Hyperacusis Worsened from Ear Infection — What's My Outlook for Improvement?

[Trebor]

Hello, I'm very new to Tinnitus Talk! I began my hyperacusis journey in September 2023.

I started making progress as the year unfolded and then boom, double ear infection as of 3 days ago.

I'm getting pretty worried as ever since my ear infection started, anytime I rub over my ear or the back of my head behind my ear, a loud rumble noise occurs. I also experience discomfort with things like silverware, paper bags, certain frequencies from my own voice etc.

I was doing so good only to get drastically reset, it feels like...

I'm wondering does an ear infection and fluid in my ear make hyperacusis worse or more prominent? Will it go back to baseline? I'm very frightened by all of this and want my good progress back.

Thank you so much.

 

[slc]

Hello, I'm very new to Tinnitus Talk! I began my hyperacusis journey in September 2023.

I started making progress as the year unfolded and then boom, double ear infection as of 3 days ago.

I'm getting pretty worried as ever since my ear infection started, anytime I rub over my ear or the back of my head behind my ear, a loud rumble noise occurs. I also experience discomfort with things like silverware, paper bags, certain frequencies from my own voice etc.

I was doing so good only to get drastically reset, it feels like...

I'm wondering does an ear infection and fluid in my ear make hyperacusis worse or more prominent? Will it go back to baseline? I'm very frightened by all of this and want my good progress back.

Thank you so much.

I can speak to my experience with hyperacusis which was catastrophic when it first developed along with tinnitus more than a decade ago. The hyperacusis resolved within less than a year.

In my view, it makes sense that an ear infection would affect not just your hearing, but your hyperacusis as well. Also having a relatively recent acute case often amps up anxiety and worry. At least, this was the case for me.

I would follow up with your ENT or doctor if the infection doesn't soon clear up. Some infections are treated with antibiotic drops (for bacterial infection of ear canal), oral antibiotics for middle ear, and perhaps steroids to reduce swelling.

Once the infection is gone, I would guess that some, if not all, of the new symptoms you have experienced will disappear. I'm not a doctor, but my gut feeling is there is a good chance things will go back to baseline. Also, once you get through this rough patch with the infection, whatever you were doing before, keep on with it, as your hyperacusis was diminishing. That might have involved minimizing noise exposure, gradually introducing soothing sounds such as oceans waves...

In the meanwhile, try to get a good night's sleep, eat soothing foods but perhaps avoid dairy which might create more congestion, add a wedge of raw ginger and some honey into herbal tea to relax and help the body heal. Once the risk of all infection is over, maybe take a nice warm bath with Epsom salts so you can destress.

Hopefully, you'll be back on track.

 

[Muggumbo]

I would first worry about getting the infection resolved and seeing how things unfold in the following weeks.