Hearing Problems After Ear Tube / Grommet

[Frustrated n NC]

Hi Everyone:

Hoping to get some advice as I feel like I am losing my mind. I had a left ear tube / grommet placed on Friday. After the audiology exam it was determined that I had fluid in my inner ear. Immediately after the tube, my hearing was AWFUL. The ENT said to give it 2-3 days and it would get better. I am now on day 6 and my hearing isn't back to normal. I saw him again yesterday and he did another hearing test. My hearing is normal. However, I can "hear myself speak" as if I'm under water. It's driving me crazy. I have tons of post nasal drip which is making my throat hurt. I now also have a slight ringing in my ear.

Out of desperation I saw a different ENT today. We are running a CT scan tomorrow to see if there is an underlying issue in my sinuses.

Will this muffled sound ever go away? Am I being impatient? I hate to speak or even hear others speak.

 

[GSC]

You could be impatient, but I would also stay on top of it too, just in case. Hopefully everything clears up soon. Do you know if your ears still have fluid?

 

[Contrast]

Some audiologists are doing crazy harm, God only knows what they did.

You probably don't even have fluid behind your ears.

 

[Contrast]

Hi Everyone:

Hoping to get some advice as I feel like I am losing my mind. I had a left ear tube / grommet placed on Friday. After the audiology exam it was determined that I had fluid in my inner ear. Immediately after the tube, my hearing was AWFUL. The ENT said to give it 2-3 days and it would get better. I am now on day 6 and my hearing isn't back to normal. I saw him again yesterday and he did another hearing test. My hearing is normal. However, I can "hear myself speak" as if I'm under water. It's driving me crazy. I have tons of post nasal drip which is making my throat hurt. I now also have a slight ringing in my ear.

Out of desperation I saw a different ENT today. We are running a CT scan tomorrow to see if there is an underlying issue in my sinuses.

Will this muffled sound ever go away? Am I being impatient? I hate to speak or even hear others speak.

The hearing test they use is extremely biased and limited. Tonal audiograms only test the bare vitals of human hearing. Hearing loss outside of vital speech ranges is "clinically unconcerning"

 

[Frustrated n NC]

My new ENT didn't see any fluid... he also said he wouldn't have put in a tube solely based on the audiology report. When the ENT tried to suction out fluid as he was putting in the tube, he hardly got any out as there wasn't much there
I'm so confused as to what to do, as getting the grommet out may make things worse
As crazy as it sounds- I hope the CT finds something that can be fixed

 

[Contrast]

My new ENT didn't see any fluid... he also said he wouldn't have put in a tube solely based on the audiology report. When the ENT tried to suction out fluid as he was putting in the tube, he hardly got any out as there wasn't much there
I'm so confused as to what to do, as getting the grommet out may make things worse
As crazy as it sounds- I hope the CT finds something that can be fixed

Do you have a history of loud noise exposure? Audiology is a fundamentally flawed field.

 

[GregCA]

Will this muffled sound ever go away? Am I being impatient? I hate to speak or even hear others speak.

Your tube is temporary, right?

 

[JohnAdams]

My new ENT didn't see any fluid... he also said he wouldn't have put in a tube solely based on the audiology report. When the ENT tried to suction out fluid as he was putting in the tube, he hardly got any out as there wasn't much there
I'm so confused as to what to do, as getting the grommet out may make things worse
As crazy as it sounds- I hope the CT finds something that can be fixed

You need to ask your new doctor about malpractice, and if they think there has been any and you have any permanent damage, I'd start shopping for a malpractice attorney.

Report the original doctor to the state medical board as well.

 

[Angel D]

What was the result? Did you take the tube out?