Tinnitus Treatment With Hearing Aids in McAllen
Ringing in the ears and hearing loss often show up together. The right hearing aids can do two jobs at once: bring back the sounds you have been missing, and play soft, adjustable sound therapy that helps the ringing fade into the background.
What is tinnitus sound therapy?
Mid Valley Hearing Technologies manages tinnitus with sound therapy built into hearing aids. Jordan Ortega tests your hearing, then fits and programs a Starkey, Phonak, Oticon, Widex, Signia, ReSound or Unitron hearing aid with the tinnitus feature that suits you. There is currently no cure for tinnitus, but this approach can make it less noticeable and less bothersome.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders calls hearing aids one of the main treatment options for people who have both tinnitus and hearing loss. Amplification helps because more of the outside world reaches your brain, which gives the ringing less room to stand out. Sound therapy adds a soft background sound on top, set to a level that is comfortable for you.
Everything starts with a hearing evaluation, which is also what the 2026 guideline from the American Academy of Otolaryngology calls for in every patient with tinnitus. It tells us whether hearing loss is part of the picture. If your hearing tests normal or something points to a medical cause, a hearing aid may not be the answer, and we will tell you so and refer you to the right doctor.
What does this service include?
- Starkey: Multiflex TinnitusSoft masking sounds that Jordan shapes to you at the fitting, using Starkey’s tinnitus fitting tools. Found across Starkey’s current hearing aid styles.
- Phonak: Tinnitus BalanceA built-in noise generator with white and pink noise options. It can run alongside everyday listening or as its own program, and you adjust the level in the myPhonak app.
- Oticon: Tinnitus SoundSupportRelief sounds that range from white, pink and red noise to ocean-like sounds. You can adjust them discreetly from your phone with the Oticon app.
- Widex: Zen tonesRandom, chime-like fractal tones based on music, rather than steady noise. Pitch, tempo and volume can all be adjusted. A broadband noise option is available too.
- Signia: three approachesStatic noise, ocean wave sounds and Notch Therapy. Notch Therapy adds no sound at all: it reduces amplification at the pitch of your tinnitus, and it is aimed at tinnitus with a clear, steady tone.
- ReSound: Tinnitus Sound GeneratorSeveral sound therapy settings, including water-inspired nature sounds, designed to draw your attention away from the ringing. You adjust within a range set at your fitting.
- Unitron: tinnitus maskerA built-in broadband noise generator that helps shift your focus away from tinnitus. Jordan sets it up and adjusts it as part of your fitting.
What happens during the visit?
We talk first
When it started, whether it is in one ear or both, what it sounds like, and when it bothers you most. Quiet rooms and bedtime are the usual answers.
A look inside the ear
Video otoscopy and tympanometry. Wax blockage and middle-ear problems can trigger tinnitus, so we check those first.
A full hearing test
The complete hearing test, with your audiogram explained. If anything points to a medical cause, we refer you to a physician or ENT.
Choosing the device
We go through which hearing aids suit your hearing loss, your budget and how you live, along with the sound options each one offers. No brand is right for everyone.
Fitting and follow-up
Jordan programs your hearing correction first, then sets the sound therapy at a safe, comfortable level. Tinnitus changes over time, so the settings can too.
Already wear hearing aids?
Bring them in, whether you bought them here or somewhere else. Many hearing aids have a tinnitus feature, and yours may have one that was never turned on. Features vary by model and technology level, and manufacturers change them with each new generation, so we will confirm what your device can do.
Tinnitus Sound Therapy: questions we get asked
No. There is currently no cure for tinnitus. What hearing aids and sound therapy can do is make it less noticeable and less bothersome, and results vary from person to person. Be wary of anyone who promises to make it disappear.
These are hearing aids, so they are designed for people who have hearing loss as well as tinnitus. So we start with a hearing test. If your hearing is normal, Jordan will point you to a doctor who can help.
See a doctor promptly if the ringing is only in one ear, pulses in time with your heartbeat, or comes with sudden hearing loss, dizziness, ear pain or drainage. Sudden hearing loss needs medical care right away. For any new tinnitus, your primary care doctor is a good first stop.
There is no single best brand. The sound you find soothing is personal: some people prefer steady noise, some prefer ocean sounds, and some prefer Widex’s chime-like tones. Your hearing loss also narrows the choice. Since we fit all seven brands, we can start from what you need.
It may. Tinnitus features come with the hearing aid, so it depends on which devices your plan’s benefit network offers. We are contracted with TruHearing, UnitedHealthcare Hearing, Start Hearing and NationsHearing, and we will check your benefit at no cost.
Only if you want to. It is set to a soft level, and on many models you can adjust it or turn it down from your phone. Some people use it all day and others only in quiet moments. Jordan also sets safe limits on level and daily use where the device calls for it.
Yes. Your visit, your results and the conversation about your options can all be in Spanish. Se habla español.
Related services
Hearing Test
Air conduction, bone conduction, speech and QuickSIN testing, with your results explained.
Learn moreHearing Aid Consultation
Sit down with Jordan and go over your hearing aid options.
Learn moreHearing Aid Fitting & Programming
Programmed and checked in your own ear, with adjustments as you need them.
Learn moreSchedule your visit with Jordan
Call (956) 576-3593 or send a request and we will get back to you the same business day. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.