Middle Ear Ossicle Damage from a Suctioning Incident When Taking Earplugs Out?

[MikeO123]

Hey everyone. I was wondering if I may have damaged my middle ear ossicles.

Since a suctioning event while taking out earplugs I've had crackling in my right ear when talking and when exposed to certain noises.

However I don't have any change in my hearing thresholds that I notice.

When I scratch my ear it feels like something is loose.

I don't have ear wax as I got it removed but I was wondering if there was anything besides damage to the middle ear that might give these same symptoms?

I went to an ENT and he said my eardrum looks fine. Really worried I may have caused damage.

Thank you for your help.

 

[ajc]

I think a high resolution CT might be able to show the ossicles and if they are damaged.

@GregCA is knowledgeable about ossicles.

 

[MikeO123]

I think a high resolution CT might be able to show the ossicles and if they are damaged.

@GregCA is knowledgeable about ossicles.

I'll definitely look into getting a CT scan done. Thank you.

 

[MikeO123]

I'm also getting random thumping in the same ear.

 

[Gman]

Hey everyone. I was wondering if I may have damaged my middle ear ossicles.

Since a suctioning event while taking out earplugs I've had crackling in my right ear when talking and when exposed to certain noises.

However I don't have any change in my hearing thresholds that I notice.

When I scratch my ear it feels like something is loose.

I don't have ear wax as I got it removed but I was wondering if there was anything besides damage to the middle ear that might give these same symptoms?

I went to an ENT and he said my eardrum looks fine. Really worried I may have caused damage.

Thank you for your help.

It sounds like tonic tensor tympani syndrome (the crackling/fluttering) and middle ear myclonus (the thumping).
CT scan won't pick up either, but by all means see an ENT if you want.

They are due to middle ear muscles becoming overly sensitised and have a psychosomatic component. They probably are reacting to how you removed the ear plugs and/or you've been wearing ear plugs too much and it's making your ears more sensitive. Look up those two things I mentioned above and also acoustic reflex.

I would have thought damage to the ossicles would affect your hearing due to them not conducting sound to the cochlea properly.

 

[MikeO123]

It sounds like tonic tensor tympani syndrome (the crackling/fluttering) and middle ear myclonus (the thumping).
CT scan won't pick up either, but by all means see an ENT if you want.

They are due to middle ear muscles becoming overly sensitised and have a psychosomatic component. They probably are reacting to how you removed the ear plugs and/or you've been wearing ear plugs too much and it's making your ears more sensitive. Look up those two things I mentioned above and also acoustic reflex.

I would have thought damage to the ossicles would affect your hearing due to them not conducting sound to the cochlea properly.

Ok thank you! I try not to wear earplugs too much. If this was caused by the way I removed the earplugs is TTTS and middle ear myoclonus something that will fade if I limit earplug use from now on? Also it hasn't affected my regular tinnitus and I'm worried if it could.

 

[Gman]

Ok thank you! I try not to wear earplugs too much. If this was caused by the way I removed the earplugs is TTTS and middle ear myoclonus something that will fade if I limit earplug use from now on? Also it hasn't affected my regular tinnitus and I'm worried if it could.

I don't have any stats, but from what I've read it can go away on its own. I would just be using earplugs when the sound levels require them. The fact it hasn't affected your tinnitus already could probably be taken as a good sign. Relaxing and not worrying about it is also a good thing to do.

If you want to see a doctor to check to see if your eardrums are ok and see if there's any wax build up as well, that could also be a good thing. Doesn't necessarily need to be an ENT.

 

[MikeO123]

I don't have any stats, but from what I've read it can go away on its own. I would just be using earplugs when the sound levels require them. The fact it hasn't affected your tinnitus already could probably be taken as a good sign. Relaxing and not worrying about it is also a good thing to do.

If you want to see a doctor to check to see if your eardrums are ok and see if there's any wax build up as well, that could also be a good thing. Doesn't necessarily need to be an ENT.

Yeah I'm going to wear earplugs when necessary and try to relax. It just sucks and I'm mad at myself that I caused this to happen by trying to protect myself by wearing earplugs. I'm also worried about it getting worse. I'm really hoping it fades.

 

[MikeO123]

I don't have any stats, but from what I've read it can go away on its own. I would just be using earplugs when the sound levels require them. The fact it hasn't affected your tinnitus already could probably be taken as a good sign. Relaxing and not worrying about it is also a good thing to do.

If you want to see a doctor to check to see if your eardrums are ok and see if there's any wax build up as well, that could also be a good thing. Doesn't necessarily need to be an ENT.

Also I went to the ENT yesterday. I had a lot of impacted wax when this started and he removed it manually yesterday. He said my eardrums look fine which is weird because in the ear with the crackling and thumping it feel like my eardrum is loose or something.

 

[Gman]

Also I went to the ENT yesterday. I had a lot of impacted wax when this started and he removed it manually yesterday. He said my eardrums look fine which is weird because in the ear with the crackling and thumping it feel like my eardrum is loose or something.

That's sounds encouraging. It could very well fade away. It can take time, so don't worry about it. It's not doing any damage.

The thing is happening in the middle ear, so the ENT wouldn't ever pick up on that. Everything looks ok and is functioning but it's an invisible condition where your ear has a very sensitive acoustic reflex. But did he even acknowledge the TTTS and middle ear myclonus?

Good move on the manual clean too. I wish I could go back and asked for that instead of microsuction, which contributed to my problems like acoustic trauma, TTTS and hyperacusis etc.

 

[MikeO123]

That's sounds encouraging. It could very well fade away. It can take time, so don't worry about it. It's not doing any damage.

The thing is happening in the middle ear, so the ENT wouldn't ever pick up on that. Everything looks ok and is functioning but it's an invisible condition where your ear has a very sensitive acoustic reflex. But did he even acknowledge the TTTS and middle ear myclonus?

Good move on the manual clean too. I wish I could go back and asked for that instead of microsuction, which contributed to my problems like acoustic trauma, TTTS and hyperacusis etc.

It's good to know it's not doing damage. One thing weird I noticed is that for some reason I don't get the crackling until the late afternoon. During the morning I don't have it. The ENT I went to didn't mention TTTD or middle ear myclonus. He just removed the wax and said the wax might've been the cause but if it still keeps happening to go back and he'll take another look.

 

[MikeO123]

Something interesting I noticed today. I haven't gotten the crackling all day but I just did a big yawn and the crackling started after it. Now my ear is crackling with noises again. I'm wondering if maybe that means it's probably a Eustachian tube issue since during the whole day no matter the noise my ear wouldn't crackle but the yawn triggered it.

 

[Gman]

Something interesting I noticed today. I haven't gotten the crackling all day but I just did a big yawn and the crackling started after it. Now my ear is crackling with noises again. I'm wondering if maybe that means it's probably a Eustachian tube issue since during the whole day no matter the noise my ear wouldn't crackle but the yawn triggered it.

I believe the tensor tympani muscles also help with the functioning of the Eustachian tubes. The yawn probably just triggered it for some reason. I would say it's unlikely to be a different issue.