Tinnitus and hearing loss often go hand in hand — research suggests up to 90% of people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. But the relationship between the two is more nuanced than it appears. Hearing loss doesn't cause tinnitus, and tinnitus doesn't cause hearing loss. So how exactly are they connected?

In this short video, tinnitus researcher Jim Henry breaks down what we know — and what we still don't. He explains why hearing loss is considered a risk factor rather than a cause, which events are most commonly associated with the onset of tinnitus, and why so many people unknowingly confuse one for the other. For anyone trying to make sense of their own experience, or simply curious about the science behind these two often-misunderstood conditions, this is a clear and grounded place to start.