|
Home > Archive > Hearing loss support > March 2006 > Is this permanent?
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
Is this permanent?
|
|
|
| Hi. For the last 6 months I've been having some problems with my ears.
The left one felt like it was under water a lot, although that problem
seems to have gone. When I swallow, I hear a crackling crunch sound. If
I puff either side of my cheeks out like I was inflating a balloon,
there is major crackling and crunching in my ears. I have pressure
problems too where swallowing doesn't make them pop. They can feel like
the ear passages have shrunk. Normal sounds feel slightly muffled
sometimes. I have a sort of closed off ringing sound in my right ear
too.
I went to my GP 4 weeks ago, who stuck something in my ear to look. He
explained that it looked like there might be fluid behind the eardrum,
which he deduced from shining a light into my ear and the reflection
being distorted. Something to do with sinuses not draining properly, he
guessed. I was referred to an ENT clinic and my appointment is in 2
weeks time.
When I got home from seeing my GP, certain sounds were different. My
jeans rubbing together when I walked, running my hand through my hair,
anything that sort of rustled sounded slightly distorted and more
muffled and unreal than other sounds. Sort of higher pitched, maybe
missing some of the other frequencies that you normally hear from those
sounds. Those sounds almost appear to be heard in a different part of
the ear to the other sounds.
A couple of hours later I came down with a nasty head cold, so assumed
the strange hearing was because my sinuses were blocking and would
return to normal when it went.
After 4 or 5 days the head cold appeared to go, but the weird hearing
remained. This was just over 3 weeks ago now, and those certain sounds
are still strange. I notice that when my ears start to block more,
which they do quite a lot throughout the day, the distortion and muffle
is enhanced. These higher pitched rustling sounds did not sound like
this 4 weeks ago before the head cold.
I have a few questions I'm hoping someone might be able to answer.
Is it likely that these problems can be fixed when I visit the ENT
clinic in two weeks?
Can a head cold permanently damage your hearing like this? It seems
unlikely, especially as this more recent hearing loss appears to be in
both ears rather than one, but I don't understand why it wouldn't have
returned to normal by now.
Is it possible that the head cold moved the trapped fluid around in my
sinuses and ears, and it's now settled in a different place, causing
certain sounds to now sound more muffled than they were before the head
cold?
Otosclerosis runs in my mother's side of the family, something I'll
also be tested for at the ENT clinic; could any of my original symptoms
or my more recent ones be signs of otosclerosis?
Any answers or other comments about the problems I've described would
be very gratefully received. This is causing me great concern.
| |
| zafdor@yahoo.com 2006-03-22, 3:02 pm |
| >could any of my original symptoms or my more recent ones be signs of otosclerosis?
Yes. But the ENT should make that call.
| |
| Moshup Trail 2006-03-22, 3:02 pm |
| Jack -
I've got a similar thing going on with the fluid in the ear. It can
make sounds distorted at times. In my case, it comes and goes. It
seems to be related to allergies causing swelling around my eustacian
tubes which limits the ability to equalize pressure and drain. When I
can get the fluid out and equalize the pressure my hearing goes back to
normal. Unfortunately normal includes T for me. See your ENT and check
back with us.
Jack wrote:
> Hi. For the last 6 months I've been having some problems with my ears.
> The left one felt like it was under water a lot, although that problem
> seems to have gone. When I swallow, I hear a crackling crunch sound. If
> I puff either side of my cheeks out like I was inflating a balloon,
> there is major crackling and crunching in my ears. I have pressure
> problems too where swallowing doesn't make them pop. They can feel like
> the ear passages have shrunk. Normal sounds feel slightly muffled
> sometimes. I have a sort of closed off ringing sound in my right ear
> too.
>
> I went to my GP 4 weeks ago, who stuck something in my ear to look. He
> explained that it looked like there might be fluid behind the eardrum,
> which he deduced from shining a light into my ear and the reflection
> being distorted. Something to do with sinuses not draining properly, he
> guessed. I was referred to an ENT clinic and my appointment is in 2
> weeks time.
>
> When I got home from seeing my GP, certain sounds were different. My
> jeans rubbing together when I walked, running my hand through my hair,
> anything that sort of rustled sounded slightly distorted and more
> muffled and unreal than other sounds. Sort of higher pitched, maybe
> missing some of the other frequencies that you normally hear from those
> sounds. Those sounds almost appear to be heard in a different part of
> the ear to the other sounds.
>
> A couple of hours later I came down with a nasty head cold, so assumed
> the strange hearing was because my sinuses were blocking and would
> return to normal when it went.
>
> After 4 or 5 days the head cold appeared to go, but the weird hearing
> remained. This was just over 3 weeks ago now, and those certain sounds
> are still strange. I notice that when my ears start to block more,
> which they do quite a lot throughout the day, the distortion and muffle
> is enhanced. These higher pitched rustling sounds did not sound like
> this 4 weeks ago before the head cold.
>
> I have a few questions I'm hoping someone might be able to answer.
>
> Is it likely that these problems can be fixed when I visit the ENT
> clinic in two weeks?
>
> Can a head cold permanently damage your hearing like this? It seems
> unlikely, especially as this more recent hearing loss appears to be in
> both ears rather than one, but I don't understand why it wouldn't have
> returned to normal by now.
>
> Is it possible that the head cold moved the trapped fluid around in my
> sinuses and ears, and it's now settled in a different place, causing
> certain sounds to now sound more muffled than they were before the head
> cold?
>
> Otosclerosis runs in my mother's side of the family, something I'll
> also be tested for at the ENT clinic; could any of my original symptoms
> or my more recent ones be signs of otosclerosis?
>
> Any answers or other comments about the problems I've described would
> be very gratefully received. This is causing me great concern.
| |
| Elly Byrne 2006-03-22, 3:02 pm |
| Hi Jack,
Hearing damage and hearing loss are not the same thing. Hearing damage
is irreversible. Hearing loss can improve with time.
Can an ENT help you? Probably not. Many people go to an ENT and are
disappointed by the result. Murray in this group is an ENT with
tinnitus. He may have more positive help for you.
Elly's Tinnitus Resources
http://eebee.net/
"Jack" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>Hi. For the last 6 months I've been having some problems with my ears.
>The left one felt like it was under water a lot, although that problem
>seems to have gone. When I swallow, I hear a crackling crunch sound. If
>I puff either side of my cheeks out like I was inflating a balloon,
>there is major crackling and crunching in my ears. I have pressure
>problems too where swallowing doesn't make them pop. They can feel like
>the ear passages have shrunk. Normal sounds feel slightly muffled
>sometimes. I have a sort of closed off ringing sound in my right ear
>too.
>
>I went to my GP 4 weeks ago, who stuck something in my ear to look. He
>explained that it looked like there might be fluid behind the eardrum,
>which he deduced from shining a light into my ear and the reflection
>being distorted. Something to do with sinuses not draining properly, he
>guessed. I was referred to an ENT clinic and my appointment is in 2
>weeks time.
>
>When I got home from seeing my GP, certain sounds were different. My
>jeans rubbing together when I walked, running my hand through my hair,
>anything that sort of rustled sounded slightly distorted and more
>muffled and unreal than other sounds. Sort of higher pitched, maybe
>missing some of the other frequencies that you normally hear from those
>sounds. Those sounds almost appear to be heard in a different part of
>the ear to the other sounds.
>
>A couple of hours later I came down with a nasty head cold, so assumed
>the strange hearing was because my sinuses were blocking and would
>return to normal when it went.
>
>After 4 or 5 days the head cold appeared to go, but the weird hearing
>remained. This was just over 3 weeks ago now, and those certain sounds
>are still strange. I notice that when my ears start to block more,
>which they do quite a lot throughout the day, the distortion and muffle
>is enhanced. These higher pitched rustling sounds did not sound like
>this 4 weeks ago before the head cold.
>
>I have a few questions I'm hoping someone might be able to answer.
>
>Is it likely that these problems can be fixed when I visit the ENT
>clinic in two weeks?
>
>Can a head cold permanently damage your hearing like this? It seems
>unlikely, especially as this more recent hearing loss appears to be in
>both ears rather than one, but I don't understand why it wouldn't have
>returned to normal by now.
>
>Is it possible that the head cold moved the trapped fluid around in my
>sinuses and ears, and it's now settled in a different place, causing
>certain sounds to now sound more muffled than they were before the head
>cold?
>
>Otosclerosis runs in my mother's side of the family, something I'll
>also be tested for at the ENT clinic; could any of my original symptoms
>or my more recent ones be signs of otosclerosis?
>
>Any answers or other comments about the problems I've described would
>be very gratefully received. This is causing me great concern.
*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***
| |
| Gary G 2006-03-22, 3:02 pm |
| See an ENT...If it is Otosclerosis surgery is a possibility...Aids also work
well for Otosclerosis if you prefer not to have the surgery...ENT's can't
perform miracles,...but knowing is the only way to take the next step...Good
luck...GG
"Elly Byrne" <elly@eebee.net.noway> wrote in message
news:030112tsup93eu7d51nhhq4dh8qhlmu0kr@4ax.com...
> Hi Jack,
>
> Hearing damage and hearing loss are not the same thing. Hearing damage
> is irreversible. Hearing loss can improve with time.
>
> Can an ENT help you? Probably not. Many people go to an ENT and are
> disappointed by the result. Murray in this group is an ENT with
> tinnitus. He may have more positive help for you.
>
> Elly's Tinnitus Resources
> http://eebee.net/
>
>
> "Jack" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
> http://www.SecureIX.com ***
| |
|
| > Elly Byrne ha scritto:
> Hearing damage and hearing loss are not the same thing. Hearing damage
> is irreversible. Hearing loss can improve with time.
What you exactly mean with "hearing damage"?
| |
|
| Hi Jack,
The symptoms you describe don't sound typically like otosclerosis. It would
appear you have persistent fluid in your eustachian tubes. There are some
good medications available which can dry this up. If you haven't already had
a CT scan, then the ENT doctor will probably order one. This should
certainly shed some light on what the problem may be.
Regards, Maree
"Jack" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message news:duouta$q2f$1@emma.aioe.org...
> Hi. For the last 6 months I've been having some problems with my ears.
> The left one felt like it was under water a lot, although that problem
> seems to have gone. When I swallow, I hear a crackling crunch sound. If
> I puff either side of my cheeks out like I was inflating a balloon,
> there is major crackling and crunching in my ears. I have pressure
> problems too where swallowing doesn't make them pop. They can feel like
> the ear passages have shrunk. Normal sounds feel slightly muffled
> sometimes. I have a sort of closed off ringing sound in my right ear
> too.
>
> I went to my GP 4 weeks ago, who stuck something in my ear to look. He
> explained that it looked like there might be fluid behind the eardrum,
> which he deduced from shining a light into my ear and the reflection
> being distorted. Something to do with sinuses not draining properly, he
> guessed. I was referred to an ENT clinic and my appointment is in 2
> weeks time.
>
> When I got home from seeing my GP, certain sounds were different. My
> jeans rubbing together when I walked, running my hand through my hair,
> anything that sort of rustled sounded slightly distorted and more
> muffled and unreal than other sounds. Sort of higher pitched, maybe
> missing some of the other frequencies that you normally hear from those
> sounds. Those sounds almost appear to be heard in a different part of
> the ear to the other sounds.
>
> A couple of hours later I came down with a nasty head cold, so assumed
> the strange hearing was because my sinuses were blocking and would
> return to normal when it went.
>
> After 4 or 5 days the head cold appeared to go, but the weird hearing
> remained. This was just over 3 weeks ago now, and those certain sounds
> are still strange. I notice that when my ears start to block more,
> which they do quite a lot throughout the day, the distortion and muffle
> is enhanced. These higher pitched rustling sounds did not sound like
> this 4 weeks ago before the head cold.
>
> I have a few questions I'm hoping someone might be able to answer.
>
> Is it likely that these problems can be fixed when I visit the ENT
> clinic in two weeks?
>
> Can a head cold permanently damage your hearing like this? It seems
> unlikely, especially as this more recent hearing loss appears to be in
> both ears rather than one, but I don't understand why it wouldn't have
> returned to normal by now.
>
> Is it possible that the head cold moved the trapped fluid around in my
> sinuses and ears, and it's now settled in a different place, causing
> certain sounds to now sound more muffled than they were before the head
> cold?
>
> Otosclerosis runs in my mother's side of the family, something I'll
> also be tested for at the ENT clinic; could any of my original symptoms
> or my more recent ones be signs of otosclerosis?
>
> Any answers or other comments about the problems I've described would
> be very gratefully received. This is causing me great concern.
| |
| Elly Byrne 2006-03-22, 3:02 pm |
| Hearing 'damage' means exactly what it says. Something in your inner
ear is literally damaged or broken.
But very often people have hearing 'loss'. Then the hearing improves,
so there cannot have been any damage in the ear. There was something
else going on.
Elly's Tinnitus Resources
http://eebee.net/
"mr. g" <no@no.org> wrote:
>
>What you exactly mean with "hearing damage"?
*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***
| |
| kerri9494 2006-03-22, 3:02 pm |
|
Elly Byrne wrote:
> Hearing damage and hearing loss are not the same thing. Hearing damage
> is irreversible. Hearing loss can improve with time.
That is not the conventional definition of hearing loss.
Hearing loss can be temporary, or it can be permanent.
Hearing damage can be temporary or permanent.
Also, one can have what is conventionally known as a "permanent hearing
loss" without hearing damage (e.g. someone born with a Mondini's
dysplasia).
Probably better to use detailed, clear terms, rather than assuming
definitions for common syntax.
--k
|
| |
|
|