Hi all, I have mentioned the above before, forgive me for repeating myself.
I have severe (to me) Tinnitus and lack of balance. Have read balance is aggravated by lack of hearing. A recent hearing test revealed 40% in left and 80% in right. Audiologist said I need hearing aids (could have told her that. lol.) Also said tinnitus and balance will improve significantly with them. Can’t be that easy surely? Doctor has referred me to ENT but he said there is an up to 9 month waiting list. Cant afford those hearing aid prices on the high street so have to go NHS. Question is has anyone found an improvement in tinnitus and balance with hearing aids?
Take care.
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Hi Seeney. I too have problems with hearing. It’s not actually tinnitus- well I don’t think it is - I have what feels like a tight band around my head and although I have hearing aids I feel as if I have something like a bowl on my head blocking out sound around me although I can hear people talking to me. All sounds strange I know but it’s difficult to describe! I also have slight balance problems but have to say the hearing aids haven’t helped any of these problems. My GP referred me back to neurology but after a scan which showed all ok 2 years after my stroke all they prescribed was Pregabalin which didn’t help at all.
9 months to see ENT is a very long wait for you but maybe your GP could mark your referral urgent in the hope you get seen earlier. Good luck
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I’ve had tinnitus most my life and the hearing aids I got a few years ago didn’t do anything to improve that, not that I was looking to improve it anyway. My tinnitus is high pitched white noise.
And yes, I had post stroke balance issues too, I think most do stroke survivors do.
IF my hearing aids did anything to improve my balance then it took a heck of a long time doing it. So I put my improved balance down to my progress in stroke recovery: gradually building up to walking miles each day, strength & class once a week, 2hr gym sessions 3-4 days a week.
4yrs on I can walk a straight line, stand one leg, etc. BUT I can still have a wobble and stagger when tired.
Safe your money and wait for the NHS hearing aids, they will be great for improving your hearing at least 
You’ll notice there are a lot more birds singing, you won’t deafen your family having the tv on too loud and they won’t have to shout so much, and all those folk you might have accused of mumbling won’t be mumbling anymore 
I can actually understand my brother-in-law now 
Lorraine
Stroke Improvement Group
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@Seeney i have severe tinnitus too but 7nlike you my hearing is extra sensitive & i find some sounds unbearable. I did see ENT & they told me that if I had hearing loss then hearing aids could be prescribed & they would help with my tinnitus too. Wasn’t an option for me but does back up some of what you have been told. They didn’t say anything about balance though so not sure if it will help with that.
Hope the wait is a bit less than 9 months for you.
Best wishes
Ann
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A brief comment, Seeney,
My Tinnitus (mild) tells me how my blood pressure is doing. When it gets loud, that’s a warning. Generally it’s much better since my stroke, since ‘they’ tweaked my BP considerably.
We know the brainstem plays a role in the generation and modulation of tinnitus, and in the past I have taken Turmeric and other things to try and attenuate or modulate it. I will work on trying to improve it; my latest research is taking me into sunlight, literally (I just spent all day outside, sunbathing) and Vitamin D, which may well play a roll.
If you discover any correlation between tinnitus, balance and hearing aids, please let us know.
Good luck, Roland,
Stroke Improvement Group
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Thanks for your reply. I have a hearing amplifier I got off amazon. When using it I have the TV volume at 4. My wife can’t hear it. lol. Every sound is 10x what I can hear without it. Running a tap is like listening to Niagara falls!
Take care.
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Hi, my Blood Pressure is good now as is cholesterol (was 5.8 now 2.2)
I’ve been taking Turmeric for a couple months now along with vitamin D.
Not aware of any benefits though.
Take care.
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Thanks Simon.
Take care.
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I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I turn up my hearing aids while watching tv or trying to hold a conversation in a crowd. The minute I walk away from them everything else is so amplified it makes me jump. Even a slight breeze through the trees can sound like a torrential down pour…which is a little disconcerting when the sun is shining and the ground is dry
Lorraine
Stroke Improvement Group
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Hi, Not sure if I am missing the point and if I am apologies!! In our area your GP can refer you to Specsavers for NHS hearing aids & testing - not sure if that is the same all over, but it may make things quicker for you. That said I’m NHS fot mine and have no complaints…
Regards
Phil
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Hi, The Specsavers near me doesn’t do NHS.
I approached Doctor regarding the 9 month wait to be assessed at hospital and they have now referred me to Audiologist as well. Have no Idea how long that will be though.
Take care.
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I will keep fingers crossed 
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