Can Hearing Loss Cause Tinnitus?

The ear is a complex structure that works in conjunction with the brain to create the sounds you hear in your external environment. When sound frequencies enter into the ear canal, they pass through the middle ear to the cochlea – a snail-shaped area that contains tiny hair cells.  

The sound frequencies are interpreted by the hair cells and pass to the auditory nerve that connects to the brain. The brain then turns these sound signals into electrical signals to be interpreted. If the hair cells die, the brain will continue to interpret the signals causing background noise or tinnitus. 

What causes tinnitus?

The main reason for the emergence of tinnitus is the death or damage of the irreplaceable hair cells in the cochlea. When these disappear, the brain continues to interpret the signals passing through the ear as sound, but since there is no sound there, it compensates and makes fuzzy noise. 

The hair cells in the cochlea can be damaged in several ways, they can die as you get older, but equally, they can be damaged by excessive noise from your work or entertainment. Any noise above 80 decibels can be harmful to your hearing and cause tinnitus. 

Does hearing loss cause tinnitus? 

Tinnitus is not always directly related to hearing loss, but it can be. Age-related hearing loss is very common in individuals over 50, and the loss of hearing works in much the same way as the onset of tinnitus. As you age the hair cells in the cochlea die or become broken leading to hearing loss. 

At first, you will notice a reduction in your capacity to hear high-frequency sounds following this; you might find it challenging to pick out words in a conversation or background noise. At the same time, you will notice the emergence of fuzzy background noise – this is tinnitus. 

Can a hearing aid help?

Hearing Aids are not only designed to amplify the sounds in your environment and help you hear better, they are also designed to reduce the worst effects of tinnitus and improve your concentration. There are many ways to optimize a heating device to suit your individual circumstances.

If you think you need a hearing device, you should contact your audiologist and book an appointment. You will first need to go through a hearing test to determine what kind of hearing device you require. Following that, you will choose a hearing aid that fits your requirements and your lifestyle.  

Types of hearing device 

There are several types of hearing aid on offer these days that suit all kinds of lifestyles and sensibilities. You can have a behind-the-ear hearing aid, an in-the-ear hearing aid, or a receiver in the ear hearing aid. These devices come with many settings and function not available in previous versions. 

Although sound enhancement is a key feature of a hearing aid device, these hearing aids also come with background noise reduction technology that eliminates tinnitus and helps you concentrate. So, when you start to lose your hearing and you notice tinnitus, a hearing aid can be a complete solution for you.