If I have tinnitus, does it mean I also have hearing loss?

Tinnitus is defined as “the hearing of sound when no external sound is present.” It is one of the most common complaints reported to hearing healthcare professionals. Certainly, tinnitus is associated with hearing loss. That doesn’t mean, though, that if one has tinnitus, hearing loss is also present.

Why tinnitus and hearing loss typically come as a matched set

To hear, sound is funneled through the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. Microscopic hair cells inside the inner ear are responsible for carrying sound through auditory nerves to the brain. Hearing loss can occur at any stage of this process: the outer ear, the middle ear, the hair cells, the auditory nerve or the brain.

Interestingly, tinnitus, too, can be caused at any point in the process! For example, tinnitus can be caused by a wax impaction in the ear canal; it can be caused by middle ear disease such as fluid or Meniere’s Syndrome; it can be caused by damage to the hair cells in the inner ear; and it can be caused by inappropriate firing of nerve cells within the brain.

It's likely that what’s causing your tinnitus is also causing hearing loss

Because both hearing loss and, likely, tinnitus are caused or triggered by the same “malfunction” in our hearing system, there’s a good chance that if you have tinnitus, you’ll also experience hearing loss. We see that often. But not always.

Why? Because there are other triggers for tinnitus that aren’t caused by problems with the ear. For instance, medications (particularly high doses of aspirin), stress, high blood pressure, heart disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disfunction can cause tinnitus.

Get it checked out

If you are experiencing tinnitus, a visit with qualified hearing healthcare professional should be the first stop in finding a cause for your tinnitus. Because hearing loss is often associated with tinnitus, ruling out hearing loss makes sense. If hearing loss is detected, it is likely that the tinnitus is related to the hearing loss. If no hearing loss is detected, it’s time for a visit with your primary care physician to explore other possibilities. 

Contact Land of Lincoln hearing today to set up your first hearing consultation with a professional, here! Happy Hearing :)

Veterans, tinnitus and hearing loss

Here at Land of Lincoln Hearing, we wanted to share the two most common health conditions our military veterans face, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers: tinnitus and hearing loss.

Tinnitus has been described as ringing, buzzing, clicking or hissing in your ears. Tinnitus can develop in people of all ages and backgrounds. However, people who are older or who’ve had a lot of exposure to noise are especially at risk. Veterans, due to their exposure to loud noise levels during their service, are more susceptible to developing tinnitus. According to www.military.com, nearly 1.5 million veterans are receiving disability benefits for tinnitus.

Hearing loss among veterans is also prevalent. The Hearing Health Foundation estimates that 60% of American Veterans have suffered hearing loss, with nearly 1 million Veteransreceiving disability benefits for hearing loss in 2014. According to the CDC, hearing loss occurrences among veterans may also be attributed to exposure to loud noise during service.

Hearing loss and tinnitus can affect your relationships, making it difficult to interact with others in various listening environments. This can lead to feelings of isolation or depression. It’s important to remember you are not alone in this. If you think you or a loved one may have tinnitus or hearing loss, resources are available to help, such as information on the early signs of hearing loss, information on hearing loss and information on tinnitus.

A professional hearing test is highly encouraged to verify any results that you may get. Please contact Land of Lincoln Hearing here to schedule your first hearing test today!