We’ve discussed ear wax becoming a blockage for your hearing, and medications that can be poisonous to your hearing (ototoxicity). Now let’s cover Tinnitus and your hearing health. Tinnitus is an awareness of a sound in the ear or head that is not caused by actual external noise. Many people assume experiencing Tinnitus means you are experiencing hearing loss. This is not always the case. In fact, nearly 50 percent of individuals who experience Tinnitus don’t show any measurable sign of hearing loss at all.