Can Hearing Aids Help with Tinnitus?

Managing Tinnitus With Hearing Aids

Many people who come to our clinic describe tinnitus as a constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound that no one else can hear, affecting one or both ears. Tinnitus is very common, affecting an estimated 10–15% of adults. While tinnitus itself is not a disease, it can have a real impact on sleep, concentration, mood, and overall quality of life.


What Is Tinnitus?

The most common form is subjective chronic tinnitus, which means the sound is perceived only by the person experiencing it and is often linked to hearing loss. When the brain receives reduced sound input from the ears, it may compensate through changes in neural activity that can contribute to the perception of tinnitus. Stress, poor sleep, anxiety, and other health factors can further amplify how noticeable or distressing it feels.


Can Hearing Aids Help?

Research suggests they can—particularly when hearing loss is present. A review in The New England Journal of Medicine recommends hearing aids as a first-line treatment for tinnitus in patients with hearing loss. By amplifying everyday sounds, hearing aids can make tinnitus less noticeable and improve access to sounds that may have been reduced by hearing loss. Patients may experience improvements not only in tinnitus awareness, but also in communication, listening effort, and overall quality of life.


This recommendation is supported by newer evidence and clinical guidelines. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2024) recommends hearing aids for adults with bothersome tinnitus and hearing loss, citing evidence that amplification can reduce the impact of tinnitus on daily life. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery similarly encourages hearing aid evaluation for patients with bothersome tinnitus and hearing loss.


A Comprehensive Approach to Tinnitus Care

Some hearing aids include built-in sound generators, which may be helpful for certain individuals, particularly when used as part of a broader tinnitus management plan. However, current evidence does not clearly show that they are superior to hearing aids alone. What does matter is a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that includes tinnitus education, counseling, sound enrichment strategies, and attention to factors like stress, sleep, and mental well-being. For patients with significant distress, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be recommended as part of care.


Taking the First Step

There is no single “cure” for tinnitus—but there are effective ways to reduce its impact. For people who also have hearing loss, hearing aids are an important, low-risk option that may help make tinnitus less noticeable while improving everyday communication. A thorough hearing assessment is often an important first step toward better understanding your tinnitus and finding the management approach that is right for you.

Written by: Shayna Swift, BA, MSc
Board-Certified Audiologist
Webster Street Hearing Boutique

 

Published: August 17, 2026

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