Scientists have called tinnitus an early sign of hearing loss.

Constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears can be early signs of hearing loss. This was reported on June 10 by Science Daily magazine.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 13% of American adults have hearing difficulties, and among people over the age of 65, this figure reaches 27%. Approximately 10% of the population also experience tinnitus, a condition in which a person hears sounds that do not have an external source.

As explained by Jackie Price, an audiologist from the Otolaryngology Clinic of the Penn State Health Medical Network, such symptoms occur due to a violation of the connection between the organs of hearing and the brain.

The damage process often begins in the cochlea of the inner ear, where tiny sensory hair cells convert sound vibrations into signals for the brain. When these cells are damaged, the transmission of information is distorted, which leads to the appearance of "phantom" sounds. Experts emphasize that hearing loss and tinnitus are associated not only with physical discomfort, but also with sleep problems, impaired concentration, depression, and accelerated cognitive decline.

To protect your hearing, doctors recommend limiting exposure to noise exceeding 85 decibels. Dangerous sources include concerts, sporting events, fireworks, and power tools. When using a lawn mower, Price advises using protective headphones instead of listening to music through in-ear headphones.

As one of the treatment methods, specialists offer tinnitus retraining therapy, which combines counseling and sound therapy. Despite the lack of a complete cure for hearing loss in some cases, modern technologies can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with timely medical treatment.

Beating on the ears: why teenagers began to lose their hearing faster

Loud noises provoke hearing loss, while quiet ones cause nervous disorders.

Alexander Umnov, a lecturer at the Department of Surgery at the Medical Faculty of the State University of Education, warned in an interview with Izvestia on September 23 last year about the risk of hearing loss in Meniere's disease. According to him, this disease is characterized by a violation of the outflow of lymph, as a result of which pressure increases in the inner ear. All this, according to the specialist, provokes spasm of the eardrum, increased pressure on the auditory ossicles and pain.