Most people are familiar with hearing loss and how it can affect your ability to interact with the world around you. However, one symptom that has gained a lot of attention lately is tinnitus. It's imperative that you understand how tinnitus and hearing loss are connected so that you can get the best treatment to meet your needs.

What is Tinnitus?

Currently, 15% of the adult population in the United States is experiencing tinnitus symptoms. Regularly characterized as a ringing noise in the ear, tinnitus is classified as a symptom. People can experience tinnitus in one or both of their ears. The ringing sound may seem like it's coming from a distance or inside the head. It may take on a steady or pulsating consistency. Some people may describe the noise as ringing, hissing, clicking, buzzing, static, whooshing, sirens, crickets, or even dial tones.

At this point, hearing care specialists don't know the exact cause of tinnitus. However, these phantom noises are commonly linked to exposure to loud noise and hearing loss. This symptom is also present in many health disorders like Meniere's disease.

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss

It's estimated that around 90% of people with tinnitus symptoms also experience hearing loss. Even more interesting, tinnitus tends to be present in the frequency that you have difficulty hearing. For example, if you have trouble hearing high frequencies, your tinnitus typically takes the form of a high-pitched hissing or ringing sound. Additionally, those who experience hearing loss in only one of their ears will also experience tinnitus only in the same ear.

Seeking Treatment

When you first notice that you're having an issue with tinnitus or hearing loss, it's important that you seek assistance from an audiological professional. Many times tinnitus is one of the first symptoms that patients experience regarding hearing loss. By seeking help from a hearing care specialist, they can assess your hearing and help diagnose your hearing loss as early as possible.

When hearing loss is diagnosed early on, your hearing care specialist can recommend the perfect hearing aids to help restore your auditory stimulation. Many patients find that using hearing aids helps to reduce their tinnitus symptoms.

Additionally, seeking treatment is very important because letting hearing loss go undiagnosed can lead to many other mental health problems like dementia. Many patients who experience these conditions will withdraw from social situations and be at an increased risk for conditions like anxiety and depression.

Call Us Today

If you're experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, then it's time to contact us at Beltone Dallas Fort Worth. Let our helpful hearing care specialists assess your situation and provide the best treatment for your condition.

Resources:
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/53029-Tinnitus-and-hearing-loss