cochlear implants & tinnitus

It appears there is no real answer to this question. Tinnitus remains a mystery. Some who have severe tinnitus say it lessens after having a cochlear implant. Others say it remains. Many say it remains but is lessened.

It would be interesting to know what your medical team says about this. Have you been evaluated for a cochlear implant, or advised to get one?

@awilst, I agree with @julieo4. I do not have a CI but one of my HLAA chapter members had an increase in tinnitus after she received a CI. I hope that the researchers can find effective treatment for tinnitus.
Tony in Michigan

gee, with all the people out there looking at this stuff, this is the only reply.
I guess the question never came up before. or no one has any personal experience with this???
perhaps no one has has ever had the CI procedure?
very curious??

My tinnitus existed before I had a cochlear implant. It's still there at times, but I've learned to tolerate it.

I know hundreds of CI recipients personally due to my involvement in HLAA. They all feel that the CI trumps the alternative...as in doing nothing or struggling with hearing aids that no longer work well for them. And, the CIs have gotten better due to research & development. (Mine was done in 2005.)

Still, tinnitus is an issue for many people, especially those who have been exposed to intense noise through employment, recreation, accident, etc. It is the number 1 disability issue experienced by veterans who return from combat zones. We know that cause, but not the solution, so prevention is extremely important.

Even now, with the tinnitus that exists, it's important to protect your hearing with professional level ear protection if you know you'll be in a noisy setting. Do you do that?

I had some tinnitus in the past, but it was never to the extent that it was bothering me. Actually, I didn't pay any attention to it. Since December 2024, tinnitus progressively became more noticeable, up to the point that it can wake me up at night, or, during the day with hearing aids on, making it harder to follow any conversations.
I have spent a significant amount of time researching many publications and online groups, reviewed NIH research papers, websites dedicated to tinnitus, how others have been coping with it, etc.
Unless I overlooked it, I have not found significant postings describing any experience with being treated with acupuncture for tinnitus relief, for how long the relief lasted, if at all.
(I might add that in the past I had very good experience with acupuncture treatment for lower back pain, but even more so getting relief from seasonal allergies which would last 2-3 months)

I would appreciate receiving any information about individual experiences. Thank you.

Just an update to my previous post.
Recently, I had two acupuncture session, 2 weeks apart and I can confirm that it has helped following intermittent phases, sometimes lasting for an hour, sometimes most of the day.
On both occasions I arrived at the clinic with quite loud and annoying tinnitus, sounding similar to driving a noisy car on a busy highway. After each 30 minutes treatment it was gone.
(Coincidentally, the doctor himself has a one sided cochlear implant, had tinnitus himself, the implant improved it, otherwise he manages when needed through yoga, meditation and other oriental relaxation exercises.
I am due for a one sided cochlear implant in a few weeks and time will tell if and how it will affect the tinnitus one way or another.)
The downsides based on my experience to date:
1) the treatment does not last;
2) it is costly - I am on Medicare, and do not have any medically provable reasons to qualify for coverage.

If anyone might consider acupuncture treatment, I suggest to seek treatment at a clinic whose doctors are experienced graduates, preferably from Chinese/Hong Kong or other oriental based medical schools, or at the least spent time there for specialization training. The clinic’s website should publish the doctor’s bio and list tinnitus treatment among other medical/neurological issues.