Explanation: Why Hearing Loss Occurs with No Tinnitus?

[billhill4000]

HI everybody.

I know Tinnitus is complex to explain but I just wanted to know if anyone has gotten a medical explanation as to why hearing loss can occur with no tinnitus? I read many websites saying Tinnitus is the hairs in your ears "bent or damaged" and the brain "fills in the gap" by making an internal noise. But logically, why does that not always occur with hearing loss (even bad hearing loss). ie Many people have hearing loss and no tinnitus at all.

I can only conclude that tinnitus is realted to a mental issue (ie anxiety etc...)

Would love some helpful advice.

 

[Path Maker]

I don't remember the actual scientific reasons stated, but I read an article once that said that people who are prone to developing tinnitus lack an inhibitory function in their brain (actual circuitry, structures) that, in people who DO have this inhibitory function, suppresses the perception of it in those fortunate ones, enough NOT to "hear" it.

In other words, it just may be that everyone with some degree of hearing loss has the tinnitus phenomenon occur, but only the unlucky 1 in 10 actually experiences the "hearing" of it.

This makes sense. Humans have such differing genetics and physiologies; some people are more prone to some illnesses than others. Same with the development of tinnitus.

I wouldn't say it's directly correlated with anxiety, since many people with anxiety do not develop tinnitus.

That said, if you do have tinnitus and then anxiety along with that, then the high anxiety states can certainly impact the worsening of the tinnitus, and similarly, doing whatever you can to calm yourself may have a positive impact on the perception/manifestation of the tinnitus.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.