Could the Acoustic Reflex Test Have Made Me Permanently Worse?

[The Jordan]

Hello everyone,

I've been dealing with noise-induced tinnitus and hyperacusis since June. I previously made a post asking if a tympanometry test was safe, but after reviewing my test results more closely, I now believe I may have also undergone an acoustic reflex test alongside the (apparently safe) tympanometry. I'm worried that this test might have caused permanent damage.

Here's all the information:

I took the test about a month ago. It involved a series of loud, high-pitched noises that were played through a probe inserted in my ears for several seconds.

According to the test results:

Right ear: Average stimulus level: 82 dB SPL. Test length: 16 seconds.
Left ear: Average stimulus level: 83 dB SPL. Test length: 11 seconds.

Does this mean I was exposed to 82/83 dB for 11/16 seconds?

The day after the test, I started experiencing stabbing pain in my head, and four days later, my very low ear tinnitus transformed into an unbearably annoying electrical buzzing in my brain.

After enduring this for a week, the symptoms slowly started to fade. However, almost three weeks before the test, a new high-pitched tone appeared in my right ear, albeit very faint, with no apparent cause. I'm unsure if it was random or related to the test three weeks later. (I still have this tone now.)

Despite the new tone in my right ear, my electrical brain tinnitus and head pain (now mainly on the left side of my head) continued to fade every day until three days ago when both increased, and the pain returned. Today, it seems to be fading again.

Also, last week, I had some days when both types of tinnitus were 99% gone for 6–12 hours.

Given all these symptoms and information, do you think this test could have caused permanent damage, or is it likely to be temporary?

I'm deeply concerned about the transformation of my low ear tinnitus into brain tinnitus and am desperately hoping it's only temporary. I know it's only been a month since the incident, but I'm worried it may have decreased my chances of a full recovery.

Do you think I still have hope for a full recovery?

 

[Jack Straw]

Based on OSHA regulations we can listen to 85 dB for up to 8 hours without doing any damage. Whether that is different for people with noise induced hearing damage is unknown. I would like to think that short period of time wouldn't do damage to you hears, but I don't know

@dpdx knows more about hearing tests than me.

Also seeing that your tinnitus is fluctuating is a good sign.

 

[Alue]

I really wish people would stop using the OSHA guidelines as the gold standard for what is safe. 85db for 8 hours for someone with pre-existing noise induced tinnitus is just asking for trouble.

As for the acoustic reflex test, it's probably a temporary spike, but the acoustic reflex test should not be done on anyone that has hypearcusis. It's contraindicated. I would ask the audiologist / ENT who preformed that test to explain the results. Although you might prepare for them to be defensive.

 

[Jack Straw]

I really wish people would stop using the OSHA guidelines as the gold standard for what is safe. 85db for 8 hours for someone with pre-existing noise induced tinnitus is just asking for trouble.

As for the acoustic reflex test, it's probably a temporary spike, but the acoustic reflex test should not be done on anyone that has hypearcusis. It's contraindicated. I would ask the audiologist / ENT who preformed that test to explain the results. Although you might prepare for them to be defensive.

We use it because it is the only standard we have....

 

[dpdx]

Those tests are not safe to do (Acoustic Reflex, ECOG, and VEMP), they can cause further hearing damage as our ears are more fragile now. I had a mild ear tinnitus 2/10, after cvemp I developed more tones and a subway screeching brain tinnitus, tinnitus on the good ear, and hyperacusis in both ears. I lost a slight bit of hearing on the left and right ear (dips on 15khz on 3 and 6khz), but my inner hair cells are damaged by those tests. I still suffer with Hyperacusis and Tinnitus and it has been since January 15/16.

My T right now is a 7 or 8 out of 10 and on a good day which is 1 or 2 days per week it is a 6/10.

 

[iGL0CK]

I made tympanometry/acoustic reflex test 3 times after acoustic trauma and it didn't worse my tinnitus. But after I developed mild hyperacusis this year and made this test once again I developed new tones in both ears. They eventually went away after 2-3 days in 90%.
I wouldn't do this anymore but it just me.

 

[Alue]

We use it because it is the only standard we have....

And I have mentioned many times why it is inadequate. It's based on very old data for industrial workers that doesn't take a lot of things into account.

 

[The Jordan]

I really wish people would stop using the OSHA guidelines as the gold standard for what is safe. 85db for 8 hours for someone with pre-existing noise induced tinnitus is just asking for trouble.

As for the acoustic reflex test, it's probably a temporary spike, but the acoustic reflex test should not be done on anyone that has hypearcusis. It's contraindicated. I would ask the audiologist / ENT who preformed that test to explain the results. Although you might prepare for them to be defensive.

Temporary spikes can also include temporary new tones and "brain tinnitus"?

Because my tinnitus didnt exactly spike, but rather transformed into a worse form... Im really scared

 

[Bill Bauer]

With all of this data and symptoms, do you think this test could have caused permanent damage to me, or only temporary?

You will need to wait 2-3 months before it would be possible to answer this question. If it doesn't fade and is relentlessly at the same level for 2 months, then that would not be a good sign.

In the future, don't trust the doctors (or anyone else), and do what you can to avoid noise exposure (especially the noise that goes directly into your ear).

 

[Bill Bauer]

We use it because it is the only standard we have....

If the use of a standard is causing people to become invalids, then perhaps that standard ought to not be used.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Temporary spikes can also include temporary new tones and "brain tinnitus"?

I think they can.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Despite that new tone in right ear, my electrical brain tinnitus and head pain (now only present in the left part of my head) have been continue to fading every day till 3 days ago, when it increased for 3 days and the pain returned. Today, it seems to have returned to fading again.

Also, last week I had some days where both tinnitus were 99% gone for 6-12 hours.

Sorry, I didn't see the above earlier. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about this new tone. It ought to continue to fade.

 

[The Jordan]

You will need to wait 2-3 months before it would be possible to answer this question. If it doesn't fade and is relentlessly at the same level for 2 months, then that would not be a good sign.

In the future, don't trust the doctors (or anyone else), and do what you can to avoid noise exposure (especially the noise that goes directly into your ear).

Sorry, I didn't see the above earlier. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about this new tone. It ought to continue to fade.

Dont worry @Bill Bauer , I have previously read some messages that you have write in this forum and I have to say that I respect you a lot because how informative, precise, wise and objective you are.

I was feeling so hopeless right now (couldnt even sleep) but your messages have relaxed me a lot.

Also, I want to add that my new tone on my right ear has been 1/10 since onset 2 weeks ago, but yesterday it spiked for a few hours, but then it returned to baseline.
It did the same 1 more time and today as well, but always returns to the very low baseline, but it scare me because this tone is much more annoying than any previous one that I had because it sounds like white noise.
(And I remember read somewhere that you said that white noise tones were the most dangerous ones, or something like that, so I freaked out).

Are those random mini-spikes for a few hours not a sign to worry about for the tone eventual disappear if this new tone normal baseline is 1/10?

Anyway, thank you a lot.

Ps: (I wonder if I can send you a private message too?)

 

[Bill Bauer]

I want to add that my new tone on my right ear has been 1/10 since onset 2 weeks ago, but yesterday it spiked for a few hours, but then it returned to baseline.

Normally, it doesn't just fade. Usually it resembles a stock price chart (which hopefully has a downward trend; here the height represents the volume level). What matters is the trend and the global lows.

I used to get very agitated whenever my T would get louder as a result of some external shock. These days I know that it makes sense to ignore those short term fluctuations.

Are those random mini-spikes for a few hours not a sign to worry about for the tone eventual disappear if this new tone normal baseline is 1/10?

In my personal experience, those mini-spikes are normal and are not something to worry about. I can't recall reading any posts that indicate that this is not the case for other people.

I wonder if I can send you a private message too?

Feel free to send a PM to me. I will have to reply tomorrow, though, as it is midnight in my Pacific Time Zone.

I was feeling so hopeless right now (couldnt even sleep) but your messages have relaxed me a lot.

If it is at 1/10, it will be difficult to notice the fading (it is my understanding that the quieter it is, the slower it fades). But there is a very good chance that it is in fact fading. Try to match the volume to an external sound. That way 3-6 months from now you will be able to see whether it had faded compared to how it is now.

I have to say that I respect you a lot because how informative, precise, wise and objective you are.

Thank you for your kind words!

 

[dpdx]

Temporary spikes can also include temporary new tones and "brain tinnitus"?

Because my tinnitus didnt exactly spike, but rather transformed into a worse form... Im really scared

This happened to me and I got Severe hyperacusis, it didnt get better but it worsened after being at a resturant. I lost a lot of hearing from calorc/cvemp (inner hair cells). If it dosent get better in 3-6 months it is likely to be permanent. I have permanent T and H now.

 

[jimj]

Reply to The Jordan: I think you have a strong chance at improving. Like someone else said, the fluctuating is a good sign. Someone mentioned trying meds such as gabapentin (neurontin is the brand name). My opinion is to stay away from gabapentin. I am currently experiencing withdrawal from gabapentin after having been on 1500 mg a day for about 4 months. The withdrawal for me (it's different for everyone) has been extremely tough and one of the potential side effects during withdrawal is tinnitus. I experienced very bad anxiety attacks because of the withdrawal. That led me to trying effexor for anxiety. The effexor induced tinnitus. I've been dealing with it for about 6 weeks and it was slowly improving. However, like you, I had a setback. I was experiencing nausea from the gabapentin withdrawal and I tried some benadryl to help with the nausea. I tried some 25 mg caplets yesterday (4 spaced out during the day). I woke up this morning with my tinnitus much louder. I hope that it just subsides again and I'll stay away from the benadryl. I understand the tough part is being patient and remaining hopeful and optimistic. However, I think things will improve for you again. Please keep us posted with your progress and I will try to do the same.

 

[Vicki14]

In the future, don't trust the doctors (or anyone else), and do what you can to avoid noise exposure (especially the noise that goes directly into your ear).

Absolutely agree! Microsuction screwedmy mild Tinnitus up big time! I'd never let another thing near my ears! I truly don't understand why they do this. It enrages me so much!!

 

[Vicki14]

This happened to me and I got Severe hyperacusis, it didnt get better but it worsened after being at a resturant. I lost a lot of hearing from calorc/cvemp (inner hair cells). If it dosent get better in 3-6 months it is likely to be permanent. I have permanent T and H now.

And yet we have to put up with it and shut up!!!! There's absolutely no justice for 'professionals' errors!

 

[dpdx]

And yet we have to put up with it and shut up!!!! There's absolutely no justice for 'professionals' errors!

We are at HIGH RISK for damage now.

 

[Gman]

ENTs glaze over with total boredom when they hear you say tinnitus. But then they are like hey let's stick these extremely loud things in your ear and make it worse. Oh it's perfectly safe they assure us. Dumb f***s.
It's like going to the doctor for s sprained ankle and them taking a sledge hammer to it like in the movie Misery.

 

[Emperor-Drax]

My ENT wanted to send me for a VEMP test and an MRI a few months ago. I asked how loud the VEMP was, and he said "pretty loud", to which I responded "but that'll hurt me, I have hearing sensitivity". And regarding the MRI, he said "they'll give you ear plugs".

I'd had it with him and never went back. He was good at ear wax removal though.

 

[Gman]

My ENT wanted to send me for a VEMP test and an MRI a few months ago. I asked how loud the VEMP was, and he said "pretty loud", to which I responded "but that'll hurt me, I have hearing sensitivity". And regarding the MRI, he said "they'll give you ear plugs".

I'd had it with him and never went back. He was good at ear wax removal though.

If you went through with those tests and things worsened for you he would have basically told you to stop whinging and get lost as there's nothing they can do to help. Such morons.

 

[Emperor-Drax]

If you went through with those tests and things worsened for you he would have basically told you to stop whinging and get lost as there's nothing they can do to help. Such morons.

Lucky I read this forum first.

 

[dpdx]

My ENT wanted to send me for a VEMP test and an MRI a few months ago. I asked how loud the VEMP was, and he said "pretty loud", to which I responded "but that'll hurt me, I have hearing sensitivity". And regarding the MRI, he said "they'll give you ear plugs".

I'd had it with him and never went back. He was good at ear wax removal though.

Good thing you didnt do it. I did VEMP Test and ended up with inner hair cell damage in both ears and hearing loss. I am still dealing with Severe H and Severe T. My hearing never recovered from the damage caused by VEMP and CALORIC tests.

 

[Emperor-Drax]

Good thing you didnt do it. I did VEMP Test and ended up with inner hair cell damage in both ears and hearing loss. I am still dealing with Severe H and Severe T. My hearing never recovered from the damage caused by VEMP and CALORIC tests.

My audiologist I saw later on (a very beautiful woman, I feel like adding!), also told me that it was good I didn't do it. She was way more clued into this than the ENT.

 

[dpdx]

My audiologist I saw later on (a very beautiful woman, I feel like adding!), also told me that it was good I didn't do it. She was way more clued into this than the ENT.

Ear tests damage hearing 100%

 

[Emperor-Drax]

Ear tests damage hearing 100%

Then what's the point of them? If they're so damaging, why haven't they ceased administering them? What happened to the old clinical motto "do no harm"?

 

[Vincent R]

An ENT tried to do an Acoustic Reflex Test on me, but within one to two seconds, I moved my head away and said that it was too loud for me to endure. Not until later on did I realize how close I had been to aggravate my condition.

You can't trust doctors.

 

[Emperor-Drax]

An ENT tried to do an Acoustic Reflex Test on me, but within one to two seconds, I moved my head away and said that it was too loud for me to endure. Not until later on did I realize how close I had been to aggravate my condition.

You can't trust doctors.

Oh man, what was his reaction?

 

[Vincent R]

Oh man, what was his reaction?

He didn't persist.

When I lie on my death bed many years from now, I will remember it as the one thing I did right in life.