Tinnitus with Sudden Hearing loss —Maybe Meniere's Disease?

[BuckeyesForever]

I've had tinnitus for a while now. I did have a long flare after my COVID-19 vaccine but it had seemed a little better over the past month or two. It was incredibly annoying, but I was sort of learning to live with it... And then all of a sudden I noticed I couldn't seem to hear well in my right ear. It wasn't my imagination. The doctor says I have sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which honestly I had never heard of until this. I have done steroid injections and am on oral steroids too. My doctor is trying very hard to restore any hearing possible. Also, I was having some dizziness when I first noticed the hearing loss so the doctor will be doing tests for possible Meniere's Disease. Another thing that I hadn't realized was a possibility. Just when you think dealing with tinnitus is enough...

Is there any chance my hearing might come back? I haven't noticed any change yet.

 

[BuckeyesForever]

Still no change in hearing... I'm so discouraged. I can hardly function at work because my right ear can hardly hear.

 

[Tau]

Still no change in hearing... I'm so discouraged. I can hardly function at work because my right ear can hardly hear.

Sudden loss of hearing is a medical emergency, I suggest you go to the ER! They can check your ears and, if necessary, give you intratympanic steroid shots.

 

[GregCA]

Is there any chance my hearing might come back?

Yes, there is a chance. You're doing the "right thing" with steroids if you suspect SSNHL.

Are you comfortable posting your audiogram? (Blank out any personal info).

 

[Tau]

I thought I was replying to a different post, so I missed the fact you had already had steroids. My otologist says that you can get better in a few months after steroids, so don't lose hope. You could also take B vitamins. Best of luck!

 

[drox]

Hi!
I had several episodes of SSHL in both ears and am left with annoying tinnitus even though my hearing came back to 'normal' each time (within max 3 days but might take longer so don't lose hope).
I think I have inner ear damage after all these episodes and no real explanation about the cause. I suspect bloodflow issues brought by stress, cholesterol or cannabis or all this together so my only advice is to avoid those and maintain a healthy lifestyle... And pray for it to work!

 

[Tinker Bell]

Sudden loss of hearing is a medical emergency, I suggest you go to the ER! They can check your ears and, if necessary, give you intratympanic steroid shots.

They have done steroid injections per their original post.

I experienced SSNHL. Depending on where the loss falls, OP, you may be a candidate for a hearing aid. I will say that the loss was more noticeable the first year but now I've adapted. It's still frustrating and difficult to hear, especially in particular situations, but overall I am currently okay without a hearing aid.

 

[Tau]

They have done steroid injections per their original post.

My bad, I thought I was replying to a different post and it was too late to edit it.

Yeah, if the hearing loss does not get better, hearing aids is a solution and you can even have white noise on to mask your tinnitus.

 

[BuckeyesForever]

Yes, there is a chance. You're doing the "right thing" with steroids if you suspect SSNHL.

Are you comfortable posting your audiogram? (Blank out any personal info).

I have no idea how to post images. Or I would!

Today's audiogram, no change from the first one since this started. Notes say moderate loss from 250-500Hz, WNL from 750-4000 Hz, sloping to mild high frequency loss.

 

[BuckeyesForever]

I thought I was replying to a different post, so I missed the fact you had already had steroids. My otologist says that you can get better in a few months after steroids, so don't lose hope. You could also take B vitamins. Best of luck!

I'm pretty discouraged because there hasn't been any change. I've done my last injection, finishing out a couple more days of the oral steroid. It would be wonderful if I could still get back even some of my hearing in my right ear.

What kind of B vitamins?

 

[Juan]

Still no change in hearing... I'm so discouraged. I can hardly function at work because my right ear can hardly hear.

Did you get intratympanic injections of Dexamethasone? These are delivered through the eardrum and I think this is standard treatment for SSNHL. That or corticoids, although injections in theory work a bit better.

 

[Kriszti]

I have no idea how to post images. Or I would!

There is an "Upload a File" option next to the "Post Reply", under the text box. You can use that to post photos.

 

[Matchbox]

Slam this with everything if it's been a couple days.

• Small dose of Aspirin? Or other anti-thrombosis medication. Warfarin maybe.
• IV Dexamethasone.
• Antivirals (Acyclovir).
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 10x90 minutes over 2 weeks.

Those are your best bets imo and hits all angles. Keep pressing. Don't wait.

Is there any moment that occured the previous day that could've caused a PLF? Straining? Exercise? Pressure changes etc?

A middle ear blood patch would be the next thing to try, and immediately if you had any of the above, followed by surgery if it worked.

If it were Meniere's, it should recover. Trying Lasix might not hurt.

The stuff at the top I'd be doing immediately if it's been past 36-48 hours.

Chances of recovery start going down a lot post 2 weeks, and past 6 weeks there's no chance really.

 

[Matchbox]

Still no change in hearing... I'm so discouraged. I can hardly function at work because my right ear can hardly hear.

You can also ask about maybe trying carbogen (30% CO2, 70% O2 mixture). It might help in your case, don't know how many gas mixtures are kept at hospitals.

Carbon dioxide is a vasodilator generally.

Sudden Deafness: A Comparison of Anticoagulant Therapy and Carbogen Inhalation Therapy

 

[BuckeyesForever]

Did you get intratympanic injections of Dexamethasone? These are delivered through the eardrum and I think this is standard treatment for SSNHL. That or corticoids, although injections in theory work a bit better.

Injections of Dexamethasone as well as oral Prednisone.

 

[BuckeyesForever]

Slam this with everything if it's been a couple days.

• Small dose of Aspirin? Or other anti-thrombosis medication. Warfarin maybe.
• IV Dexamethasone.
• Antivirals (Acyclovir).
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 10x90 minutes over 2 weeks.

Those are your best bets imo and hits all angles. Keep pressing. Don't wait.

Is there any moment that occured the previous day that could've caused a PLF? Straining? Exercise? Pressure changes etc?

A middle ear blood patch would be the next thing to try, and immediately if you had any of the above, followed by surgery if it worked.

If it were Meniere's, it should recover. Trying Lasix might not hurt.

The stuff at the top I'd be doing immediately if it's been past 36-48 hours.

Chances of recovery start going down a lot post 2 weeks, and past 6 weeks there's no chance really.

What is PLF?

The doctor is sending me for different tests now and this might've been one of the things they mentioned as something they'll be checking for. The dizziness that came with the hearing loss is gone now, and the hyperacusis is slightly improved, but the hearing loss still remains.

 

[Kriszti]

What is PLF?

Perilymph Fistula:

https://dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/unilat/fistula.html

 

[Juan]

Injections of Dexamethasone as well as oral Prednisone.

Woww... and did it improve so far?

 

[BuckeyesForever]

Woww... and did it improve so far?

Still no change in hearing

I'm having a lot of trouble with ear pressure (in both ears) the past couple days. I'm miserable... Sigh.

 

[Juan]

Still no change in hearing

I'm having a lot of trouble with ear pressure (in both ears) the past couple days. I'm miserable... Sigh.

Courage and good luck!