Preventing Tinnitus Caused by Hearing Loss

Tinnitus is a common symptom affecting one in 10 adults in the US. While there are many different causes and triggers, more often than not, it tends to be associated with some form of hearing loss. For example, a study from the Hearing Loss Association of America found that 90% of those with tinnitus also dealt with some form of hearing loss and often considered it to be the primary cause of tinnitus.

Why Does Hearing Loss Cause Tinnitus?

Many have explored the link between hearing loss and tinnitus, trying to determine why one may trigger the other. Typically, hearing loss can lead to tinnitus when the cochlea hair cells are damaged, which limits their ability to interpret sound signals. As such, this could cause the high-pitched ringing, buzzing or clicking sounds so commonly linked to tinnitus to present itself, often making it hard to focus on anything else.

How Can You Prevent Tinnitus Caused by Hearing Loss?

When hearing loss is the primary cause of tinnitus, it tends to be age-related. There are steps you can take to prevent tinnitus caused by hearing loss or at least minimize its impact on your life. It’s important that you minimize your exposure to loud noises. This can be achieved in noisy work environments through the use of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as noise-canceling headphones, earbuds, earplugs or earmuffs. These devices can also be used at concerts, festivals and in other noisy environments.

When it comes to noise exposure, it’s equally crucial that you turn down the volume on all of your electrical devices. While listening to music at full volume may be a lot of fun, it could cause damage to your inner ear, leaving you more vulnerable to both hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, try to keep the volume at an acceptable level. You can ask your audiologist about the safe decibel levels to protect your hearing when at concerts or listening to music through headphones.

Limiting Alcohol and Nicotine

Hearing loss and tinnitus can stem from various causes, and understanding the lifestyle factors that increase your susceptibility to hearing loss is valuable in preventing tinnitus. This awareness empowers you to make meaningful adjustments before the onset of symptoms related to hearing loss or tinnitus. For example, many audiologists advise that patients cut down on their intake of alcohol and nicotine. This is because both habits can affect blood flow throughout your body, which can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.

If you take medication for pre-existing health conditions, you may want to do some research into if they are causing the side effects of your tinnitus. If your medication is affecting your hearing, talk with your general practitioner about possibly switching or lowering your dosage. By doing this, it may lessen your symptoms of tinnitus.

Hearing Aids

Wearing hearing aids, especially those with masking capabilities, can also help to combat hearing loss and tinnitus. By amplifying external sounds that you may otherwise struggle to hear, makes it easier to block out the ringing noise. Noise machines could also help you to achieve a similar goal! Talk with your audiologist about tinnitus masking features for your hearing aids, and if it would benefit you!