Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: Why They Often Occur Together
TL; DR: This blog is for people experiencing tinnitus, especially those who have also noticed changes in hearing, difficulty understanding speech, or problems hearing in noisy environments. Tinnitus and hearing loss often occur together but are not the same condition: Tinnitus is the perception of sounds such as ringing, buzzing, or humming, while hearing loss refers to reduced ability to hear or understand sounds. Several factors can affect both tinnitus and hearing: Age-related hearing changes, loud-noise exposure, earwax, middle or inner ear conditions, and certain medicines may contribute to both symptoms. A hearing assessment can help identify what is happening: Hearing tests can determine whether measurable hearing loss is present, its type and severity, and whether further medical evaluation may be required. Management depends on the underlying cause and individual symptoms: Depending on the assessment, care may involve treating an ear problem, hearing aids, counselling, sound enrichment, sleep or stress support, and medical referral when appropriate. If you are hearing a ringing, buzzing, humming, or whistling sound in your ears, it can be confusing, particularly if no one else can hear it. You might also find it harder to listen to what people are saying, and you may need to increase the volume of the TV. These two problems are intertwined. It is possible for tinnitus and hearing loss to occur simultaneously, as many hearing-related conditions can also cause tinnitus. Some individuals will be the first to know that they have tinnitus. Others discover that they have experienced a change in their hearing as well, at a hearing evaluation. If you have an understanding of this relationship, you will be able to determine when to consult a professional and what kind of assessments might need to be done. What Are Tinnitus and Hearing Loss? Tinnitus is hearing a sound such as ringing, buzzing, humming or whistling without an external sound source. Tinnitus is a unique condition for each person. You may hear: Ringing Buzzing Hissing Whistling Humming Clicking A high-pitched tone The sound can be heard in one ear, both ears, or from within the head. It may happen from time to time, or it may happen repeatedly. Hearing loss means reduced ability to hear or understand sound. You may notice difficulty with soft voices, conversations in noise, telephone calls, television or particular pitches. Tinnitus and hearing loss can coexist as they may share some common components of the auditory system, but they are different symptoms. Why Do Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Often Occur Together? Sound reaches your ears through the auditory system to your brain. When hearing is reduced, the auditory system receives less sound information than before. In some people, changes in how the auditory system responds to this reduced input may contribute to tinnitus. Not all people with hearing loss experience tinnitus. It also doesn’t imply that all tinnitus patients will have an actual hearing loss. But a few circumstances may have an impact on both hearing and tinnitus. They include aging, exposure to loud noises, ear diseases, earwax, some medicines, and inner ear diseases. As there are several possible causes, it is best to get your symptoms evaluated rather than just assuming that you are suffering from tinnitus and have to live with it. What Causes Tinnitus and Hearing Loss? There is no single cause that explains every case. Age-related changes in hearing As you age, your hearing may slowly deteriorate, especially for sounds that are higher in pitch. Initially, you might think that speech is not as intelligible, but not that it is just quieter. A member of the family may talk in a mumble, or it might be hard to follow a conversation in a restaurant. Some of these age-related changes in hearing can also be accompanied by tinnitus. Exposure to loud sounds Excessive exposure to loud music, machinery, traffic, industrial noise, construction noise, or loud recreational sound can compromise structures that are associated with auditory function. But it can be temporary or permanent changes if the sound is loud enough. A loud event may cause ringing in the ears. If the ringing does not quiet spontaneously, or there is also a loss of hearing, it is advisable to have an audiological assessment. Earwax blockage An excess accumulation of earwax may sometimes affect a person’s ability to hear well and can often be accompanied by tinnitus. Don’t use a cotton bud, pin, or other object to remove earwax, as this can either push the wax further in or harm the ear. Earwax should only be professionally checked, never removed with cotton buds, pins, or other objects that may push the earwax further or damage the ear. Middle or inner ear problems Other ear disorders may be associated with hearing changes in conjunction with the tinnitus. Ear pressure, dizziness, ear discharge, pain and sudden hearing changes are all good indicators of what is occurring. You can read more about common ear symptoms and conditions and why the combination of symptoms matters during assessment. Certain medicines In some situations, certain medicines can cause hearing problems or be a cause of tinnitus. Don’t discontinue any prescribed medication due to the development of tinnitus. Talk to the doctor who prescribed it to review your symptoms, dosage, medical history, and possible alternatives, all without compromising safety. What Are the Early Signs You May Have Hearing Loss Along With Tinnitus? People with tinnitus may become preoccupied with the tinnitus tone, and tune out when their hearing changes slightly. If you’re starting to experience that: Voices seem softer or less clear than before. You frequently ask people to repeat themselves. The volume of the television has been slowly turned up. Telephone conversations have become harder to follow. You can’t hear what people are saying in noisy places like restaurants or when you’re in a family setting Some pitches or voices are less clear than others. You can hear one ear more clearly than the other Tinnitus seems to be louder in quiet surroundings When you have tinnitus and hearing loss,
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