Tinnitus guidance
Tinnitus and what a hearing test can show
Find out why ringing in the ears is checked alongside your hearing levels. Send an enquiry to arrange a test in Mitcham, with no obligation or fee for asking.
Why ringing in the ears is checked alongside your hearing levels
Ringing, buzzing or humming in the ears rarely happens in isolation. A hearing test measures how these sounds relate to your actual hearing levels and points toward the right next step.
What tinnitus actually is
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when nothing external is producing it. People describe it as ringing, buzzing, hissing or even clicking. It can be constant or come and go, and it might affect one ear or both.
The experience varies widely. For some, it is a quiet background noise noticed only in a silent room. For others, it is loud enough to interfere with sleep or concentration. Because it is generated within the auditory system rather than outside the body, there is no microphone that can pick it up. The audiologist relies on your description and then looks for measurable changes in how your ears respond to real sound.
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a diagnosis in itself. It frequently appears alongside hearing loss, but it can also follow ear infections, exposure to loud noise, stress or a build-up of wax. Understanding which of these applies to you requires testing rather than guesswork.
Why a hearing test matters when your ears ring
A hearing test does not measure tinnitus directly, but it reveals the conditions that usually accompany it. The audiologist plays tones at different pitches and volumes through headphones, recording the quietest sound you detect at each frequency. This produces an audiogram: a graph of your hearing thresholds.
Most people with persistent tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss, even if they have not noticed difficulty following conversations. The loss often sits at high frequencies, where everyday speech consonants live. When those frequencies drop out, the brain sometimes generates its own signal to fill the gap. That signal is what you hear as ringing.
By mapping exactly where your hearing dips, the audiologist can explain whether your tinnitus fits this pattern or whether something else is driving it. The test takes around thirty minutes and involves no discomfort. If you are unsure whether you need one, reading about the signs that suggest a hearing test is a useful first step.
How the audiologist interprets the results
The audiogram tells a specific story. A slope at the higher pitches, combined with tinnitus at a matching frequency, strongly suggests the ringing is linked to reduced sensitivity in that part of the inner ear. The audiologist will talk you through this relationship in plain terms.
They will also check for asymmetry. If one ear shows significantly worse thresholds than the other, or if the tinnitus is strictly one-sided, further investigation may be needed. In those cases, the audiologist advises on the appropriate referral route back through your GP.
Sometimes the test reveals normal hearing across all frequencies despite noticeable tinnitus. This does not mean the symptom is imaginary. It simply shifts the focus toward other causes, such as jaw tension, medication side effects or recent noise exposure. Each outcome narrows down what should happen next, so the appointment always moves you closer to an answer.
When ear wax is the cause
Before any tones are played, the audiologist examines the ear canal. A wall of compacted wax pressing against the eardrum can produce both muffled hearing and tinnitus. In that situation, removing the wax may resolve the ringing entirely.
Microsuction is the method used by specialist firms in Mitcham for safe wax removal. A small vacuum device lifts the wax out under direct vision, without water or syringing. Once the canal is clear, the audiologist repeats the hearing test to see whether thresholds improve and whether the tinnitus has changed.
If the ringing persists after wax is removed, the test results become more meaningful because obstruction is no longer masking the true picture. You then have reliable data to work from. If you suspect wax is involved, arranging ear wax removal before or alongside your test avoids wasted appointments.
What happens after the test
With the audiogram complete and the ear canals clear, the audiologist discusses options. If hearing loss is confirmed and is contributing to the tinnitus, hearing aids are often the first recommendation. Modern devices amplify the missing frequencies, giving the brain the input it needs so it stops generating its own noise.
Many people find their tinnitus becomes far less intrusive once they wear aids consistently. The amplification restores environmental sound that was previously absent, reducing the contrast between silence and the internal ringing.
If hearing levels are normal, the audiologist may suggest sound therapy, relaxation strategies or a referral to a specialist clinic. They will not prescribe treatment outside their scope, but they will make sure you leave knowing exactly what the results mean and who to see next. The goal is a clear path forward based on measured evidence rather than assumption.
Ask about a hearing test in Mitcham
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