Best Hearing Aids for Tinnitus (2025)
Around 80% of people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. Modern hearing aids offer built-in tinnitus relief features that can significantly reduce tinnitus perception. This guide compares tinnitus management approaches across major hearing aid brands.
How Hearing Aids Help Tinnitus
Hearing aids address tinnitus through two complementary mechanisms:
1. Amplification-Based Relief
By restoring audibility of environmental sounds, hearing aids reduce the contrast between tinnitus and silence. The brain has more external sound to process, which naturally reduces tinnitus awareness. This passive masking effect is often the most significant benefit — many patients notice tinnitus relief simply by wearing properly fitted hearing aids, even without activating any tinnitus-specific program.
2. Active Sound Therapy
Most modern hearing aids include built-in sound generators that produce therapeutic sounds: white noise, pink noise, ocean waves, or brand-specific sound patterns. These sounds can be mixed with amplified audio and adjusted independently for volume, frequency shaping, and modulation speed.
Clinical evidence: A 2019 Cochrane review found that combined hearing aid amplification and sound therapy was more effective for tinnitus management than either approach alone. Approximately 60–80% of patients with both hearing loss and tinnitus report meaningful improvement when wearing hearing aids.
Tinnitus Feature Comparison by Brand
| Brand | Tinnitus Program | Sound Types | Notch Therapy | App Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signia | Tinnitus Notch Therapy + Static Noise | White, pink, speech-shaped, custom | Yes | Full control |
| Widex | Zen Therapy | Fractal tones, noise, nature sounds | No | Full control |
| Phonak | Tinnitus Balance | White, pink, red noise; nature sounds | No | Full control |
| Oticon | Tinnitus SoundSupport | Broadband noise, ocean-like, nature | No | Full control |
| Starkey | Multiflex Tinnitus Technology | Shaped noise, custom audiologist config | No | Full control |
Signia Notch Therapy: A Unique Approach
Signia is the only major brand offering Notch Therapy, which takes a fundamentally different approach to tinnitus. Instead of masking the tinnitus with additional sound, Notch Therapy creates a narrow frequency "notch" — a gap in amplification at the exact frequency of your tinnitus.
The theory (based on lateral inhibition in the auditory cortex) is that by reducing neural activity at the tinnitus frequency while amplifying surrounding frequencies, the brain gradually reduces its amplification of the tinnitus signal. Studies report up to 75% reduction in tinnitus perception after 6 months of Notch Therapy use.
This approach works best for tonal tinnitus (a single identifiable pitch) and requires precise tinnitus pitch matching by an audiologist during fitting.
Widex Zen Therapy: Fractal Sound Approach
Widex's Zen Therapy uses fractal tones — algorithmically generated musical sequences that are predictable enough to be soothing but variable enough to avoid habituation. Unlike static white noise, Zen tones are designed to be pleasant to listen to for extended periods.
The Zen Therapy program includes four components: amplification, fractal sounds, relaxation exercises (through the app), and counseling support. This holistic approach addresses both the auditory and psychological aspects of tinnitus.
Choosing Hearing Aids for Tinnitus
If your main concern is tinnitus relief:
- Tonal tinnitus (single pitch): Consider Signia for Notch Therapy, which targets the specific frequency
- Broadband tinnitus (hissing/static): Any brand's noise generator can help; Widex Zen tones may be more pleasant for long-term use
- Tinnitus + noise difficulty: Prioritize speech-in-noise performance since better hearing reduces overall stress that can worsen tinnitus
- Nighttime tinnitus: Look for brands with smartphone app sound therapy that works independently of the hearing aids
Important considerations:
- All major brands offer tinnitus features — don't choose based on tinnitus alone if speech-in-noise performance is also important
- Proper fitting with real ear measurement is essential — under-amplification reduces the masking benefit
- Work with an audiologist experienced in tinnitus management, not just hearing aid fitting
- Give it time — tinnitus relief typically develops over 2–3 months of consistent hearing aid use
Tinnitus Without Hearing Loss
About 20% of tinnitus patients have clinically normal hearing. In these cases, hearing aids are generally not recommended as a primary treatment. Options include:
- Standalone sound therapy devices or apps (many hearing aid apps offer sound therapy without hearing aids)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — the most evidence-supported treatment for tinnitus distress
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) using combination devices (sound generators that look like hearing aids)
- Evaluation for hidden hearing loss (synaptopathy) that standard audiograms may miss
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hearing aids help with tinnitus?
Yes. Hearing aids help with tinnitus in two ways: by amplifying environmental sounds that partially mask the tinnitus, and through built-in sound therapy programs. Clinical studies show 60–80% of tinnitus patients report improvement when wearing hearing aids.
Which hearing aid brand is best for tinnitus?
Signia and Widex offer the most comprehensive tinnitus management features. Signia's Notch Therapy targets specific tinnitus frequencies, while Widex's Zen Therapy uses fractal tone patterns. All major brands include some form of tinnitus sound generator.
What is tinnitus masking in hearing aids?
Tinnitus masking is a built-in sound generator that produces white noise, pink noise, ocean sounds, or other soothing audio to cover or reduce the perception of tinnitus. The masking sound is mixed with amplified environmental audio and can be adjusted for volume, frequency, and type.
Can tinnitus get worse with hearing aids?
Properly fitted hearing aids should not make tinnitus worse. In rare cases, over-amplification or feedback can temporarily increase tinnitus perception. Working with an audiologist experienced in tinnitus management ensures the hearing aid settings support relief.
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