Most people know that hearing aids can help people hear, but they don’t know that they can also help them enjoy the silence.

Tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external source, affects millions of people worldwide. It can be a constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears and, in severe cases, can impact a person's quality of life. While there is no cure for tinnitus, several treatments are available to manage the symptoms. One emerging and promising treatment option is Notch Therapy, unique to Signia hearing aids.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at how it works, and its benefits for managing tinnitus.

What is Notch Therapy?

Notch Therapy is a relatively new therapy used to treat tinnitus by reducing the brain’s perception of the tinnitus sound. Unlike other sound therapies, which aim to mask tinnitus by introducing external sounds, Notch Therapy works by altering auditory signals to minimise the brain's focus on the tinnitus frequency. We wrote about how Signia Silk hearing aids specifically were helping people with tinnitus back in 2021. Learn more.

How Does Notch Therapy Work?

Notch Therapy targets the specific frequency range of the tinnitus sound and "notches out" that frequency from the background sound. The goal is to train the brain to ignore or reduce its focus on the tinnitus frequency by enhancing outside sounds while inhibiting the internal noise. Notch Therapy is customized to create a "quiet zone" in the auditory system around your specific tinnitus frequency, so your brain doesn’t notice the tinnitus as much. 

Signia hearing aids are the only ones with the built-in tinnitus Notch Therapy. This is a method that has shown to be especially effective for people who experience tonal tinnitus, the most common type of tinnitus.

Benefits of Notch Therapy for Tinnitus

1. 1. Customizable to Individual Tinnitus Frequency

   One of the primary benefits of Notch Therapy is its customization. Each person with tinnitus hears a different sound and frequency, ranging from high-pitched ringing to low-frequency buzzing. Notch Therapy is tailored to the individual's specific tinnitus frequency, making it highly personalized.

   This level of customization ensures that patients receive a treatment plan designed specifically for their unique tinnitus sound, making it more effective in addressing their individual situation.

    

   2. No Need for Continuous Masking

   Traditional sound therapies, such as white noise or pink noise, rely on continuously masking the tinnitus sound. Notch Therapy, however, works by training the brain to ignore the tinnitus sound over time. This means patients do not need to rely on continuous sound masking, which can be disruptive, especially during quiet moments or when trying to sleep.

   Instead, Notch Therapy helps retrain the auditory system, allowing the brain to become less sensitive to the tinnitus frequency, inaudibly and unobtrusively.

    

   3. Long-Term Relief

   Several studies suggest that Notch Therapy offers the potential for long-term relief from tinnitus. While results vary depending on the severity of tinnitus and individual response, many patients report a significant reduction in their perception of tinnitus over time. By permanently relegating the tinnitus sounds into the background over a long period, overstimulation is reduced and the brain ‘learns’ to no longer hear the tinnitus sounds, making life without tinnitus a real possibility.

2. 4. Compatible with Hearing Aids

   For individuals with both hearing loss and tinnitus, Notch Therapy can be integrated directly into modern hearing aids. Signia hearing aids now include Notch Therapy as part of their tinnitus management features, allowing patients to address both hearing loss and tinnitus simultaneously.

   This dual benefit makes Notch Therapy an attractive option for people who are already using hearing aids for hearing loss, as it can improve both conditions at once.

How to Access Notch Therapy

Notch Therapy is available in a wide selection of Signia hearing aids. If you or someone you know is struggling with tinnitus, consider exploring Notch Therapy as part of a comprehensive tinnitus management plan.

Consult with your Pocket Hearing audiologist to determine if it’s the right treatment for you.

As research and technology continue to advance, this promising treatment may soon become a cornerstone in the fight against tinnitus.