Symptoms of hearing damage or something else?

Waffles and Scotch · #1 11-15-2011, 06:53 AM

Hey guys,

I'm hoping someone out there has encountered this and can offer some insight. Yesterday, out of the blue, my left ear started ringing, and I can't for the life of me figure out why. I didn't listen to any loud music - didn't even play bass last night. It started with a light ringing, then got louder throughout the night. This morning when I woke up I noticed my hearing out of that ear is at about 50%, and everything is slightly distorted, but the ringing doesn't seem as loud.

No pain, no swelling, just ringing and some hearing loss (hopefully temporary). Any ideas? Is it possible I'm experiencing symptoms of some hearing damage that was done in the past? I'd head to the doctor but can't leave work right now, so I figured I'd see if anyone on TB has experienced this...

machine gewehr · #2 11-15-2011, 07:12 AM

The same thing happened to me. Go to a doc. Asap!

i was late for treatment and that ringing is still with me after many years.
Doc told me a tiny vein in my ear was ruptured and the first idiot i went to see failed to recognise the symptoms.

Hope you'll be fine.

hover · #3 11-15-2011, 07:13 AM

Could be the onset of Tinnitus, or something much less serious, so yeah, go see your PC, then an audiologist.

Waffles and Scotch · #4 11-15-2011, 07:19 AM

Thanks guys. I don't have a PCP at the moment, so it'll have to be urgent care, then a referral to an audiologist...

hover · #5 11-15-2011, 07:24 AM

Here's a little excersise: take a deep breath, then hold your nose closed, and along wih your mouth closed, pretend that you are trying to exhale through your ears. Not a forceful rush of pressure that's painful mind you, but a steady, strong-ish pressure. Your ears will probably pop / clear. If this happens and there is some improvement in your hearing, even if relatively brief, you could have an infection in your ear canal / eustachean tube.

Waffles and Scotch · #6 11-15-2011, 09:14 AM

Update: everything looks fine. Referred to an ENT for an acoustic test and possibly an MRI.

P. Aaron · #7 11-15-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waffles and Scotch

Update: everything looks fine. Referred to an ENT for an acoustic test and possibly an MRI.

Hope they can help...or you heal.

Waffles and Scotch · #8 11-15-2011, 02:46 PM

Doc said "Studies show this is typically the result of a viral infection"...so basically they have no clue. Got some meds and have to do an MRI to make sure it's not a growth behind the cochlear. Since there's no significant dizziness or pain, it should be temporary. Got to see a nice little graph that showed how much hearing loss I had...would've been a lot cooler if they weren't my own test results though...