Sudden Hearing Loss, Tinnitus Shifts, and Strange Ear Sensations: A Relapse or Something New?

[Scruffiey]

Today, my right ear has decided to add to my fragile mental state by beginning to lose hearing beyond what my audiogram showed just a fortnight ago. So long, hyperacusis, I guess. It feels much like the moderate hearing loss I experienced before my tinnitus began, which I had assumed was just a lingering cold symptom. Now, it has developed into a full pressurized sensation that occasionally comes with a slight "release" and a feeling of wetness. The dial-tone tinnitus seems to reduce slightly after this release.

There's also a constant dull ache, along with a light pain on the top of my head, right above the offending ear.

I already tried using a steroid nasal spray for what was assumed to be Eustachian tube dysfunction, and all it did was give me patulous Eustachian tube and horrific anxiety.

I've kept things quiet for the past three months. There has been zero noise trauma that could have triggered this latest change.

Any clues? Or is my life just a constant, unending misery now, filled with fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, Eustachian tube dysfunction, hyperacusis, strange sensations, and the need to walk on figurative eggshells? Real ones might cause a spike…

Could past noise trauma be responsible? I'm starting to wonder if I caught COVID-19 and this is all some weird, prolonged case of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. That, or I've finally lost my marbles.

 

[natashann]

Hi @Scruffiey, I'm going through the same thing with hearing fluctuations. Mine also started after a cold seven months ago, with a lot of setbacks along the way. After my major setback, I had a hearing test, and it was almost the same as before, so I didn't take any further action.

However, my tinnitus became unbearably worse, and each day felt more difficult. I panicked (I know, not ideal), still thinking it was just a temporary spike. After two weeks, I decided to retest, and almost every frequency had dropped by 5 dB.

I really believe stress plays a major role after hearing loss. Maybe it causes too much inflammation or affects blood flow—who knows—but things have only gotten worse since that day. I'm hoping my hearing stabilizes soon.

Sorry this isn't much help, but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone.