If you can't afford good hearing aids, here is a work around.

[Buddyzbuddy]

I use a Samsung Smartphone with a good pair of earbuds. The phone has an app that allows for adjustment depending on the tones you can no longer hear. I have profound hearing loss as well as tinnitus. The phone has an option to use it as a hearing device. (Microphone) It's a little awkward in public, like a reporter shoving a mike in front of somebody to hear but once I explain why most people are fine.

When I shop I listen to music or podcasts and calls come through without missing a beat. When I get to the register I switch to external audio.
I wish my grandfather had it. He seemed so lonely at the end of his life due to inability to hear late in life.

[twodogsbarking]

1. I too have tinnitus and hearing loss that goes with it.

Your brain instinctively tries to suppress the tinnitus and blocks hearing and tells you what you heard but that wasn't what was said.
My tinnitus started after I had severe pressure and then a nasty bloody nose. Ear doc said that wasn't it. It comes over time. Fuck that doctor. I know what happened. Don't tell me otherwise asshole.

[Wonder Why]

2. Mine came on for no known reason at all then eventually disappeared. Coincidence is not cause.

You may be right. Or wrong. Have you considered getting a consultation with an expert doctor in the field?

[twodogsbarking]

4. Been there. I'm doing alright. Thanks.

[biophile]

7. Same here - thank you for explaining that

I actually have pretty good hearing but the tinnitus makes it hard to understand what is being said. I can hear it but sometimes cannot make sense of the sounds. It takes concentration and context and a few seconds or I just have to ask to have things repeated. My husband gets angry with me for asking him to repeat - he has hearing aids. And yet he will sit on the couch downstairs and ask me if the dryer is still running upstairs because he can’t hear it even with his devices, but I can. I hear lots of things he can’t,. It’s not a hearing problem, it’s unfortunately a brain problem. Which my family will totally agree on that point! 😆

[twodogsbarking]

9. The pause is questioning whether you heard it correctly or your brain is filling in the blanks.

[biophile]

16. Yes- mostly filling in blanks

It is hard work sometimes. I can see why some people avoid others because it’s frustrating and tiring.

[twodogsbarking]

17. Very much like dementia but not.

[Wonder Why]

3. Now,In the old days, hearing aids were an alternative only for the well off because of the price. Phones

were inexpensive.

Now phones can cost a lot more than hearing aids but if you already have the phone, your suggestion is great! Twenty-five plus years ago when I had lost enough hearing that I had to have aids, there was no choice.

By the way, even with expensive hearing aids that I get at no cost because of my military disability, I still have to ask people to repeat, speak more slowly, look at me and not block their mouths so I can see their lips, and talk a little clearer. Most people don't mind when I just point to my ears and ask nicely.

Good luck.

[KS Toronado]

5. And if you can't afford a smartphone, you can always do this...

...

[Jerry2144]

6. Iphones and AIrpods can do this. You can also

get OTC hearing aids for much less without the audiologist visit. Not sure how those work. The OTC hearing aids run closer to 500-700 compared to the thousands for professional hearing aids

[ananda]

8. My issue is vertigo.

I have Meniere's in my left ear,
and it's a pain in the butt.

I just got my second round of
steroid shots in my ear, so it's
a lot better for the time being.

I have some mid-range hearing
loss, but no tinnitus.. though I
had it for a couple of short
periods before the shots.

[Buddyzbuddy]

10. I sympathize with you. I've also experienced those symptoms.

As a result I have to at all times carry Dramamine( non drowsy). It hits without warning and can be quite debilitating.

[ananda]

12. Thanks.

I didn't know dramamine could help with that.

I'm OK right now, since I had the shots in my ear.

Austin isn't the great hub for regular medicine that
Houston was and probably still is --

but for my eye and ear problems I have literally
found the supermen of eyes and ears and oral
surgery.

[Buddyzbuddy]

13. Glad to hear it.

The Dramamine is OTC and works against motion sickness. It's also conveniently available in orange chewable. Just make sure whomever might take this route to use the non-drowsy unless you want to go to sleep.

[Buddyzbuddy]

11. Even with hearing aids at a total cost to my insurance company of $9k

I too have to look directly at the person speaking with me to enhance listening by somewhat reading their lips.
Even with all of the adjustments available on my hearing aids I'm still unable to hear all spoken words. They do however help me to hear all sounds clearer such as sirens, alarms and the sound of voices. Otherwise without them it's like walking around with my hands held tightly against my ears.
As for my suggestion of using the phone, it's about a 10th of the cost of the hearing aids or equal to the out of pocket portion and I get multiple uses of the phone with better clarity.
The point is, there may be alternative solutions at a lower cost with better results. Some places offer the phone "free" for signing up for their mobile service. Most people need the service, anyway.

BTW, I use the phone and earbuds while sleeping at night as a sound machine to camouflage the maddening ringing of the ears. Youtube has many sources of many different sounds to match the tones you hear or enhance the tones you want to hear.

[mitch96]

14. "Sounds" good, I'll give it a try.. I have tinnitus from long term NSAID use (back problems) and long distance

motorcycle touring. I wore earplugs but my ears would ring after each 8 hour day in the saddle
. The ringing would go away after a while. Then one day the ringiing just stayed...
What?
m

[Buddyzbuddy]

15. Good luck.