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Is It Worth Buying the More Expensive Oticon Models for Tinnitus Relief?

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Hello everyone,

I’m looking into purchasing a hearing aid to help manage my tinnitus and have been considering the Oticon Intent and Oticon Zircon ranges. However, I’m unsure whether it’s worth spending more on the higher-end models if my primary goal is tinnitus relief. I thought I’d reach out here to get some opinions based on your experiences.

Here’s a summary of the key features for each Oticon Intent and Zircon model:

Oticon Intent Models (1, 2, 3, and 4):

Oticon Intent 1:

  • Noise Suppression: Advanced neural noise suppression (up to 12 ), which is great for challenging environments with a lot of background noise.
  • Processing Channels: 64 channels, offering more precise customization of sound.
  • Tinnitus SoundSupport: Comprehensive tinnitus relief options with soothing sounds like white noise or nature sounds.
  • Fitting Options: 24 fitting bands for tailored sound customization.
  • Bandwidth: 10 kHz bandwidth for high-fidelity sound processing.

Oticon Intent 2:

  • Noise Suppression: Moderate noise suppression (up to 10 dB), good for moderate noise environments.
  • Processing Channels: 48 channels, still offering decent sound personalization.
  • Tinnitus SoundSupport: Includes tinnitus relief features, though less extensive than Intent 1.
  • Fitting Options: 20 fitting bands for sound customization.
  • Bandwidth: 8 kHz bandwidth.

Oticon Intent 3:

  • Noise Suppression: Basic noise suppression (up to 8 dB), suitable for quieter environments.
  • Processing Channels: 48 channels.
  • Tinnitus SoundSupport: Provides basic tinnitus relief features.
  • Fitting Options: 18 fitting bands.
  • Bandwidth: 8 kHz bandwidth.

Oticon Intent 4:

  • Noise Suppression: Minimal noise suppression (up to 6 dB), designed for quieter environments.
  • Processing Channels: 48 channels, but lacks the finer sound adjustments of higher models.
  • Tinnitus SoundSupport: Basic tinnitus relief features, with more limited options for sound masking.
  • Fitting Options: 14 fitting bands.
  • Bandwidth: 8 kHz bandwidth.

Oticon Zircon Models (1 & 2):

Oticon Zircon 1:

  • Noise Suppression: Basic noise suppression, suitable for quieter environments, but not as advanced as the Intent models.
  • Processing Channels: 48 channels, providing decent sound customization.
  • Tinnitus SoundSupport: Offers tinnitus relief with a selection of soothing sounds, although fewer options compared to the Intent range.
  • Fitting Options: Fewer fitting bands (approximately 14 bands), offering basic adjustment capabilities.
  • Bandwidth: 8 kHz bandwidth.

Oticon Zircon 2:

  • Noise Suppression: Slightly better than Zircon 1, but still a basic level of noise suppression.
  • Processing Channels: 48 channels, similar to Zircon 1, but with some additional refinements.
  • Tinnitus SoundSupport: Includes tinnitus relief features, with a few more options than the Zircon 1, but still not as customizable as the Intent range.
  • Fitting Options: A bit more customization than Zircon 1, but still fewer options than the Intent models.
  • Bandwidth: 8 kHz bandwidth.

My main concern is tinnitus relief, particularly in quieter environments, so I’m wondering if the additional features of the higher-end Intent models (such as more advanced noise suppression and sound processing) are really necessary for someone in my situation. I don’t spend much time in noisy or complex environments, so I’m unsure if it justifies the extra cost.

I’m also considering the Oticon Zircon models, which are more affordable. From what I understand, they still offer good tinnitus relief features, but with fewer customization options and less advanced noise suppression than the Intent models. I’m leaning towards something simpler, but I want to make sure I’m not compromising on the effectiveness of the tinnitus support.

Has anyone here used any of these models specifically for tinnitus relief? Do you think a lower model like the Zircon 2 or Intent 3 would provide sufficient support for tinnitus in a quiet environment, or is it worth investing in the Intent 1 for the enhanced features?

Any input or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance!

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Edited

I have had tinnitus for 50 years. The best tinnitus relief I have found is wearing my aids from the time I wake up until I go to bed. No I do not use the tinnitus program on my aids, for me it isn’t any help. You see decades ago I learned how to compartmentalize my tinnitus to the far back of my thoughts where my tinnitus doesn’t disturb me. Yes I have tried tinnitus relief programs and found they just make me think about my tinnitus. But if I concentrate on other things and refuse to allow my tinnitus any audience then it doesn’t bother me. To me using hearing aids is very important for what they are designed for to allow me to understand speech. I only have the default general program on my aids and that is my decision and requirement. I put my aids in my ears and forget about them. That way i don’t require the app or fiddling with settings.

I wear hearing aids and have tinnitus. I get some relief just by wearing my aids. Many but not all people get some relief this way. I would say that by wearing my aids I get approx 40% lowering of the tinnitus. This is not universal, ymmv. I have tried the the tinnitus masker and it doesn’t help me. If you have ear buds you can download various tinnitus programs and trial it to see if it would work for you before you invest in aids. At a minimum, understand what the return policy is to ensure you can get your money back if it doesn’t work.

Good luck

Spend your money on something else. A mic or tv connector.

WH

Oticon’s Tinnitus SoundSupport is largely identical from Zircon 2 up to Intent 1, with the big difference being how fine of adjustments the can make to the shape of the noise (frequency bands). In my experience (and seconding most of the replies so far) applying amplification for hearing loss can be largely effective by itself without introducing additional sound via a tinnitus feature.

Edited

Opinions on tinnitus relief programs or features in hearing aids vary widely. There have been customers here who say these have helped them. As a ReSound hearing aids wearer, I personally have only experienced the masking programs offered by the ReSound Relief app (which you may be able to download and use for free, at least just played through a smartphone or computer speakers, even if you don’t have ReSound hearing aids). If you can’t try out ReSound Relief app for some reason, there are plenty of other apps out there with a free trial that will let you see if masking helps you. (Go to the apps store for your phone or computer and search “tinnitus relief.” Try it with earbuds, or over speakers, with the TV on. Does it help? Of course in-aid tinnitus relief will sound a bit different, but you’ll get the idea.)

The reason it doesn’t help me is that this tinnitus relief app introduces more sound into my ear that competes with the speech or music I want to hear. I don’t need more sound to filter out; I need less. Masking can’t remove tinnitus from my hearing, the same way noise reduction tech can remove steady background noise from headphones or earbuds; masking only tries to cover up or distract me from my tinnitus with more sound. So I think masking makes my speech comprehension and ability to enjoy music feel worse.

Masking may be more useful when one is in a quiet environment and isn’t trying to process speech or music, but even though my tinnitus is, in my opinion, moderately loud (high enough to interfere with speech comprehension with low talkers), I’m not bothered by it enough to want to use an app to distract myself from it in a quiet setting. Someone with more severe tinnitus, or sudden onset tinnitus, may be much more annoyed and more desperate for some distraction.

If you’re going to buy more expensive aids because they have this feature, it’s especially important to buy aids with a good return period and policy. Many, though not all, customers have reported being disappointed by the results of this upgrade feature.

It looks as though sound relief features are of secondary importance to hearing loss support. Mine appears to be linked to hearing loss and when I tried one on with the audiologist it did appear to make an immediate difference. I would say I have a moderate volume of tinnitus. It has got worse in terms of volume and the range of noises I hear and of course the concern is that it will continue to get worse over time as hearing loss naturally declines. My hearing generally really isn’t that bad. I have a moderate to serious hearing loss in the upper hearing range but my hearing loss isn’t at the level now where it impacts on my life in any significant way. The audiologist has said that if the brain has to work extra hard to process sound then over time the tinnitus can end up worse. I suppose the point is that there is a significant difference in price between the lower range hearing aid options they are offering and the lower ones. The top one is £5400 and the lowest one is £1900. The audiologist recommended the top one because she said that it will allow for greater customisation and accuracy in targeting the correct frequency range. Apparently it has to do with the number of fitting bands with the lower end Zircon 1 having 14 and the top Intent 1 having 24. Will the amount of extra benefit the higher end ones will provide for somebody with my level of tinnitus and hearing loss justify spending an extra 2-3 grand on a hearing aid? Of course the package includes warranty and after care which is slightly better on the higher packages.

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