Hearing Loss/Pressure After Tympanometry

[Mila9828]

Yeah, I'm struggeling with panic attacts and uncomfortable feelings, which makes it even worse. Always have to think about it. I can't focus on studying or something else.

It feels like having imaginary plugs in the ear all the time.
The thing is, that I'm afraid to visit the doctor again, so that she performs another test and makes it even worse. Can't trust ENT anymore, sadly.

Also have panic attacks, screaming doesn't help it either sadly.

 

[Mila9828]

Hi Marceline,

My tinnitus started Sept 2017 after getting a root canal procedure done where the endodontist used ultrasonic instrumentation. I got habituated to living with the T and it was manageable even at night. A week ago I made the mistake of going to an ENT and not being prepared for the appointment. I made the appointment to address unrelated symptoms to my T. I did mention my T and had no idea the ENT would suddenly do a tympanometry test. I did not decline the test even though my gut told me to. He ran the test 3 times in each ear. RIDICULOUS! My T has definitely spiked and now I have pressure changes in my ears similar to what you described. Today I was talking to someone after a bike ride and it was as if I had water in my ear. Also, sometimes when I swallow my ears make a popping sound. I am so frustrated that I ever went to that ENT. I paid money for this new stress and anxiety. So wrong! I appreciate the others who have posted the symptoms we are experiencing will go away with time. Our minds are powerful and we can heal from this!

How are you doing now?

 

[JohnAdams]

These doctors are friken insane and need to be held accountable.

 

[Mila9828]

All these things take a long time to settle. If the feeling of not hearing well on your right ear does not go away in another month, then start worrying. Take into accound ordinary hearing problems like inflammation may take like 2-3 months to go away completely.

Try the corticoids, see if they help.. you lose nothing if you try, just visit the doctor and see what he or she says about corticoids.

Can you elaborate on the inflammation please? I've been having hearing issues in my left ear after a caloric test (didn't want to do it but it was needed to rule out other causes) and now I have a feeling of inflammation in my ears. It makes sounds dull and even when I talk or whisper it feels like there's something blocking the sound from being clear. I'm in prednisone following the caloric test because i got scared of hearing damage. Any advice please? I don't want a permanent loss and my hearing tests have come back normal. Also have T.

 

[Juan]

Can you elaborate on the inflammation please? I've been having hearing issues in my left ear after a caloric test (didn't want to do it but it was needed to rule out other causes) and now I have a feeling of inflammation in my ears. It makes sounds dull and even when I talk or whisper it feels like there's something blocking the sound from being clear. I'm in prednisone following the caloric test because i got scared of hearing damage. Any advice please? I don't want a permanent loss and my hearing tests have come back normal. Also have T.

Basically the protocol recommended after being exposed to loud noise is to use prednisone. However, its benefits are very limited, if any, and do not work in every case. On top of that, prednisone and corticoids have side effects (also in the long run) and they shouldnt be used often or for a long period.

So one never knows... after many years with hearing problems I tend to avoid over-using corticoids. Sometimes I have them mainly to think I have done all that was in my hand not to have more hearing damage, but it's benefits are very limited.

 

[Mila9828]

Basically the protocol recommended after being exposed to loud noise is to use prednisone. However, its benefits are very limited, if any, and do not work in every case. On top of that, prednisone and corticoids have side effects (also in the long run) and they shouldnt be used often or for a long period.

So one never knows... after many years with hearing problems I tend to avoid over-using corticoids. Sometimes I have them mainly to think I have done all that was in my hand not to have more hearing damage, but it's benefits are very limited.

Thanks so much for letting me know! I'm currently on a 5 day course but it's my 3rd time doing it although there's no hearing loss... did it to be safe rather than sorry. I'll have to stop them after this time.

 

[Alue]

Yes it did, but it took me over 3 month to recover from this shock. I strongly warn everyone here with Hyperacusis to avoid these tests. They're not really revealing and if the audiometry doens't show something special, there's absolutely no need of performing a Tympanometry test. The only reason they to this, is that they can settle up 10 $ more for the health insurance bill.

It's actually not the tympanometry (that's just the test where you feel a little pressure) but it's the acoustic reflex test that it seems some devices and careless audiologists run at the same time as the tympanometry test. The acoustic reflex test plays a loud tone to test your ear's reflex to a loud noise and it's really a bad idea for anyone that has hyperacusis.

I just had a timpanometry test. I explained I had hyperacusis and asked could the minimum volumes possible be used. The audiologist was friendly and understanding, and I didn't find the volume to be too high at the time. Where are people getting these figures of 100dB from? Mine was nothing like that. The instruments are capable of being used for children starting at 40dB.

I assume many people are confusing the tympanometry test with the acoustic reflex test (it seems some audiologists are careless and don't distinguish between the two either). To trigger the acoustic reflex in most normal people, you need a loud tone.

 

[Mister Muso]

It's actually not the tympanometry (that's just the test where you feel a little pressure) but it's the acoustic reflex test that it seems some devices and careless audiologists run at the same time as the tympanometry test. The acoustic reflex test plays a loud tone to test your ear's reflex to a loud noise and it's really a bad idea for anyone that has hyperacusis.
.

I didn't get a loud tone. I told the audiologist about my hyperacusis and asked her not to use any loud tones. Thankfully she understood and fully complied with my request. I still felt pressure rather than volume during the test with the tube in the ear, and for several days afterwards. So i guess that's the Timpanometry test which affected me, and which I would not recommend for anyone whose symptoms have ever included ear fullness or pressure.

 

[Juan]

It's actually not the tympanometry (that's just the test where you feel a little pressure) but it's the acoustic reflex test that it seems some devices and careless audiologists run at the same time as the tympanometry test. The acoustic reflex test plays a loud tone to test your ear's reflex to a loud noise and it's really a bad idea for anyone that has hyperacusis.


I assume many people are confusing the tympanometry test with the acoustic reflex test (it seems some audiologists are careless and don't distinguish between the two either). To trigger the acoustic reflex in most normal people, you need a loud tone.

Yeah, the accoustic reflex test is a killer for hyperacusis sufferers.

 

[JudyM]

Yeah, the accoustic reflex test is a killer for hyperacusis sufferers.

these tests were the exact reason I got this loud pitch hyperacusis/tinnitus which has never stopped since I left the ENT's office mid July 2019...it is now October 11, 2019. I went into the ent's office that day with intermittent ringing that I had first noticed in May 2019. At that point it was mild and I didn't even hear anything most days. I just knew the intermittent sound wasn't normal for me so I wanted it checked out. I went in totally blind to the possible effects of the tympanogram, acoustic reflex, etc., and if course all these things were done. I sure as heck wish I had researched all these tests prior to that ENT appt.

 

[Juan]

these tests were the exact reason I got this loud pitch hyperacusis/tinnitus which has never stopped since I left the ENT's office mid July 2019...it is now October 11, 2019. I went into the ent's office that day with intermittent ringing that I had first noticed in May 2019. At that point it was mild and I didn't even hear anything most days. I just knew the intermittent sound wasn't normal for me so I wanted it checked out. I went in totally blind to the possible effects of the tympanogram, acoustic reflex, etc., and if course all these things were done. I sure as heck wish I had researched all these tests prior to that ENT appt.

Isn't it ironic that loud sound is used in most tests to assess a healthy hearing? Evoked potential, accoustic reflex.. let alone the dreadful MRI.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Hi Bill, I'm sorry to bother you but I had a question regarding this. I have these symptoms as well as a decrease in volume? Could this be associated with the fullness/slight muffled hearing I have and did you experience this as well?

Personally, I haven't experienced any decrease in volume. However, I remember reading several posts where the posters described decreased volume accompanying their full ear sensation. It is my understanding that those symptoms (along with hyperacusis) normally go away after 6-12 months.

my friend was playing music at what used to be a normal volume for me but it was waaaay too loud I thought I was at a concert and covered my ears right away

You will want to do more than cover your ears - you will want to get yourself away from all of the noises that feel loud as fast as you can.

In case you haven't seen it before, check out
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

 

[Mila9828]

Personally, I haven't experienced any decrease in volume. However, I remember reading several posts where the posters described decreased volume accompanying their full ear sensation. It is my understanding that those symptoms (along with hyperacusis) normally go away after 6-12 months.

You will want to do more than cover your ears - you will want to get yourself away from all of the noises that feel loud as fast as you can.

In case you haven't seen it before, check out
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

Hi again sorry to bother you. Did you ever experience the numb hearing feeling that Marceline is describing? I've been having this for a while as well as pain, my ears get extremely sore and all sounds just cause my ears to hurt so much they go numb. It's terrible.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Did you ever experience the numb hearing feeling that Marceline is describing?

What she describes sounds a lot like the "full ear sensation" that I had been experiencing... Eventually it went away (I think it took 6-12 months before that happened).

 

[Mila9828]

What she describes sounds a lot like the "full ear sensation" that I had been experiencing... Eventually it went away (I think it took 6-12 months before that happened).

Everything sounds slightly quieter and a bit muffled... I'm assuming this can be normal with ear fullness as well right? My fullness just feels like a foggy feeling in my ears.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Everything sounds slightly quieter and a bit muffled... I'm assuming this can be normal with ear fullness as well right? My fullness just feels like a foggy feeling in my ears.

It's ear fullness... For a small minority of people it doesn't improve. But it goes away for the majority of the sufferers...