Tinnitus
Tinnitus affects about 15-20% of people, especially older adults. It's often described as ringing, but can also sound like buzzing, hissing, whistling, or roaring. While it can be annoying, effective treatments are available to help you manage it.
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
When your ears can't pick up certain sounds from the environment, your brain may create its own sounds to fill the silence. This is why treating hearing loss with hearing aids often reduces tinnitus symptoms significantly.
What Causes Tinnitus?
The most frequent causes in older adults are age-related hearing loss and noise exposure over many years. Other common triggers include earwax buildup, certain blood pressure medications, and stress. Sometimes tinnitus starts suddenly, while other times it develops gradually alongside hearing loss.
Common Causes
- Hearing loss (most common cause)
- Loud noise exposure
- Earwax blockage
- Ear infections
- Certain medications
- Head or neck injuries
- Blood pressure problems
- Diabetes
How Hearing Aids help For Tinnitus
Hearing aids can play an important role in managing tinnitus, especially when hearing loss is also present. By improving access to everyday environmental sounds, hearing aids provide the brain with more auditory input, which may help reduce the perception of tinnitus. Many modern hearing aids also include tinnitus masking features designed to offer additional comfort.