If you are experiencing a ringing in the ear, you might be wondering whether this has something to do with hearing loss. In most cases, tinnitus is a mild condition that can be an occasional inconvenience. 

However, in more severe cases, tinnitus can affect your hearing and perception, which can interfere with your daily routine, work-life and personal relationships. Nonetheless, tinnitus is not considered to be a medical condition in itself but rather a symptom of another underlying disease and disorder. In some cases, it can arise because of hearing loss. 

It is crucial to understand the connection between hearing loss and tinnitus – and you should always consult your audiologist to find the right treatment. 

How are hearing loss and tinnitus connected?

Tinnitus does not cause hearing loss – and hearing loss does not directly cause tinnitus. However, both conditions are likely to stem from damage to the hair cells. Hair cells are the cells in the inner ear that are sound-sensitive and have the responsibility to carry signals to the brain. 

These cells can become bent, broken or damaged due to prolonged exposure to loud noises or trauma, causing noise-induced hearing loss. Another factor that might affect your hearing is age – as we age, the hair cells can decline or lose important functionalities. 

Does tinnitus cause hearing loss?

So, hearing loss happens as a consequence of damaged, bent or broken hair cells. Because of such damage, they can’t deliver the right signals to the brain and send random electrical impulses instead. These impulses are what cause you to hear the phantom noises that are common when experiencing tinnitus. 

Ultimately, tinnitus does not cause heart loss. However, hair cell damage can cause both hearing loss and tinnitus. Indeed, over 90% of individuals with tinnitus also experience a degree of noise-induced or age-related hearing loss

Does a hearing aid help tinnitus?

Aside from hair cell damage, tinnitus can also be caused by other underlying conditions or environmental factors. While hearing aids might not help in these cases, they can be helpful if the tinnitus is related to hearing loss. 

Hearing aid devices use modern technologies to help you counteract your hearing loss. They use volume settings and directional microphones to help you focus on a specific sound while also cutting out distracting background noises. If you have been experiencing symptoms, hearing devices can help you regulate the sound of external noises to overpower any phantom noises in your heart.

Tinnitus assessments

When looking to find a suitable treatment for your tinnitus, the first step is to consult your audiologist. An expert audiologist will perform all the necessary tests to clarify whether your tinnitus is connected to hearing loss and what the solutions are to minimize the impact that this condition might have on your life. 

Additionally, an audiologist can inspect the heart, jaw and neck to identify earwax accumulations, blockages and traumas that might have led to you experiencing hearing loss and tinnitus. If hearing loss and tinnitus are connected to other underlying conditions, your audiologist might recommend lifestyle changes to help you improve your overall health.