I have had tinnitus for about 30 years and would love to know whether stem cell therapy works for tinnitus. My tinnitus is as a result of noise induced trauma. I had always heard that the hair cells were not able to regenerate in mammals. Birds on the other hand can regenerate damaged hair cells. Makes sense because in nature birds need to hear birdsong to attract a mate and ensure the reproduction necessary to maintain the species. Nature can be so clever. Why can’t it help us.

I too have had tinnitus for over 30 years. In the beginning the doctors knew little about it and told me to just hope that it goes away...which it
never does...I have research many articles on tinnitus and there is just no cure for it...I am hoping too that something can be done but no miracle cure is likely..

The Hearing Health Foundation is currently supporting research on tinnitus. There is hope, but it's been a long time coming. You may want to check out the information at: http://www.hearinghealthfoundation.org

Sensorineural hearing loss is often accompanied by tinnitus, and yet some people who have tinnitus do not have hearing loss. It continues to be a mystery, but we can be hopeful this may change in the future. The advancements in hearing technology have been amazing in the past couple of decades. It really a relatively new science that wasn't given much attention until the 1990s. Let's keep our fingers crossed that good things will develop.

And let’s hope that insurance will start to see hearing aids and hearing loss treatment therapies as necessary benefits. Does anyone know how to champion that cause? I’d be all in for that!

You are absolutely right on with everything you say here. There is so little knowledge about assistive listening technology, and it's really sad that the people who sell hearing aids don't take time to explain it and DEMONATRATE it. We spend thousands of dollars to get hearing help. WE WANT TO HEAR everything we can possibly hear. Assistive tech can go a long way in enhancing our hearing aids and cochlear processors.

HLAA chapters need to be loudly vocal about this. There should be assistive technology demo centers out there. A place where we can go to try out products before we purchase them. Some definitely work better than others. But when we don't advocate for ourselves no one pays much attention. Yes, we can do it!

We have been successful in this area in Wisconsin. There are a couple demo centers in the state. We have succeeded in getting some of the Independent Living Centers to loan assistive devices. The tough part is that they need updating fairly regularly. The tech gets old.

The one that is very old but is not outdated is the hearing loop. It can be used in so many ways. Again, it's a matter of being educated by someone whom you trust before you buy into it.

Do you have a demo center in your area?

No idea if we have a demo center in Pittsburgh but it sure sounds like a good idea. I’ve worked with quite a few audiologists the past few years. None have ever mentioned this so I doubt it. Also, I became SSD during lockdown in the pandemic so as far as connecting with help in community, that was a bust unfortunately. Our HLAA chapter has only begun to meetup recently again and only using zoom. I just signed up for my first one this coming Thursday eve. Looking forward to finding ways to build my advocacy skills. Thank you.

I’ve joined this group today & have tinnitus. Believe the ringing in my right ear started when I was 40 & now I’m 85. Started seeing a doctor who gave me ointment to put in my ear & ended up completely losing my hearing. At that time I worked in a sound proof room using a computer & I truly believe this started my hearing loss. The doctor I was seeing became very angry with me & said I did not put the ointment in correctly. That I was supposed to have somebody put the ointment in the ear. I had put the ointment in correctly!
I was very upset with him & saw another doctor who gave me ear drops that helped. However, I believe that is when my ear started ringing & is still loudly ringing today.
Years later I moved to Ohio & went to the Cleveland Clinic in their Solon facility. As I read in the other commends they had a demo center. They gave me a hearing test & loaned me a hearing aid. Unfortunately it only magnified the ringing sound, so I took the hearing aid back. Later I had a hearing test for my left ear but, again the hearing aid they loaned me only picked up the ringing noise being made in my right ear. So I ended up returning both of the loaned hearing aids that were free of charge. I’m not sure if Cleveland Clinic still offers a demo center as it has been so long ago. Today my ear seems to be ringing very loudly & it is bugging me. It may be because I’m anxious!
I have Fibromyalgia with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so I battle pain & fatigue
24/7, the ringing in my ear, etc. I just muddle through & try to be happy for my loved ones. As for me & only me, I feel that most of my illnesses or syndromes are inherited & passed on from my Mother. I do hope & pray that they will find a cure for tinnitus.

There is a HLAA chapter in RI! It stopped the meetings during the Pandemic, and they will re-open on Saturday July 14. It’ll be a new experience, and want to thank you for the direction. Will report back.