A major European study has found that wearing hearing aids can significantly reduce the distress caused by tinnitus, even though the loudness of the tinnitus itself may stay the same.
The research, published in Ear and Hearing (May–June 2025 issue), is part of the large UNITI project (Unification of Treatments and Interventions for Tinnitus Patients). The study involved 60 adults with long-term tinnitus and mild to moderate hearing loss who used hearing aids for 12 weeks.
Tinnitus distress improved within weeks
After six weeks of wearing hearing aids, participants reported that tinnitus was less distressing and less disruptive to daily life. Scores on two standard questionnaires, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and the Tinnitus Functional Index, improved by around 12 points on average. These improvements were maintained at 12 weeks.
Results were consistent across patients
The benefit of hearing aids was similar for all participants. The amount of hearing loss, the type or pitch of the tinnitus, and the precision of the hearing aid fitting did not affect the outcome. This means that most people with both tinnitus and hearing loss can expect some relief from distress when using hearing aids regularly.
Loudness unchanged, but coping improved
Although the loudness of tinnitus did not change significantly, participants felt calmer and more able to cope. This finding supports the idea that tinnitus distress is not only about the sound itself but also about how the brain and emotions respond to it.
Expert perspective
Dr Hashir Aazh, Director of the Hashir International Institute, said:
“This study shows that hearing aids can help people live better with tinnitus by reducing the emotional impact, even when the sound does not disappear. It highlights how hearing care can make a real difference to wellbeing when combined with good counselling and support.”
Future directions
The researchers recommend further studies with larger groups and more diverse participants to understand how hearing aids bring about these improvements and how results can be optimised for individual patients.
Reference
Schiele T, Boecking B, Nyamaa A, Psatha S, Schoisswohl S, Simoes JP, Dettling-Papargyris J, Aguirre J, Markatos N, Cima R, Lopez-Escamez JA, Vielsmeier V, Kikidis D, Schlee W, Langguth B, Mazurek B, Marcrum SC. Predictors of Tinnitus Symptom Relief With Hearing Aids in a European Multicenter Study. Ear and Hearing. 2025;46(3):796–807. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001624.
