What is the Link Between Tinnitus and Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss and tinnitus are both connected to each other. Many of those who experience hearing loss are also dealing with tinnitus, which isn’t easy to deal with for most people. This is a problem that can occur at any age, as it’s about your hearing, which can change due to noise, age, injury, infection and many more reasons. Treating your hearing loss could help to ease your symptoms of tinnitus and many people don’t know that.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the constant or intermittent sound of ringing, whooshing, humming or buzzing in the ear. In most cases, other people can’t hear these sounds, and this is the reality for a portion of the population who are dealing with tinnitus. It’s a common condition across many age groups and over a quarter of all people will experience tinnitus at some point in their lives. While tinnitus doesn't have a direct cure, it is a condition that can be treated and managed over time. There are plenty of treatments your audiologist can talk you through that focuses on relieving the symptoms of tinnitus.

How does hearing loss factor in?

There is a large portion of people out there who suffer hearing loss alongside tinnitus. Sometimes, patients present with noise in their ears that feels so loud to them they’re surprised other people cannot hear it. It’s in these cases mainly that hearing loss is a factor and its where hearing aids can be fitted to help to mask the noise. When the noise around the tinnitus is amplified, the tinnitus sound can be drowned out, and this is one of the most common ways to treat this condition.

Will hearing aids really help?

Easing the symptoms of tinnitus – even slightly – can be life-changing for the person experiencing this condition. It can be life-altering if it’s left untreated and it’s very stressful to cope with when you are dealing with a condition like this. As a patient, you need to be as informed as possible. Hearing aids not only help the hearing loss, but they can also amplify the noise around you and dull the ringing in your ears while you hear the sounds of everyday life. 

What to do if you are experiencing tinnitus

If you believe that you have the signs of tinnitus and you are concerned that you may be dealing with hearing loss, too, then you need to book an appointment with an audiologist. They will be able to test your hearing and tell you whether you are dealing with a loss. They will also be able to assess you to see whether you are dealing with tinnitus and how they can help you to cope with it. They’ll give you an idea of the local support groups that you can attend, give you some information on ongoing research, and you can alleviate the symptoms that you are coping with. Don’t deal alone; get the right help, and your tinnitus will be something that can be managed better.