By Chuck Smith
Guest Columnist

Editor’s Note: Chuck Smith is a licensed hearing care practitioner and owner of Affordable Hearing, with offices in Rochester and Logansport. He specializes in testing and fitting hearing aids, tinnitus therapy, hearing conservation and cerumen management (earwax removal). This is the first of two parts.

Chuck Smith

ROCHESTER — Tinnitus is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, characterized by a ringing, buzzing or other noise in the ears. While the exact cause of tinnitus is not always clear, recent research suggests that undiagnosed hearing loss could be a significant contributing factor.

Hearing loss is a gradual process that occurs over time, and many people may not even realize they have it. As the ear becomes less sensitive to sound, it compensates by sending stronger signals to the brain. This can cause the brain to perceive phantom noises, such as ringing or buzzing, which is known as tinnitus.

One study found that nearly 80% of people with tinnitus also had hearing loss. In addition, people with severe hearing loss were more likely to have severe tinnitus symptoms. This suggests that hearing loss and tinnitus may be closely linked, and that treating hearing loss could lead to a reduction in tinnitus symptoms.

Many of my patients, myself included, have complained about suffering with tinnitus. Most of them have stated that they don’t notice or “hear” the tinnitus when wearing their hearing aids.

Another study found that older adults with tinnitus were more likely to have age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis. This type of hearing loss is caused by the natural deterioration of the ear as we age and is characterized by difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds. The study suggests that as the ear’s ability to hear high-pitched sounds deteriorates, the brain may compensate by creating phantom noises, leading to tinnitus.

It’s not just age-related hearing loss that can cause tinnitus. Exposure to loud noise is another common cause of hearing loss and tinnitus. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when the delicate hair cells in the ear are damaged by loud noise. These hair cells play a crucial role in transmitting sound to the brain, and when they are damaged, the brain may create phantom noises as a compensation.

Many people who experience tinnitus due to noise exposure may have been exposed to loud noise in their workplace, such as construction workers, farmers and musicians. However, exposure to loud noise can also occur in everyday life, such as attending concerts, using power tools or even listening to music at a high volume.

Next week, I’ll talk about treatment options for people with tinnitus and hearing loss, including what is known as masking therapy.