Here at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we are pleased to share another of our patient’s tinnitus success story—the story of Patrick O’Reilly’s journey to manage his tinnitus.
Patrick’s Tinnitus Before And After His Stroke
Like many people, Patrick had experienced tinnitus in small, manageable doses before he suffered from a stroke. Prior to his medical emergency, Patrick said his tinnitus was noticeable, but it didn’t impact his day-to-day activities.
“I noticed it a lot as I would go to sleep,” Patrick said. “Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and hear my tinnitus. I could ignore it and go back to sleep, but it was there.”
Other than his tinnitus, Patrick was a fairly healthy, active man in his late fifties who enjoyed running. Yet his stroke changed all that.
The debilitating stroke left Patrick needing a walker at the age of 59 and with significantly increased tinnitus that he noticed day and night with no relief.
Tinnitus’ Emotional And Physical Impact On Patrick
Dee O’Reilly—Patrick’s wife—did her best to support Patrick through his recovery. But she noticed that while he was attending physical therapy sessions and other appointments to rebuild his strength, his tinnitus was severely hindering Patrick’s recovery from his stroke.
“The stroke exacerbated Patrick’s tinnitus very badly,” Dee said. “I could see that it was driving him stir-crazy, but I didn’t know how to fix it.”
Not only was the inescapable sound having a physical impact on Patrick, but it also triggered emotional struggles as well.
“I felt like I was alone and isolated,” said Patrick. “Being so emotionally frustrated with my tinnitus really did hold back my recovery.”
Finding Tinnitus Relief At Hearing Associates Of Las Vegas
The mental and emotional effects of tinnitus are well-known. Studies which track the impact of tinnitus often remark on an increase in depression and anxiety in those who suffer from severe tinnitus.
To help Patrick continue to recover, Dee began to investigate tinnitus treatment options available in her area and found information on the Levo System, being offered by Hearing Associates of Las Vegas.
“Patrick was doing his best to push through his tinnitus, but I could see he was suffering,” Dee said. “Since I prefer more out-of-the-box solutions, I thought we should at least see if something like the Levo System would help Patrick.”
Once Partick and Dee came into our hearing clinic, Tracy Diehm—board-certified hearing instrument specialist—worked with them. By gaining an understanding of his tinnitus, lifestyle, and insurance coverage, Tracy recommended the Widex Zen Therapy hearing aids instead of the Levo System.
To help Patrick see if this tinnitus treatment solution worked for his needs, Tracy provided him with a test pair of the Widex Zen hearing aids, so he could give them a trial run for 2-3 weeks.
Within a week, Patrick noticed a difference with his tinnitus.
Patrick’s Experience Widex Zen Therapy Hearing Aids
While Patrick had no hearing loss, he said he didn’t mind using hearing aids, especially because he noticed how well they worked.
“I use the white noise setting,” Patrick said. “And I’ve become used to the fractal tones use to distract from my tinnitus. I’d rather hear the white noise than the tinnitus.”
After the short trial period, Patrick was convinced that the Widex Zen hearing aids were the right tinnitus management tool for his needs. Even better, Patrick’s and Dee’s insurance covered the majority of the cost of buying a set of Widex Zen hearing aids.
How Patrick Experiences Tinnitus Today
While Patrick knows there is no cure for tinnitus, he is pleased with the way the Widex Zen hearing aids help him manage his tinnitus.
“Before, if I had nothing to focus on, my tinnitus would be overwhelming,” Patrick said. “Now, I hardly notice it.”
Dee mentioned that sometimes, Patrick didn’t even need to use his hearing aids every day, as his tinnitus symptoms had become so reduced. According to Patrick, his tinnitus is now about a 3 on a scale of 1-10—one being no tinnitus to 10 being unbearable tinnitus.
As for Patrick’s experience with Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, he said he would definitely recommend them to others who are suffering from tinnitus.
“Tracy listened to my needs and helped us find the best solution for me,” Patrick said. So, to those who are wondering if Widex Zen Therapy and Hearing Associates of Las Vegas can help, Patrick says, “Try it; what have you got to lose?”
If your tinnitus is impacting your life and you are ready to take control of it, contact us today. Our hearing instrument specialists are prepared to help find you the right combination of tinnitus management tools that will suit your lifestyle and help you control your tinnitus on a day-to-day basis.
info@hearingassociateslv.com
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