No Hearing Loss — Still Have Tinnitus

Hi,

I got tinnitus on 26 November 2018 by using active noise cancelling headphones (Bose QC35) at 40% volume. I got my ears tested for hearing loss and the test showed that there was no hearing loss. Now after more than an year of suffering, I had the tests done again, and the result is the same (no hearing loss).

I am confused, if my hearing is perfect, and there is no damage to inner ear, then why do I have tinnitus.

P.S. my tinnitus is about 5/10 where 10 is the worst.

Please advise.

 

There are two types of hearing loss not detected by a standard audiogram (250 Hz to 8000 Hz).

1) ultra high frequency hearing loss (over 8000 Hz.) You would need an extended audiogram to test for this. Problems in this area are extremely common for tinnitus sufferers.

2) your outer hair cells are fine but you have "hidden hearing loss" aka cochlear synaptopathy.

While hearing damage isn't the only cause of tinnitus, it is the most common. I wouldn't say you have ruled out hearing loss completely if you just had a standard audiogram, especially.

 

Your hearing may not be perfect, even if the tests claim it is. Synaptopathy is one condition that would not necessarily show on during a typical Pure Tone Audiometry test, but that can cause tinnitus.

 

Was your audiogram all the way up to 12 kHz? Most hearing tests go up to 8 kHz.
Many in this board have gotten tinnitus from rare side effects of different medications, some never find out why they got tinnitus.

How are you so sure the QC35 caused your tinnitus? A causal relationship versus coincidence?

 

I've only became aware of my hidden hearing loss as my hyperacusis has eased off partially. From what I hear, you can still get tinnitus with no hearing loss or hyperacusis, but I could be wrong on the science there.

I'm going to ask for another hearing test and maybe then the ENTs will finally accept that I have a problem.

 

It was just after using the QC35 that I started hearing the ringing sound that never went away. Also I think that my audiogram was up to 8kHz and I will go for an extended audiogram this time.
Thank you for your response.

 

If as you state, your Tinnitus came as result of using headphones, then it only stands to reason that your ears have suffered some trauma. It may not show in a regular hearing test, but never the less, you likely have some hearing loss.