Article from BBC's frontpage - "Japanese pop star deaf in one ear"

[Mari-chan]

is she deaf or does she have tinitus...
these are two different things..

and a tinitus can be cured a little over years ^^

She is deaf on one ear... and she had Tinitus befor.
This are not really two different things.
I also have Tinitus since years. I have it on both ears.. but much worse on the right one.
When I went to the doctor, years ago, he also told me, I should take care of loud noise. If there is to much loud noise, I can become deaf. Thats why I'm always putting something into my ear, when I'm going to a disco or something like that.
So...if you have Tinitus.. and you will hear loud noise every day, you can become deaf! Thats it. So.. in the beginning, she also had Tinitus, which becomes more and more worse, I think.
And no.. Tinitus can't really cured. Would be nice, if it can be cured really.
If you have it since a short time, there is a chance.. but not, if you have it since years.