitus. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(4), 1096. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11041096

6.) Shekhawat, G. S., Searchfield, G. D., & Stinear, C. M. (2013). Role of hearing aids in tinnitus intervention: A scoping review. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 24(8), 747–762. https://doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.24.8.11

7.) Waechter, S., & Jönsson, A. (2022). Hearing aids mitigate tinnitus, but does it matter if the patient receives amplification in accordance with their hearing impairment or not? A meta-analysis. American Journal of Audiology, 31(3), 789–818. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJA-22-00004

8.) Waechter, S., Olovsson, M., & Pettersson, P. (2023). Should tinnitus patients with subclinical hearing impairment be offered hearing aids? A comparison of tinnitus mitigation following 3 months hearing aid use in individuals with and without clinical hearing impairment. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(24), 7660. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12247660

9.) Waechter, S., Timmer, B. H., Olovsson, M., Pettersson, P., Frawley, L., Ibertsson, T., Thorén, E. S., & Jönsson, A. (2025). Conventional hearing aid amplification, notch therapy, or increased gain at tinnitus pitch: A randomised controlled multicentre study. International Journal of Audiology, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2025.2544152