Sensorineural hearing loss is a commonly accompanied by tinnitus. Some
researchers believe that subjective tinnitus cannot exist without some prior
damage to the auditory system. The underlying hearing loss can be the result of:
1. Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis): Hearing often
deteriorates as people get older, typically starting around the age of 60. This
form of hearing loss tends to be bilateral (in both ears) and involve the
sensory loss of high-frequency sounds. Age-related hearing loss explains, in
part, why tinnitus is so prevalent among seniors.
2. Noise-induced hearing loss: Exposure to loud noises, either in a
single traumatic experience or over time, can damage the auditory system and
result in hearing loss and sometimes tinnitus as well. Noise induced hearing
loss is sometimes unilateral (one ear only) and typically causes patients to
lose hearing around the frequency of the triggering sound trauma.
The patient may not notice any missing frequencies if they already have
hearing loss. But that doesn't imply no damage has been done. A hearing
specialist can perform accurate audiometric testing to precisely measure hearing
loss.
