Can you suffer from tinnitus without having a hearing loss?

Often we look at tinnitus as a symptom of hearing loss. However, is there a possibility of suffering with tinnitus but having no hearing loss at all? The quick and short answer is yes.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be different things for different people. However, in general terms it is described as a ringing, buzzing or whooshing sound you hear when there are no external sounds. The pitch and frequency of any tinnitus sounds varies greatly from person to person so it is important to give an accurate description to any hearing healthcare professional you seek advice from. It can affect just one or both of your ears. It can be uncomfortable and ultimately affect your day to day life. Tinnitus is most common in adults and the elderly. It is so important to monitor your hearing and act on any such ringing before it gets worse.

What are the effects of tinnitus?

Due to the uncomfortableness and irritability of tinnitus, the effects can be debilitating and include fatigue, stress, difficulty concentrating and carrying out tasks, sleep problems, headaches and depression. You can talk to a hearing care professional about masking the symptoms with specific hearing aids or tinnitus therapy. If your tinnitus is being caused by an underlying condition, then it is the condition that will need to be treated first and foremost.

The most common cause of tinnitus

The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss. There are lots of different theories as to why hearing loss causes tinnitus but it is likely caused by the brain trying to fill in the missing gaps in sound. Wearing hearing aids will significantly reduce the tinnitus. The hearing aids can restore high frequency hearing meaning the brain no longer needs to attempt to “fill in” for you. Not only that, but many hearing aids also have specific tinnitus programs that can be put onto the hearing aids to help with the effects of tinnitus. This is known as Tinnitus Sound Therapy Software. There are also a range of tinnitus / sound therapy apps that can connect with Bluetooth equipped hearing aids.

But, can you have tinnitus without a hearing loss?

Whilst hearing loss is the most common cause of tinnitus, you can definitely still suffer from tinnitus if you don’t have a hearing loss. There are a wealth of different conditions that could be causing the tinnitus and we’ve listed a few below:

• Traumatic brain or neck injury
• Migraines or headaches
• Inner ear disorders
• Temporomandibular joint disorder
• Ototoxic medications
• Stress
• Diet

It’s really important that the cause of the tinnitus is determined so that it can be treated. This, in turn, can help to treat the tinnitus.

If you need any further advice or feel you have begun to suffer from tinnitus, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can also book a tinnitus consultation easily on our website.