Best Hearing Aids For Tinnitus Of 2023, According to Audiologists

To determine the best hearing aids for tinnitus, the Forbes Health editorial team consulted several audiologists on the Forbes Health Advisory Board for specific product recommendations based on their years of experience fitting various hearing aid models for a wide array of patients. Each expert was careful to consider the newest technology available when providing their recommendations, as well as newer brands and their roles in the evolving industry.

Star ratings were solely determined by the editorial team and based on the starting price of a pair of hearing aids, how many experts recommend them and the inclusion of product features that are typically important to hearing aid users, such as Bluetooth compatibility and rechargeability.

Starting price information is reflected from ZipHearing or the device manufacturers themselves. All prescription hearing aids can be fitted and serviced by audiologists.

Read more about our hearing aids review methodology.

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Tinnitus is a hearing condition in which a person hears ringing or other phantom noises in one or both of their ears. Causes, types and severity of tinnitus can vary from one person to another, but it’s a common problem—especially for older adults. In fact, 25 million U.S. adults report experiencing tinnitus for at least five continuous minutes in the past year, according to the Hearing Health Foundation^[2]Hearing Loss & Tinnitus Statistics. Hearing Health Foundation. Accessed 12/12/2022. .

Illinois-based audiologist Catherine Fabian says audiologists categorize tinnitus into nonclinical and clinical cases:

• When the noise occurs less than one minute per episode and less than once a week, it’s considered nonclinical tinnitus. This type is also known as transient ear noise.
• When the noise persists for longer than one minute per episode and more than once a week, it’s considered clinical tinnitus.

“Many people experience [tinnitus] randomly throughout life, and it’s typically nothing of concern,” says Dr. Fabian. “But when it becomes more frequent or lasts longer, that’s when somebody should get an audiological evaluation to check on the health of their hearing.”

If left unaddressed and untreated, tinnitus can lead to an array of unpleasant side effects, including social withdrawal and resulting depression, disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating and an increased sensitivity to certain noises. For these reasons, more than 16 million people seek medical attention for tinnitus annually^[2]Hearing Loss & Tinnitus Statistics. Hearing Health Foundation. Accessed 12/12/2022. .

Causes of Tinnitus

Jackie L. Clark, a clinical audiologist and professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, explains that tinnitus doesn’t have one lone cause and is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. A few risk factors or conditions that may lead to tinnitus include:

• Loud noise exposure
• Head injuries
• High blood pressure
• Tumors
• Exposure to various toxins
• Genetics

Common Tinnitus Symptoms

The most prevalent symptom associated with tinnitus is ringing in the ears. Depending on the underlying condition causing the tinnitus, some people may experience other symptoms, explains Dr. Fabian. People with Ménière’s disease or tumors, for instance, may feel a sense of fullness in the ear.

Often, when someone has tinnitus, they also have hearing loss. “For most people, there’s an underlying hearing impairment or hearing loss that makes you prone to having tinnitus,” explains Dr. Fabian. “Hearing loss can start so gradually that people don’t even realize they have hearing loss. They notice that they’re having trouble hearing background noise or hearing it from a distance. So tinnitus is often the first thing to bring somebody into the audiology clinic for an evaluation.”

Hearing aids for tinnitus make the patient less aware of the ringing in their ears and make it easier to hear external noises that may have been masked or muted by the tinnitus.

One theory for tinnitus, says Dr. Fabian, is that the inner ear’s sensory cells are no longer sending a sufficient signal to the brain, so the brain is sending the signal back down to those nerve endings in the inner ear. “Hearing aids can bring in sound and stimulate those sensory cells to get them working and feeding, transmitting that external input up to the brain so the brain is no longer sound-deprived. And then it has no reason to send that feedback to the ear asking for input because the hearing aids are providing it,” she explains.

While wearing a hearing aid can often reduce tinnitus, many tinnitus hearing aids come with sound enrichment or masking features to help cover the tinnitus. These sound enrichment features play white noise or other sounds to mask the ringing. Some devices can also connect to a smartphone and allow users to use relaxation apps to ease their symptoms.

Hearing aids can help make a person with tinnitus less aware of the ringing or phantom noises in their ears, as well as make it easier for them to hear sounds in their environment that may have otherwise been masked or muted by tinnitus.

While wearing a hearing aid can often reduce tinnitus symptoms, many hearing aids designed specifically with tinnitus relief in mind also come with sound enrichment or masking features, such as variations of white noise, to help cover any ringing or phantom noises. A number of hearing aids for tinnitus also feature Bluetooth compatibility, allowing the wearer to access a number of relaxation apps and tinnitus relief programs on the brand’s accompanying app on their smartphone via their hearing aids.

What Type of Hearing Aid is Best for Tinnitus?

The best hearing aid for tinnitus has less to do with the physical type of aid and more to do with the technological features included in the device that help amplify sounds that might be masked or muted by a wearer’s tinnitus symptoms. Experts recommend various behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), receiver-in-canal (RIC) and receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids for people looking to relieve tinnitus symptoms.

The cost of tinnitus hearing aids can vary widely. When looking solely at device prices (excluding bundled services), Dr. Clark says they can range from $400 to $2,400 per aid. Some clinics may offer bundle pricing that includes the cost of the device(s), plus services like customization, adjustments and setting personalized hearing goals. “[Device and service bundles] are a standard model for pricing hearing aids,” shares Dr. Fabian. In that model, Dr. Fabian says a pair of hearing aids can range anywhere from $3,000 up to $7,500.

If a person wants to purchase hearing aids for their tinnitus, they must first receive a hearing health exam, diagnosis and prescription through their audiologist.

People considering hearing aids for tinnitus should also note other expenses associated with hearing aids, such as batteries, cleaning services and repairs. Dr. Clark says getting hearing aids professionally cleaned can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 and suggests getting them cleaned every four to six months. Dr. Clark also mentions some repairs may cost up to $400.

Are Hearing Aids for Tinnitus Covered By Medicare, Medicaid or Insurance?

Unfortunately Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), doesn’t cover hearing aids for tinnitus. However some Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits that may cover hearing aid costs.

Medicaid can cover hearing aids for beneficiaries under the age of 21. However, Medicaid coverage varies state to state, and not all state Medicaid policies offer hearing health benefits for adults. Check with your state’s Medicaid program to determine whether it includes hearing aid coverage.

For those who have either employer-sponsored health insurance or individual coverage from a private health insurance provider, some plans include hearing health benefits when hearing loss is caused by illness or injury. However, many plans don’t include coverage for hearing aids specifically. Contact your insurance provider to determine whether your particular plan includes hearing aid coverage.

There are a number of factors worth considering when shopping for hearing aids for tinnitus, including size, shape, Bluetooth compatibility, streaming capabilities and built-in sound enrichment technology.

Size and shape: These aspects of a hearing aid often dictate how comfortable the hearing aid wearer finds their devices. After completing a hearing health assessment with a hearing health professional, try on a number of hearing aid models from a variety of manufacturers to determine which fit feels most comfortable in your ears.

Bluetooth compatibility and streaming capabilities: A number of hearing aids designed for tinnitus relief feature sound enrichment options that require both Bluetooth compatibility and streaming capabilities. It’s also important to note whether the hearing aids you’re considering are compatible with both iOS and Android devices or only one of the two operating systems.

Built-in sound enrichment technology: For those who don’t have a smartphone or don’t want to have to stream sound enrichment to their hearing aids, there are some models available that feature built-in sound enrichment technology.

Hearing aids for tinnitus are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and most require a prescription and fitting from a hearing health professional, such as an audiologist. During this appointment, the expert can help you determine which hearing aids best suit your ear shape, physical needs, lifestyle and budget.

Fortunately, there are many avenues available to alleviate the symptoms associated with tinnitus. Aside from hearing aids, other treatment options for tinnitus include:

Sound generators: These small electronic devices fit into the ear (similar to hearing aids) and emit pleasant sounds throughout the day. Some smartphone apps allow users to generate certain sounds.

Masking devices: Worn like a hearing aid, masking devices emit low-level white noise to cover ringing and other ear noises. Masking devices may be able to reduce tinnitus symptoms for a short time after the user removes them.

Therapy: Certain therapy modalities—specifically cognitive behavioral therapy—may help individuals experiencing tinnitus symptoms change their thought patterns and emotional responses toward the condition. While talk therapy may not reduce tinnitus symptoms, experts suggest that it may help improve an individual’s quality of life.

Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): TRT combines sound therapies like hearing aids, sound generators or masking devices with talk therapy to physiologically and emotionally retrain the brain to notice tinnitus symptoms less. Talk therapy helps individuals feel neutral toward tinnitus, while sound therapy helps to normalize the presence of symptoms.

Stress management: Stress may worsen the severity of tinnitus. Experts recommend practicing stress management techniques like exercise, meditation and socializing to improve relaxation.

Biofeedback: This relaxation technique teaches individuals to control certain bodily functions, like pulse and muscle tension, to help change their body responses to stress and anxiety. Many individuals with tinnitus experience an improvement in symptoms when they’re able to control stress, according to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA).

Medication: While there are no medications currently available for treating tinnitus, some health care providers may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to help improve an individual’s mood or sleep quality.

Is There a Cure for Tinnitus?

There is currently no FDA-approved treatment available to cure tinnitus. However, there are many treatment options available, including sound therapy and talk therapy, that can improve symptoms and make living with tinnitus more manageable. Consult with your audiologist to determine the best treatment plan for your hearing health needs.

The best hearing aid for tinnitus depends on factors like your symptoms, your lifestyle and your budget. Consult a hearing health professional for a hearing test to determine the severity of your symptoms and your level of hearing loss. Your provider can then help you review hearing aid models most and determine the most appropriate hearing aid for you.

Prescription vs. OTC Hearing Aids

When determining which hearing aid model is best for you, your audiologist may recommend prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids depending on your needs and preferences.

OTC hearing aids can be purchased without a prescription and are suitable for those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Additionally, OTC hearing aids typically include basic customization settings that allow users to self-fit devices to their hearing needs.

Prescription hearing aids, on the other hand, are only available via hearing health professionals who can adjust the device to your specific degree of hearing loss. Prescription hearing aids typically come with advanced technology features like noise reduction and speech enhancement. Because prescription hearing aids come with personal customization and more advanced features, these devices are typically more expensive than their OTC counterparts.