Eek! Has this happened to you?

[Blackmorec]

Last week I had a heavy cold, which was getting better, leaving me with heavy catarrh. On Sunday I awoke with both ears completely blocked, unable to hear, dizzy and nauseous. Went to the Doctor on Monday and she diagnosed impacted ear wax and prescribed ear drops. The ear drops made the situation even worse. On Tuesday I had micro suction to remove any wax and my ears are now completely clear of wax, but still feel blocked and the dizziness and nausea persists. Today I can hear quite well in 1 ear (2 fingers rubbed together sounds ‘complex’ and quite loud) but the other ear is stone deaf and I can hear absolutely nothing, other than some sounds like waves on a shingle beach and what sounds like a tiny bell pinging once in a while and a very occasional ‘creaking’ noise. Anyone ever had anything like this? Was it treated or did it resolve by itself? I’ve had no fever or pain….only the symptoms reported above. I cant see any reason this could be permanent but given my hobby I am feeling a little anxious. I don‘t really want to have to sell a loudspeaker and one monoblock

 

[Rensselaer]

Try an over the counter nasal steroid spray (used for seasonal rhinitis) heavily for less than a week, should clear up the Eustachian tube.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Do not lose hope - if I were you, I'd set up an appointment with an audiologist, to see what can be done further. It's happened to me quite a few times that my ears were playing tricks on me, and here I am, happy and healthy as ever. I have my fingers crossed for you, keep us updated on the situation.

 

[Gregadd]

The internet medical advice require sudden hearing loss indicates? immediate medical attention. That means immediate emergency room if necessaey.
At the emergency room I received ear drops. That was followed by more eardrops at vthe ENT. That was followed by two more appointments where she literally scraped earwax off my eardrum. That was embarrassing but effective.
My hearing recovered fully.

 

[Blackmorec]

Do not lose hope - if I were you, I'd set up an appointment with an audiologist, to see what can be done further. It's happened to me quite a few times that my ears were playing tricks on me, and here I am, happy and healthy as ever. I have my fingers crossed for you, keep us updated on the situation.

Next Wednesday

 

[zerostargeneral]

NeilMed® Pharmaceuticals - Get That Clean Nose Feeling Today!

Follow the instructions as the water must be sterilized.

Got the above tip from Audio Grail.

Then go full ham bingo and rub camphor on the soles of your feet at night.

Finally have your eyes checked; glasses and contacts if wrong could make you squint which can cause further pressure from the inside.

Good luck and kindest regards,G.

 

[Johan K]

Last week I had a heavy cold, which was getting better, leaving me with heavy catarrh. On Sunday I awoke with both ears completely blocked, unable to hear, dizzy and nauseous. Went to the Doctor on Monday and she diagnosed impacted ear wax and prescribed ear drops. The ear drops made the situation even worse. On Tuesday I had micro suction to remove any wax and my ears are now completely clear of wax, but still feel blocked and the dizziness and nausea persists. Today I can hear quite well in 1 ear (2 fingers rubbed together sounds ‘complex’ and quite loud) but the other ear is stone deaf and I can hear absolutely nothing, other than some sounds like waves on a shingle beach and what sounds like a tiny bell pinging once in a while and a very occasional ‘creaking’ noise. Anyone ever had anything like this? Was it treated or did it resolve by itself? I’ve had no fever or pain….only the symptoms reported above. I cant see any reason this could be permanent but given my hobby I am feeling a little anxious. I don‘t really want to have to sell a loudspeaker and one monoblock

Hi Blackmorec,

I’ve had some trouble with my ears from time to time through the years…
My worst enemy is nasal cortison spray which almost every time get things worse, because it can’t get through to solve the ground issue.
The trick is to use Rinexin 50mg (phenylpropanolamin. hydrochlorid), that works in a decongestant way, and make your ear-ways to breath (so to speak) again.

Talk to your local doctor about it for a prescription. I hope it helps and that you get better soon. Good luck and happy listening

Sincerely

Johan

 

[Blackmorec]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Most appreciated. I have an appointment with an ent specialist next Wednesday and I‘m taking a decongestant. The one mentioned above has been removed from the market due to abuse as a weight loss medication so I’m using Pseudoephedrine HCl.

After I explained my problem, my local pharmacy refused to the sell me an OTC steroid nasal spray as it’s only licensed for use for seasonal rhinitis, so lets see how the decongestant works

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

It's good that you've managed to set up an appointment. If you want, post an update on your findings after the Wednesday appointment.

 

[Pokey77]

@Blackmorec

Will be very interested to hear about your findings as you mentioned that you were going to the doctor today.
As for me, while I've never had the symptoms you described, have had some problems with ear wax over the years. My doctor prescribed Debrox for me over a decade ago. I was using it once per month, but a few years ago I needed to start using it bi-monthly. It does the trick; melts the ear wax and so I don't need the doc to help me with removal. Debrox is over the counter and can be found on Amazon. I realize that you say ear drops made the situation worse, but I'd assume once they are clear that some type of drop used more regularly will be good maintenance for your comfort and hearing.

When I have problems with postnasal drip or allergy type symptoms, I use standard Mucinex 600mg. It is a 12-hour dose that works for around 10 hrs for me and helps to dry out my sinuses. It is very effective and also over the counter. I just use only as needed.

I hope either of these may help you and hopefully you have good news from the doc today. And most importantly, you can get back to enjoying music!

 

[Blackmorec]

Well here we are, hearing and balance tests and ENT specialist visit done. And not good news I’m afraid. The diagnosis is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Essentially the right ear is no longer working. I went to bed with 2 perfectly good ears and woke with one not working. No pain, nothing, just the ear stopped working for no discernible reason.

On Tuesday I had extensive hearing tests. Eardrums visually perfectly clean, flat and healthy, so no inflammation and no concave or convex distortions caused my middle ear pressures . I could see the eardrums with their blood supplies of tiny capillaries. The Tympanometric pressure test activates the eardrum with pressure waves across a spectrum of frequencies and a microphone measures the resulting feedback, so essentially it is measuring eardrum compliance to see if there‘s any pressure, +ve or -ve in the eustacian tube that could stop the eardrum from vibrating. My result was literally perfect, with complete compliance centred around the zero pressure point, so no obstruction in the eustacean tubes; a case where good news is actually bad.

The hearing test ‘pings’ a complete range of frequencies and amplitudes into each ear, with and without masking noise and seeks to find the minimum detectable amplitude at each frequency. My left ear showed a more or less flat response, 0dB from deep bass to around 4K, after which there’s a gentle roll off down to about 16k after which there’s no response, a typical response for my age, with the expected age-related HF attenuation (So no ‘loud noise’, long term hi-fi related damage (good to know))
My right ear showed no response across the entire range… -80dB at 125Hz and -100dB from 250 - 1kHz, then -90dB from 2KHz upwards, which is defined as profound hearing loss.

Balance tests showed an almost complete lack of balance with eyes closed. Taken all together, the tests more or less ruled out Labarythitis and indicated an inner ear related ‘Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss‘ ….. basically some sort of nerve damage or impairment.

The ENT specialist confirmed this diagnosis and prescribed high dose corticosteroid treatment for 7 days. He’s had patients who’ve recovered completely, others who’ve partially recovered their hearing and yet others were steroid failed to make more than a small difference. I’m to take the steroids for 7 days then have another hearing test to see if they’ve made any difference.

So, shit happens and this might be what it looks like. But miracles also happen, so I‘m not powering down my system until the steroid treatment is done. I have a motto; Love it, Leave it or Change it. In this case, the first 2 don‘t apply, but if the end result is that my hi-fi days are over, I very much want to avoid the futile anger and self pity route, which will only make me feel bad without changing anything. So if my hearing doesn't return I will just have to find something else to do that it equally as rewarding as listening to music. Fortunately I have sufficient financial resources to make that possible, so I still consider myself ‘lucky’ compared to a lot of folks.

On the positive side, the ENT saw no problem with driving, physio therapy type exercises can help with my balance and air travel wont be a problem so I can continue regularly visiting my grandchildren.

So fingers crossed with the steroids…. I’ll post any changes

 

[Rensselaer]

Well here we are, hearing and balance tests and ENT specialist visit done. And not good news I’m afraid. The diagnosis is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Essentially the right ear is no longer working. I went to bed with 2 perfectly good ears and woke with one not working. No pain, nothing, just the ear stopped working for no discernible reason.

On Tuesday I had extensive hearing tests. Eardrums visually perfectly clean, flat and healthy, so no inflammation and no concave or convex distortions caused my middle ear pressures . I could see the eardrums with their blood supplies of tiny capillaries. The Tympanometric pressure test activates the eardrum with pressure waves across a spectrum of frequencies and a microphone measures the resulting feedback, so essentially it is measuring eardrum compliance to see if there‘s any pressure, +ve or -ve in the eustacian tube that could stop the eardrum from vibrating. My result was literally perfect, with complete compliance centred around the zero pressure point, so no obstruction in the eustacean tubes; a case where good news is actually bad.

The hearing test ‘pings’ a complete range of frequencies and amplitudes into each ear, with and without masking noise and seeks to find the minimum detectable amplitude at each frequency. My left ear showed a more or less flat response, 0dB from deep bass to around 4K, after which there’s a gentle roll off down to about 16k after which there’s no response, a typical response for my age, with the expected age-related HF attenuation (So no ‘loud noise’, long term hi-fi related damage (good to know))
My right ear showed no response across the entire range… -80dB at 125Hz and -100dB from 250 - 1kHz, then -90dB from 2KHz upwards, which is defined as profound hearing loss.

Balance tests showed an almost complete lack of balance with eyes closed. Taken all together, the tests more or less ruled out Labarythitis and indicated an inner ear related ‘Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss‘ ….. basically some sort of nerve damage or impairment.

The ENT specialist confirmed this diagnosis and prescribed high dose corticosteroid treatment for 7 days. He’s had patients who’ve recovered completely, others who’ve partially recovered their hearing and yet others were steroid failed to make more than a small difference. I’m to take the steroids for 7 days then have another hearing test to see if they’ve made any difference.

So, shit happens and this might be what it looks like. But miracles also happen, so I‘m not powering down my system until the steroid treatment is done. I have a motto; Love it, Leave it or Change it. In this case, the first 2 don‘t apply, but if the end result is that my hi-fi days are over, I very much want to avoid the futile anger and self pity route, which will only make me feel bad without changing anything. So if my hearing doesn't return I will just have to find something else to do that it equally as rewarding as listening to music. Fortunately I have sufficient financial resources to make that possible, so I still consider myself ‘lucky’ compared to a lot of folks.

On the positive side, the ENT saw no problem with driving, physio therapy type exercises can help with my balance and air travel wont be a problem so I can continue regularly visiting my grandchildren.

So fingers crossed with the steroids…. I’ll post any changes

Did your ENT specialist do an MRI/CT of the skull to rule out an acoustic neuroma? All else looking normal that would be my concern.

 

[Blackmorec]

Did your ENT specialist do an MRI/CT of the skull to rule out an acoustic neuroma? All else looking normal that would be my concern.

Hi Rensselaer,
No he didn’t. The Audiologist did mention MRI, but it didn’t come up with my ENT specialist

I know from a previous back problem that MRI is a very expensive and rare resource, so I assume he’ll wait to see what happens with the steroids. But you raise an excellent point, one I’ll be sure to cover at my next consultation, so thanks for that!

In the meanwhile I’ll do my own research
Best regards

 

[Al M.]

Well here we are, hearing and balance tests and ENT specialist visit done. And not good news I’m afraid. The diagnosis is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Essentially the right ear is no longer working. I went to bed with 2 perfectly good ears and woke with one not working. No pain, nothing, just the ear stopped working for no discernible reason.

On Tuesday I had extensive hearing tests. Eardrums visually perfectly clean, flat and healthy, so no inflammation and no concave or convex distortions caused my middle ear pressures . I could see the eardrums with their blood supplies of tiny capillaries. The Tympanometric pressure test activates the eardrum with pressure waves across a spectrum of frequencies and a microphone measures the resulting feedback, so essentially it is measuring eardrum compliance to see if there‘s any pressure, +ve or -ve in the eustacian tube that could stop the eardrum from vibrating. My result was literally perfect, with complete compliance centred around the zero pressure point, so no obstruction in the eustacean tubes; a case where good news is actually bad.

The hearing test ‘pings’ a complete range of frequencies and amplitudes into each ear, with and without masking noise and seeks to find the minimum detectable amplitude at each frequency. My left ear showed a more or less flat response, 0dB from deep bass to around 4K, after which there’s a gentle roll off down to about 16k after which there’s no response, a typical response for my age, with the expected age-related HF attenuation (So no ‘loud noise’, long term hi-fi related damage (good to know))
My right ear showed no response across the entire range… -80dB at 125Hz and -100dB from 250 - 1kHz, then -90dB from 2KHz upwards, which is defined as profound hearing loss.

Balance tests showed an almost complete lack of balance with eyes closed. Taken all together, the tests more or less ruled out Labarythitis and indicated an inner ear related ‘Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss‘ ….. basically some sort of nerve damage or impairment.

The ENT specialist confirmed this diagnosis and prescribed high dose corticosteroid treatment for 7 days. He’s had patients who’ve recovered completely, others who’ve partially recovered their hearing and yet others were steroid failed to make more than a small difference. I’m to take the steroids for 7 days then have another hearing test to see if they’ve made any difference.

So, shit happens and this might be what it looks like. But miracles also happen, so I‘m not powering down my system until the steroid treatment is done. I have a motto; Love it, Leave it or Change it. In this case, the first 2 don‘t apply, but if the end result is that my hi-fi days are over, I very much want to avoid the futile anger and self pity route, which will only make me feel bad without changing anything. So if my hearing doesn't return I will just have to find something else to do that it equally as rewarding as listening to music. Fortunately I have sufficient financial resources to make that possible, so I still consider myself ‘lucky’ compared to a lot of folks.

On the positive side, the ENT saw no problem with driving, physio therapy type exercises can help with my balance and air travel wont be a problem so I can continue regularly visiting my grandchildren.

So fingers crossed with the steroids…. I’ll post any changes

I am sorry to hear that result, but I applaud you for your positive attitude about the potential life changes. Hope that the steroid treatment works.

 

[Argonaut]

Hi Rensselaer,
No he didn’t. The Audiologist did mention MRI, but it didn’t come up with my ENT specialist

I know from a previous back problem that MRI is a very expensive and rare resource, so I assume he’ll wait to see what happens with the steroids. But you raise an excellent point, one I’ll be sure to cover at my next consultation, so thanks for that!

In the meanwhile I’ll do my own research
Best regards

Best of luck with the steroid treatment.

 

[bonzo75]

Sorry this happened, Blackmore, but respect your attitude and there are many other hobbies, this is just one.

 

[rgmd11]

Do hope you get a satisfactory result with the treatment prescribed, a few years ago i woke up one day with almost no hearing in one ear, immediate panic attack, promptly the same day i arranged an appointment with a Nose Ear and Throat specialist, luckily it was a severe blockage of ear wax caused by constant use of ear plugs for sleeping (i stay in a lot of hotels with my job) and pushing said wax further down the ear canal, this was swiftly removed and overcome with instant relief, i do admire your rather Stoic stance, wishing you the best of luck....

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Well here we are, hearing and balance tests and ENT specialist visit done. And not good news I’m afraid. The diagnosis is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Essentially the right ear is no longer working. I went to bed with 2 perfectly good ears and woke with one not working. No pain, nothing, just the ear stopped working for no discernible reason.

On Tuesday I had extensive hearing tests. Eardrums visually perfectly clean, flat and healthy, so no inflammation and no concave or convex distortions caused my middle ear pressures . I could see the eardrums with their blood supplies of tiny capillaries. The Tympanometric pressure test activates the eardrum with pressure waves across a spectrum of frequencies and a microphone measures the resulting feedback, so essentially it is measuring eardrum compliance to see if there‘s any pressure, +ve or -ve in the eustacian tube that could stop the eardrum from vibrating. My result was literally perfect, with complete compliance centred around the zero pressure point, so no obstruction in the eustacean tubes; a case where good news is actually bad.

The hearing test ‘pings’ a complete range of frequencies and amplitudes into each ear, with and without masking noise and seeks to find the minimum detectable amplitude at each frequency. My left ear showed a more or less flat response, 0dB from deep bass to around 4K, after which there’s a gentle roll off down to about 16k after which there’s no response, a typical response for my age, with the expected age-related HF attenuation (So no ‘loud noise’, long term hi-fi related damage (good to know))
My right ear showed no response across the entire range… -80dB at 125Hz and -100dB from 250 - 1kHz, then -90dB from 2KHz upwards, which is defined as profound hearing loss.

Balance tests showed an almost complete lack of balance with eyes closed. Taken all together, the tests more or less ruled out Labarythitis and indicated an inner ear related ‘Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss‘ ….. basically some sort of nerve damage or impairment.

The ENT specialist confirmed this diagnosis and prescribed high dose corticosteroid treatment for 7 days. He’s had patients who’ve recovered completely, others who’ve partially recovered their hearing and yet others were steroid failed to make more than a small difference. I’m to take the steroids for 7 days then have another hearing test to see if they’ve made any difference.

So, shit happens and this might be what it looks like. But miracles also happen, so I‘m not powering down my system until the steroid treatment is done. I have a motto; Love it, Leave it or Change it. In this case, the first 2 don‘t apply, but if the end result is that my hi-fi days are over, I very much want to avoid the futile anger and self pity route, which will only make me feel bad without changing anything. So if my hearing doesn't return I will just have to find something else to do that it equally as rewarding as listening to music. Fortunately I have sufficient financial resources to make that possible, so I still consider myself ‘lucky’ compared to a lot of folks.

On the positive side, the ENT saw no problem with driving, physio therapy type exercises can help with my balance and air travel wont be a problem so I can continue regularly visiting my grandchildren.

So fingers crossed with the steroids…. I’ll post any changes

Fingers crossed that your hearing recovers fully! Keep your head up and don't lose the positive attitude.

 

[Mark (Basspig) Weiss]

Last week I had a heavy cold, which was getting better, leaving me with heavy catarrh. On Sunday I awoke with both ears completely blocked, unable to hear, dizzy and nauseous. Went to the Doctor on Monday and she diagnosed impacted ear wax and prescribed ear drops. The ear drops made the situation even worse. On Tuesday I had micro suction to remove any wax and my ears are now completely clear of wax, but still feel blocked and the dizziness and nausea persists. Today I can hear quite well in 1 ear (2 fingers rubbed together sounds ‘complex’ and quite loud) but the other ear is stone deaf and I can hear absolutely nothing, other than some sounds like waves on a shingle beach and what sounds like a tiny bell pinging once in a while and a very occasional ‘creaking’ noise. Anyone ever had anything like this? Was it treated or did it resolve by itself? I’ve had no fever or pain….only the symptoms reported above. I cant see any reason this could be permanent but given my hobby I am feeling a little anxious. I don‘t really want to have to sell a loudspeaker and one monoblock

Once you're recovered, I recommend doing what I do for healthy ear canals: when showering, let the water stream into the ear canal then tilt head to drain. Do this several times. I never have any wax buildup since I started doing this 40 years ago.

 

[Pokey77]

@Blackmorec

I'm hoping (and praying) you have some good news to share. Blessings