Are Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Linked?

When experiencing tinnitus, it is only natural to wonder what the cause might be. Many may have concerns that it is potentially a sign of a different hearing and heart health issue, like hearing loss. Your audiologist is the most qualified and well-suited individual to help you address any hearing conditions you are experiencing, so here we are going to look at tinnitus, hearing loss and what links they might have.

Understanding Tinnitus

It’s an important distinction that tinnitus is not a condition, in and of itself, but is rather a symptom. As such, tinnitus can present due to a range of other underlying issues. In general, the term is used to describe the experience of any noises or sounds that have no identifiable external source. It can sound like a buzzing, ringing, pulsing or even melodies. How people experience tinnitus can differ greatly, too, as some experience it very intermittently, while it can be constant for others.

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

There is a definite link between hearing loss and tinnitus in many cases. The majority of tinnitus cases are caused by or contributed to by hearing loss. Two-thirds of all people who experience tinnitus also experience some degree of hearing loss.

Deterioration of the inner ear can lead to both, and exposure to noise is also a high-risk factor in both hearing loss and tinnitus. Similarly, tinnitus can be caused by hearing loss that is caused by a blockage in the ear, be it an ear infection, fluid or earwax. 

It is important to note, however, that hearing loss and tinnitus are not always linked. There are other health issues and lifestyle factors that can be contributing factors to tinnitus. This can include drinking, smoking, the use of certain medications and even stress and anxiety.

Treating Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

Treating tinnitus typically comes in two varieties: addressing the underlying condition and treating the symptom itself. Given that underlying causes can be anything from earwax buildups to lifestyle choices, clearing the ear and making changes to your lifestyle are likely to be recommended here. However, the other method of tinnitus usually involves habituating to the sound, so it becomes less noticeable or drowning it out with a more tolerable noise, as is the case with sound-making hearing aids, sound machines and tinnitus retraining therapy.

Treating hearing loss is usually done with a hearing aid, on the other hand. An audiologist will perform a hearing test to identify any hearing loss and recommend hearing aids based on that and your other lifestyle considerations. Amplifying external noise can help individuals hear and communicate over their tinnitus, as well as making it less noticeable.

Get in Touch with Your Audiologist

If you think that you may be experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, you can get in touch with your audiologist today. Aside from providing a hearing exam to address any hearing loss, we can recommend a wide range of tinnitus treatments to improve your quality of life.