Hello. I'm James and live in the UK, I'm 27 years old. I've pretty much never made an account on a forum like this and posted before. I've reached a point now where it feels like nothing is working or can work. I'm feeling desperate and i'm looking for any advice for people who are suffering like me. Sorry if this sounds very rambly but this is my story so far.
It started around March last year when I had some sort of upper respiratory infection. I had a cold, ears got stuffy, nothing that hasn't happened before. But this time my left ear remained stuffy long after the cold was over. I figured it'd go on its own but then I started to notice that my hearing was dulled and, at times, very crackly. Certain frequencies and loud sounds would make a crackling sound in my ear. It became quite uncomfortable at times. This went on for a good few weeks and then slowly but surely, another noise developed in my ear. A high pitched ringing sound, the cursed tinnitus began.
This got louder and more intrusive as the months went on and my hearing got worse. It didn't show any signs of getting better and then even when I thought this was as bad as it could get, it spread to my other ear about half a year later.
I couldn't believe that I could be kicked even harder when I was down but the problem that began in just my left ear has now spread to my right and it's actually worse in that ear. My right ear, which was once my good ear, is now my worst ear. I struggle to hear out of it and the tinnitus is unbearable in quiet rooms. I have high pitched tinnitus in my left ear a bit lower pitched, more aggressive sounding tinnitus in my right ear. My hearing in both ears has significantly degraded, but it's much worse in my right ear.
I have been to the ETD clinic around 6 - 10 times since my issues began. I've been recommended pretty much all the typical stuff you can think of. Nasal sprays, holding my nose and blowing, decongestants, and just allowing time for it to 'go away on its own'. Nothing has helped.
A few months ago, after exhausting all other options, I took the plunge and had grommets installed in my ear drums. The ETD doctor said there was a chance this could equalise any pressure imbalances and hopefully fix my problem. So far, it hasn't helped at all and my problems such as hearing loss and tinnitus are arguably worse now. I'm just looking forward to the day they fall out or are removed.
So here I am. Coming up 2 years now since my problems began. I feel its highly likely my ETD has come from the cold I had which happened around the same time, it seems pretty coincidental if not. I also have TMJ problems which i've looked into and can also be a contributor to ETD so that might also be a factor.
One thing I have noticed is that sometimes when I chew, yawn, burp or adjust my facial expressions in certain ways, the hearing comes back, as though the eustachian tubes are opening for brief periods of time and my ability to hear becomes significantly better for a short window. This suggests that my hearing ability is not damaged but the processes that transfers it through my ear is not working as it should. I hold on to this that one day I can get things working normally again.
I get on with life but some days I do just feel hopeless. Tinnitus can't be escaped. It's always there. Constantly whirring away. I often put earphones in and listen to music while on my computer to drown it out and have some hours of peace.
The ETD doctor i saw last has now referred me to Audiology and we're going for hearing aids. The idea is that increasing the volume will help bring the tinnitus down since my tinnitus has been brought on by my degraded hearing. I'm doubtful about this as it's only masking a problem. The underlying issue is still there and I want it fixed rather than masked. Have any of you found that hearing aids helps with ETD?
So this is my long rambly story about where I am now. Has anyone else had a similar journey to me. Have any of you got better? Have any of you found that hearing aids helps with ETD? Is there some secret trick out there that I don't know about that can help me? The idea I could live the rest of my life like this is not something I am willing to accept. There has to be something that can be done?
It started around March last year when I had some sort of upper respiratory infection. I had a cold, ears got stuffy, nothing that hasn't happened before. But this time my left ear remained stuffy long after the cold was over. I figured it'd go on its own but then I started to notice that my hearing was dulled and, at times, very crackly. Certain frequencies and loud sounds would make a crackling sound in my ear. It became quite uncomfortable at times. This went on for a good few weeks and then slowly but surely, another noise developed in my ear. A high pitched ringing sound, the cursed tinnitus began.
This got louder and more intrusive as the months went on and my hearing got worse. It didn't show any signs of getting better and then even when I thought this was as bad as it could get, it spread to my other ear about half a year later.
I couldn't believe that I could be kicked even harder when I was down but the problem that began in just my left ear has now spread to my right and it's actually worse in that ear. My right ear, which was once my good ear, is now my worst ear. I struggle to hear out of it and the tinnitus is unbearable in quiet rooms. I have high pitched tinnitus in my left ear a bit lower pitched, more aggressive sounding tinnitus in my right ear. My hearing in both ears has significantly degraded, but it's much worse in my right ear.
I have been to the ETD clinic around 6 - 10 times since my issues began. I've been recommended pretty much all the typical stuff you can think of. Nasal sprays, holding my nose and blowing, decongestants, and just allowing time for it to 'go away on its own'. Nothing has helped.
A few months ago, after exhausting all other options, I took the plunge and had grommets installed in my ear drums. The ETD doctor said there was a chance this could equalise any pressure imbalances and hopefully fix my problem. So far, it hasn't helped at all and my problems such as hearing loss and tinnitus are arguably worse now. I'm just looking forward to the day they fall out or are removed.
So here I am. Coming up 2 years now since my problems began. I feel its highly likely my ETD has come from the cold I had which happened around the same time, it seems pretty coincidental if not. I also have TMJ problems which i've looked into and can also be a contributor to ETD so that might also be a factor.
One thing I have noticed is that sometimes when I chew, yawn, burp or adjust my facial expressions in certain ways, the hearing comes back, as though the eustachian tubes are opening for brief periods of time and my ability to hear becomes significantly better for a short window. This suggests that my hearing ability is not damaged but the processes that transfers it through my ear is not working as it should. I hold on to this that one day I can get things working normally again.
I get on with life but some days I do just feel hopeless. Tinnitus can't be escaped. It's always there. Constantly whirring away. I often put earphones in and listen to music while on my computer to drown it out and have some hours of peace.
The ETD doctor i saw last has now referred me to Audiology and we're going for hearing aids. The idea is that increasing the volume will help bring the tinnitus down since my tinnitus has been brought on by my degraded hearing. I'm doubtful about this as it's only masking a problem. The underlying issue is still there and I want it fixed rather than masked. Have any of you found that hearing aids helps with ETD?
So this is my long rambly story about where I am now. Has anyone else had a similar journey to me. Have any of you got better? Have any of you found that hearing aids helps with ETD? Is there some secret trick out there that I don't know about that can help me? The idea I could live the rest of my life like this is not something I am willing to accept. There has to be something that can be done?
I suggest hearing aids and keep trying to figure out what's your underlying problem to tinnitus. There are so many research and trials, there will be a cure in the near future. Cheers 
Member
