Does Tinnitus Cause Hearing Loss?…By Dr. Richard Reikowski, Au.D Family Hearing and Balance Center

This is a good question… I would be confident to say that no, tinnitus does not cause hearing loss. In fact, tinnitus, or ringing in the ears,  is very much a symptom of many conditions, including hearing loss. We often see hearing loss as a result from a person having worked for many years in excessive noisy areas, especially without the use of hearing protection. The noise levels cause a change in the functioning of the inner ear hair cells, found in the cochlea. This is the reason hearing protection and noise plugs should always be worn when in noisy work areas, as well as while operating noisy machinery, recreational shooting, etc. Let’s not take our hearing for granted as sometimes just one occurrence of a very loud sound can negatively affect our hearing. Also, tinnitus begins to be observed after noise exposure.

How many of you can recall going to loud social areas, wedding receptions, or concerts and while leaving and being in a quiet area, as well as going to sleep, notice a noise,  buzzing, or ringing sound in your ears? Yes, these are some early warning signs that the noise exposure affects our ears.  Of course, various medications, accidents, and medical conditions can result with tinnitus symptoms.  Our practice and Doctors of Audiology staff are here to offer the best solutions for your “noise exposure” concerns and situations. We will help you to not only protect your hearing, but to enjoy the concert or shooting practice with custom noise or musician molds. We are here to help you understand your tinnitus and offer solutions to reduce its affect and awareness. It’s what we do…