How Does Tinnitus Relate to Hearing Loss?

by Jennifer Abbott | Oct 30, 2020 | Client Resources, Hearing Loss, Tinnitus

Despite tinnitus being a significantly widespread issue, there is a surprising lack of public awareness about it.

How Does Tinnitus Relate to Hearing Loss?

Millions of people across Canada are affected by tinnitus, causing them to be exposed to unpleasant sounds and noises that no one else can hear.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus occurs when you are consciously able to hear sounds that are not generated from outside the body. These sounds can vary considerably from person to person, and can be chronic or fleeting, light or severe.

Potential Symptoms of Tinnitus

People report a wide range of auditory sensations due to tinnitus, and effects might include:

Steady high-pitched ringing
Beeps, chirps, or clicking
Whistling, hissing, or static
Buzzing, roaring, or humming
Pulsing or musical beats
Other continuous or intermittent sounds

Despite tinnitus being a significantly widespread issue, there is a surprising lack of public awareness about it.

Is Tinnitus a disease?

Tinnitus in itself is not an illness, it is generally an indicator of another underlying health condition which may or may not involve hearing loss. Although it is quite often the result of prolonged exposure to loud noises, it may also be a symptom other health problems.

Potential Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus may be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Extensive exposure to loud noises
Ear and sinus infections
Excess buildup of wax in the ear canal causing blockages
Head or neck injuries
Cardiovascular disease
High blood pressure or cholesterol
Brain tumors
Hormonal changes
Diabetes
Middle ear complications
Meniere’s disease
Side effect of medications
Age-induced hearing loss

Impact of Tinnitus on Daily Living

Depending on the severity of tinnitus it can be debilitating, causing significant impacts on daily routines. Persistent problems with tinnitus may lead to:

Difficulty focusing and concentrating
Chronic fatigue
Increased stress
Memory issues
Trouble sleeping
Quickly becoming irritable or aggravated
Anxiety and depression

Diagnosis and Treatment for Tinnitus

If you are hearing strange noises or experiencing any of the symptoms listed above it is recommended to seek the assistance of a hearing professional as soon as possible. This will help determine if tinnitus is in fact the issue, and if so provide a clearer picture of the underlying issues contributing to the problem.Some of the questions a hearing professional may address can include:

How often and how loud are the sounds you are hearing?
Do you have any other existing health conditions?
Is there any associated dizziness or jaw pain?
Have you recently been exposed to any exceptionally loud noises?
Are you experiencing any hearing loss?

Treatment

Since there is no actual cure for tinnitus, treatment involves addressing the underlying causes. Some typical treatments may involve:

Caring for ear infections or removing wax buildup
Relaxation techniques to minimize effects
Sound therapy
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Counselling and education
Medications
Hearing aids

Hearing Loss Related Tinnitus

If your tinnitus is the result of hearing loss, hearing aids can be a huge help in resolving the issue. Hearing aids can help treat hearing loss related tinnitus in two ways:

Restoring hearing frequency rang
Masking undesirable sounds

Restoring Hearing Frequency Range

Hearing aids can help people with hearing loss get back to the normal range of sounds they have been accustomed to hearing. Amplifying impaired sound frequencies can have a direct effect on the symptoms of tinnitus. Even if the hearing aid doesn’t eliminate the sounds caused by tinnitus, it can amplify more pleasant external sounds, so the tinnitus is not so piercing and all-encompassing.

Masking Undesirable Sounds

Many models of modern hearing aids come equipped with tinnitus-masking capabilities to drown out unpleasant sounds with white noise or soothing music depending on the pitch and intensity of your specific tinnitus condition.

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Jennifer Abbott

Jennifer Abbott brings over 25 years of experience in business. She has worked in multiple industries, including insurance brokerage, aviation, and health. Her career journey enabled her to acquire impeccable skills to help people find solutions in any situation. Jennifer is well travelled. She has lived and worked in Dubai for award-winning Emirates Airline. Jennifer has enjoyed working in a multicultural environment. Her offshore work empowered her to learn about various cultures from over 100 different nationalities. Upon her return home, Jennifer pursued her studies as a Hearing Aid Practitioner. While working in a hearing clinic, she became aware of some people’s challenges getting to their appointment. She realized that those people were not getting the proper hearing aid help they needed, which compromised their hearing. People’s struggles inspired her to establish the first unique 100% mobile hearing clinic in the lower mainland. As the founder of Hear at Home Mobile Hearing Clinic, Jennifer’s mission is to improve her client’s quality of life at any age. She has in-depth experience with hearing testing fitting, recommending hearing aids and working with older populations suffering from cognitive decline and Dementia.

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				Jane Thornthwaite			

							Jennifer is very professional and patient. I would recommend her services to anyone who thinks they, or a loved one, could use some help choosing a hearing device that fits their capabilities and lifestyle.
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 12/09/2019

				Anon			

							Thank you very much for yesterday’s presentation.

Karen’s was exhaustive, clear, lively and very interesting. She made me walk again through all the steps and stages of adaptation.

I hope it will bear fruits and help others.

Congratulations to you and to her. Please convey my sincere thanks to Emma for her help to log in.
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 20/02/2023

				Doris Gregory			

							I am writing this for my mother who is 101 and in an LTC facility.  Jennifer has been very helpful in visiting the nursing home, fixing the hearing aids and instructing staff on care and maintenance.
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 09/03/2023

				Colleen Hawkins			

							Many thanks to Jennifer who went above and beyond with her customer service! My mother was hospitalized after breaking her hip. She relied on her hearing aids to hear what doctors and physiotherapists were telling her. Unfortunately one of the hearing aids stopped working. I dropped the aid off at the Hear at Home office on a Friday afternoon. The following day Jennifer had fixed it and offered me to pick it up that evening at her home (I couldn't pick it up during office hours), otherwise we would have had to wait til Tuesday. Then on Sunday we were having difficulties getting that hearing aid to stay in her ear. Jennifer had me bring it back to her home Sunday evening to make some adjustments.  Its very impressive that Jennifer went out of her way, on her days off, to help my mother in a time of need. Thank you so much, Jennifer, you rock!
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 27/10/2021

				Irma Bodo			

							Thank you Jennifer for successfully ear wax removal. I had been dreading getting it done. The staff at the clinic were so friendly and accommodating. I was seen right on my appointment time. The clinic is well run and extremely clean. I have booked a follow up hearing test at the clinic.
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 08/06/2023

				Brian Gibbard			

							In recent years I realized that I had sustained a hearing loss. A profoundly hearing impaired friend suggested I contact Jennifer Abbott at Hear at Home. Jennifer was a delight to deal with. She came to my home , tested me, and gave me a number of options. At no time did I feel she was trying to "sell" me something; rather she was giving me information and leaving decisions up to me. She was patient and and able to answer all my questions. I did purchase hearing aids from Hear at Home and they have worked as she described. Her follow up care was excellent and she was prompt and  very careful to follow covid protocols. In sum my experience with Jennifer and Hear at Home exceeded my expectations and I would refer friends to her without hesitation.
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 27/01/2022

				C Geiss			

							Tracey was great, full of very good information, interesting topics. I would certainly attend another talk at Hear at Home.
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 12/04/2023

				Rose Walter			

							Hello Jennifer

Since last Wednesday, I have been putting my hearing aids in after coming out of the shower every single morning. You adjusted it and I have no more problem to understand people more than max. three, me included. Today we were six around the table and sometimes my husband, who was sitting beside me, talked to the host while I was chatting with the hostess and one of her friends to the same time. That never happened the last 3 or 4 years ever!

While driving in a pick up truck, very loud vehicle, I was able to talk to my husband without having to yell at each other! Also the drops are working like a charm. On Thursday, I needed it in both ears once. Today the first time again just later in the afternoon into my right ear. That’s it. It must have a kind of a healing property in that bottle… 

Garry asked me if I stay in Squamish just for the cleaning – my reply was, never again! 

Thank you for helping me so much and I will see you in a few months for ear cleaning.  

Warmest Regards
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 27/10/2022

				Cathy M			

							The key piece of information I took from the Dementia webinar was the information provided about the difference between dementia and alzheimer’s disease.  I found it informative and would attend again.
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 20/02/2023

				DaveandBon Scott			

							Hear at Home is a very professional, very calming, very helpful service that comes to you where you live and when you want. I had no idea how important to your brain your hearing is.  Jen explained everything to me about the connection between hearing well and being well:  mentally - better memory, better social connections, better attitude to living overall.  And then , when it came time to try out the hearing aids, she was exceptional - it was like she knows what you're thinking and answers your concerns even before you ask!!  Very calm, very gentle - her manner made me relax and feel reassured.  All in all, more health services should operate like Hear at Home -Thank you so much Jen. to keep your services  available during this difficult Covid19 Pandemic
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 27/10/2021