Are tinnitus and hearing loss linked?

Tinnitus could be a symptom of hearing loss and it can increase when your hearing deteriorates. In fact, 80% of individuals with this symptom also suffer from hearing loss despite being unaware of it 2 . For example, you may hear noises only in one ear if you are experiencing hearing loss in that same ear. On the other hand, you may hear a hissing or high-pitched ringing if you have difficulties hearing high-frequency sounds.

When should I see an audiologist for tinnitus?

You should see an audiologist if you are experiencing any of these symptoms: Ringing in the ear(s) for more than a week Poor sleep, inability to concentrate or anxiety resulting from the tinnitus Pain, discharge and/or persistent blockage in the ear Dizziness Tinnitus only in one ear Fill out our Tinnitus Evaluation Quiz today and our audiologists will get in touch with you as quickly as possible. Note: If your tinnitus is rhythmic with your pulse, you are advised to seek medical attention immediately at A&E.

Basic Tinnitus Evaluation and Management

Tinnitus is the presence of ringing, buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling or other sounds in one or both ears that do not stem from an external sound source. This noise can be intermittent or continuous and can also vary in loudness. Fill out our short Tinnitus Evaluation Quiz below and our hearing care professionals will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Take the Quiz

Types of Tinnitus

The two main types of tinnitus are subjective and objective tinnitus.

Subjective Tinnitus	Objective Tinnitus
What it is: Subjective tinnitus often sounds like ringing, buzzing or a constant tone. These sounds are only heard by the individual and not others. How common it is: This type of tinnitus is more common as it accounts for 95% of all tinnitus cases¹.	What it is: Objective tinnitus is audible and identifiable externally. Some individuals experiencing this may report pulsatile tinnitus that is in rhythm with their blood flow or pulse near the ears. How common it is: Objective tinnitus is rare and accounts for less than 5% of all tinnitus cases¹.

Subjective Tinnitus

Objective Tinnitus

What it is:
Subjective tinnitus often sounds like ringing, buzzing or a constant tone. These sounds are only heard by the individual and not others.

How common it is:
This type of tinnitus is more common as it accounts for 95% of all tinnitus cases¹.

What it is:
Objective tinnitus is audible and identifiable externally. Some individuals experiencing this may report pulsatile tinnitus that is in rhythm with their blood flow or pulse near the ears.

How common it is:
Objective tinnitus is rare and accounts for less than 5% of all tinnitus cases¹.

When you come for our Tinnitus Evaluation Management, our audiologists will diagnose your tinnitus type based on your experience.

Causes of Tinnitus

Depending on the type of tinnitus you are experiencing, the cause leading to your tinnitus may differ. These are the common causes of each type of tinnitus (but not limited to the following):

Subjective Tinnitus	Objective Tinnitus
Hearing loss Natural ageing process Ear infections Damage to the ears (e.g. ruptured eardrum) Excessive exposure to loud noises (e.g. from concerts, construction work, gunfire) Emotional distress and anxiety	Tension or injuries to the head or neck Medical conditions (e.g. Meniere’s disease, circulatory disorders, diabetes, overactive thyroid) Contraction of the carotid artery Benign intracranial hypertension Jaw joint misalignment Twitching of the ear muscles

What to Expect During a Basic Tinnitus Evaluation and Management Session at Hearing Partners

Our Basic Tinnitus Evaluation and Management session is tailored to each individual, so our audiologists will customise the session according to your specific situation. In general, this is the process that you will go through.

Talk about your tinnitus

Our audiologist will ask the details of your tinnitus and your lifestyle habits and administer questionnaires to find out how the tinnitus has impacted your daily routine.

Take a hearing test

A hearing test will be conducted to assess your hearing and identify any potential hearing loss that may be linked to your tinnitus.

Learn about tinnitus

Our audiologist will explain your tinnitus in a way that is easy to understand. They will discuss the different types of tinnitus and answer any questions you might have.

Manage tinnitus and find relief

During the session, our audiologist will explore various strategies to help you manage your tinnitus effectively. They will work with you to create a personalised plan that meets your needs.

Get extra help

If necessary, our audiologist may refer you to the relevant partner specialists for further evaluation of your condition.

Note: Bring your identification card or passport with you when you come in for your appointment.

Tinnitus Masker for Immediate Relief – Even Without Hearing Loss

If you experience tinnitus but don't have hearing loss, the Oticon Jet PX offers a dedicated solution just for you. Designed with all-day comfort in mind, this discreet device delivers soothing sounds that help reduce the perception of tinnitus, giving you relief when you need it most.

Note: While the tinnitus masker offers relief, it is not a treatment or cure for tinnitus.

Enhance Your Quality of Life

With Oticon Jet PX, you can enjoy improved focus, better sleep, and enhanced overall quality of life, even with tinnitus.

The built-in ComfortPulse feature lets you choose from adjustable sound patterns, while the Oticon Companion app makes it easy to personalise your experience, so you can find the sound that works best for you.

Speak to our hearing care professionals today to find out more.

Why Choose Hearing Partners?

Trusted hearing clinic

Since our founding, Hearing Partners has helped over 15,000 patients with personalised hearing solutions.

Expert hearing care professionals

Our audiologists focus on offering customised hearing healthcare to each individual to cater to their unique needs and requirements.

Reliable prescription hearing aids

We carry a wide range of prescription hearing aids from Oticon, designed to deliver speech understanding with minimal effort.

Customer Reviews

“Lee Lee is very patient in answering all the queries that my grandpa has and explaining in simple terms so he could understand how to use the hearing aid.”

Vivien Ho

“I would like to commend Si Hui for going the extra mile for my family and daughter. Top notch customer service with a smile. She is clearly passionate about her job.”

Teresa

“Audiologist Ms. Soh has been very professional in her analysis and in dispensing advice. She is customer-centric, focused on the needs of her customers and patiently listening to concerns.”

G.G

FAQs About Tinnitus

Tinnitus could be a symptom of hearing loss and it can increase when your hearing deteriorates. In fact, 80% of individuals with this symptom also suffer from hearing loss despite being unaware of it².

For example, you may hear noises only in one ear if you are experiencing hearing loss in that same ear. On the other hand, you may hear a hissing or high-pitched ringing if you have difficulties hearing high-frequency sounds.

You should see an audiologist if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

Ringing in the ear(s) for more than a week
Poor sleep, inability to concentrate or anxiety resulting from the tinnitus
Pain, discharge and/or persistent blockage in the ear
Dizziness
Tinnitus only in one ear

Fill out our Tinnitus Evaluation Quiz today and our audiologists will get in touch with you as quickly as possible.

Note: If your tinnitus is rhythmic with your pulse, you are advised to seek medical attention immediately at A&E.

No, there is currently no cure for tinnitus. However, there are many ways to manage your tinnitus.

Medications rarely reduce the loudness of tinnitus. Those prescribed for tinnitus usually address concerns such as depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances and others help to promote mental alertness, which in turn can alleviate the impact of tinnitus.

¹ UCSF Medical Centre: Tinnitus
² Statistics retrieved from Audika Australia

Basic Tinnitus Evaluation and Management

What is Tinnitus

Types of Tinnitus

Causes of Tinnitus

Fill Out Our Tinnitus Evaluation Quiz