Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Your Hearing

January 11, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

A common complaint by those who have suffered a concussion or a TBI is tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears. People used to say that someone “got their bell rung” when they were concussed. What we do know is that ringing or buzzing in the ears can be a sign of more serious troubles. Blows to the head from airbag deployment, car accidents, sports injuries or slip and falls can all result in this problem and even in hearing loss.

Hearing loss or tinnitus are more likely to occur in older victims than younger ones but can happen to anyone. Generally, health care workers are most concerned with stabilizing victims of TBI and ensuring there is no life-threatening conditions resulting from the injury. Tinnitus and hearing loss often aren’t reported until later. Often, it’s family members who raise the issue of hearing loss.

What auditory symptoms occur after TBI?

Several auditory conditions can arise following concussion or TBI. These include:

• Struggling to understand speech
• Feeling like ears are plugged
• Noise sensitivity
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Hearing loss

Auditory symptoms can also disrupt balance and patients may suffer from:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• General balance issues
• Spinning sensation (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)
• Motion sickness
• Unsteadiness 

Who gets tinnitus?

More than half of all TBI patients develop tinnitus. In the case of blast-related TBI the percentage is higher. These bussing, ringing and other intermittent sounds can take a toll on the patient’s emotional wellbeing. 

What can you do if you have TBI-related auditory symptoms?

You should tell your physician and get a referral to see a qualified audiologist who will examine you and your medical history. They will conduct hearing tests and may require some imaging to rule out a bone fracture or other structural injuries.

Treatment will depend on the findings of your examination. Ruptured eardrums can heal on their own, damaged bones can be repaired or replaced surgically, and some conditions can be treated with medication. Your specific situation will dictate the treatment.

If you are suffering from hearing loss from TBI or concussion sustained in an accident due to someone else’s negligence like slipping and falling on icy sidewalks or driveways, you should contact one of our highly experienced personal injury lawyers today for a free initial consultation. We will work for you to secure your future.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.