Update After Hospital ENT Appointment (My Hearing Reacts to Certain Sounds)

[Hariz Nonis]

Hello @Bill Bauer @Greg Sacramento @Michael Leigh @Contrast @Lane @Deamon22 @JohnAdams and my fellow forum members

I had my ENT appointment yesterday, 27th Dec, for my current situation with my hearing. Links will be at the bottom for new readers or if any of the tagged users forgot the details.

TL;DR - My hearing is reacting to certain sounds, and certain actions I do also trigger the ringing at times.

Now, on to the events at the hospital and the (sort of) diagnosis that was given.

I did a hearing test first. Conductive and sensorineural(is this the correct term?). The person who did the test also used some device to check if my eardrums had any issues. My eardrums responded well to the sounds that device emitted, so there were no issues there.

The hearing test determined that while I did not have any hearing loss, my right ear was "poorer than my left". There was also a number for my right ear on the report that my left did not have: 55 and maybe the letters "Hz" on the same table as well. I have no idea what this means, but the doctor never said anything about it. I don't want to think negatively as well. I guess the original T I had years ago and the current issue made it more difficult for my right ear to detect the sounds. Maybe, maybe not.

Then came the consultation session with the doctor.

I mentioned the issues I had with my hearing, and the things I had done or experienced prior to or while this has been going on. I told her that my neck had been stiff, and that it had been swelling for some time. She tried to feel for the swelling, but because I had been taking Ibuprofen for the past week and icing my neck, I guess it had gone down.

I also mentioned my head hitting a low ceiling a few days before all this started, along with my carrying of a laptop during the same period, but she didn't say much about those things.

She also performed a nasal endoscopy to look at my nose and throat, but there were no issues inside those parts of my body. It also seems my ears are fine after all.

Finally, she wanted to do a Stapedial reflex test, as that was probably the only likely cause that had not been checked out. Sadly, there were no slots available for me to do it yesterday. I'll be having an appointment in a little less than three months most likely for that, in addition to checking up on my condition after some time has passed.

She prescribed me a few medicines to help with nerve repair and management of the ringing. A box of 90 Vitamin B1/B6/B12 tablets to be taken once a day, along with 60 tablets of 40mg Gingko Biloba, also taken once a day. For my neck, she prescribed me two packets of Ketoprofen pain relief patches.

It's only been a day since I've started taking those meds. Only time will tell now if they can at least help with making everything better. I'll have to continue taking of myself of course. Any tips are welcome.

I may have missed out some minute details, so ask or give your thoughts down below. May this end quickly. For all of us.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-my-respiratory-system-causing-the-ringing-i-hear.32703/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/ringing-sound-when-i-burp.32800/

 

[Contrast]

Hello @Bill Bauer @Greg Sacramento @Michael Leigh @Contrast @Lane @Deamon22 @JohnAdams and my fellow forum members

I had my ENT appointment yesterday, 27th Dec, for my current situation with my hearing. Links will be at the bottom for new readers or if any of the tagged users forgot the details.

TL;DR - My hearing is reacting to certain sounds, and certain actions I do also trigger the ringing at times.

Now, on to the events at the hospital and the (sort of) diagnosis that was given.

I did a hearing test first. Conductive and sensorineural(is this the correct term?). The person who did the test also used some device to check if my eardrums had any issues. My eardrums responded well to the sounds that device emitted, so there were no issues there.

The hearing test determined that while I did not have any hearing loss, my right ear was "poorer than my left". There was also a number for my right ear on the report that my left did not have: 55 and maybe the letters "Hz" on the same table as well. I have no idea what this means, but the doctor never said anything about it. I don't want to think negatively as well. I guess the original T I had years ago and the current issue made it more difficult for my right ear to detect the sounds. Maybe, maybe not.

Then came the consultation session with the doctor.

I mentioned the issues I had with my hearing, and the things I had done or experienced prior to or while this has been going on. I told her that my neck had been stiff, and that it had been swelling for some time. She tried to feel for the swelling, but because I had been taking Ibuprofen for the past week and icing my neck, I guess it had gone down.

I also mentioned my head hitting a low ceiling a few days before all this started, along with my carrying of a laptop during the same period, but she didn't say much about those things.

She also performed a nasal endoscopy to look at my nose and throat, but there were no issues inside those parts of my body. It also seems my ears are fine after all.

Finally, she wanted to do a Stapedial reflex test, as that was probably the only likely cause that had not been checked out. Sadly, there were no slots available for me to do it yesterday. I'll be having an appointment in a little less than three months most likely for that, in addition to checking up on my condition after some time has passed.

She prescribed me a few medicines to help with nerve repair and management of the ringing. A box of 90 Vitamin B1/B6/B12 tablets to be taken once a day, along with 60 tablets of 40mg Gingko Biloba, also taken once a day. For my neck, she prescribed me two packets of Ketoprofen pain relief patches.

It's only been a day since I've started taking those meds. Only time will tell now if they can at least help with making everything better. I'll have to continue taking of myself of course. Any tips are welcome.

I may have missed out some minute details, so ask or give your thoughts down below. May this end quickly. For all of us.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-my-respiratory-system-causing-the-ringing-i-hear.32703/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/ringing-sound-when-i-burp.32800/

did the hearing test check for speech in background noise, or was it a hearing test in total silence?

you told me you did have noise exposure history before, didn't you?

 

[Bill Bauer]

because I had been taking Ibuprofen for the past week

Ibuprofen is an ototoxic medication. I know at least one person who got a permanent spike after taking it. Then again, you took it and seem to be ok. Still, if I were you, I wouldn't take it for a long time, and would try to not take it.

she prescribed me two packets of Ketoprofen pain relief patches

This drug appears on
http://hlaa-sbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Ototoxic_Brochure.pdf
list. You can also search this forum, and it looks like some people believe that it made their T worse
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/search/2790583/?q=Ketoprofen&o=relevance

 

[JohnAdams]

Hello @Bill Bauer @Greg Sacramento @Michael Leigh @Contrast @Lane @Deamon22 @JohnAdams and my fellow forum members

I had my ENT appointment yesterday, 27th Dec, for my current situation with my hearing. Links will be at the bottom for new readers or if any of the tagged users forgot the details.

TL;DR - My hearing is reacting to certain sounds, and certain actions I do also trigger the ringing at times.

Now, on to the events at the hospital and the (sort of) diagnosis that was given.

I did a hearing test first. Conductive and sensorineural(is this the correct term?). The person who did the test also used some device to check if my eardrums had any issues. My eardrums responded well to the sounds that device emitted, so there were no issues there.

The hearing test determined that while I did not have any hearing loss, my right ear was "poorer than my left". There was also a number for my right ear on the report that my left did not have: 55 and maybe the letters "Hz" on the same table as well. I have no idea what this means, but the doctor never said anything about it. I don't want to think negatively as well. I guess the original T I had years ago and the current issue made it more difficult for my right ear to detect the sounds. Maybe, maybe not.

Then came the consultation session with the doctor.

I mentioned the issues I had with my hearing, and the things I had done or experienced prior to or while this has been going on. I told her that my neck had been stiff, and that it had been swelling for some time. She tried to feel for the swelling, but because I had been taking Ibuprofen for the past week and icing my neck, I guess it had gone down.

I also mentioned my head hitting a low ceiling a few days before all this started, along with my carrying of a laptop during the same period, but she didn't say much about those things.

She also performed a nasal endoscopy to look at my nose and throat, but there were no issues inside those parts of my body. It also seems my ears are fine after all.

Finally, she wanted to do a Stapedial reflex test, as that was probably the only likely cause that had not been checked out. Sadly, there were no slots available for me to do it yesterday. I'll be having an appointment in a little less than three months most likely for that, in addition to checking up on my condition after some time has passed.

She prescribed me a few medicines to help with nerve repair and management of the ringing. A box of 90 Vitamin B1/B6/B12 tablets to be taken once a day, along with 60 tablets of 40mg Gingko Biloba, also taken once a day. For my neck, she prescribed me two packets of Ketoprofen pain relief patches.

It's only been a day since I've started taking those meds. Only time will tell now if they can at least help with making everything better. I'll have to continue taking of myself of course. Any tips are welcome.

I may have missed out some minute details, so ask or give your thoughts down below. May this end quickly. For all of us.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-my-respiratory-system-causing-the-ringing-i-hear.32703/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/ringing-sound-when-i-burp.32800/

please keep us posted on any improvements. I sincerely hope you recover.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

did the hearing test check for speech in background noise, or was it a hearing test in total silence?

There was a part where rain sounds were playing on the left side, while I had to detect the beeping sounds on the right. I seem to have been able to hear them, as far as I know.

you told me you did have noise exposure history before, didn't you?

I don't remember exactly what I told you. I watched a movie that had a ringing sound play three years ago before I first got T, and I was using earphones at no more than 60% prior to my current episode.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

Ibuprofen is an ototoxic medication. I know at least one person who got a permanent spike after taking it. Then again, you took it and seem to be ok. Still, if I were you, I wouldn't take it for a long time, and would try to not take it.

Yeah, I read about that. I am planning to stop taking it after tonight(Friday) or tomorrow. It would mark a week of taking Ibuprofen. I just want to ensure that the swelling has truly gone away.

This drug appears on
http://hlaa-sbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Ototoxic_Brochure.pdf
list. You can also search this forum, and it looks like some people believe that it made their T worse
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/search/2790583/?q=Ketoprofen&o=relevance

Welp. Hopefully it won't affect me negatively. I'll try using it over the weekend to see what happens. Hopefully only positive results would show up.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

please keep us posted on any improvements. I sincerely hope you recover.

Yeah, I will probably update you guys about a month from now and after the next appointment. Thank you so much the well wishes. All the best to you too

 

[Contrast]

There was a part where rain sounds were playing on the left side, while I had to detect the beeping sounds on the right. I seem to have been able to hear them, as far as I know.



I don't remember exactly what I told you. I watched a movie that had a ringing sound play three years ago before I first got T, and I was using earphones at no more than 60% prior to my current episode.

why not detect a beep in the right ear during the rain, the audiogram did not test for speech in background noise therefore it is not entirely credible. Did it test above 8khz?

probably not.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

why not detect a beep in the right ear during the rain, the audiogram did not test for speech in background noise therefore it is not entirely credible. Did it test above 8khz?

It was detecting a beep in the right ear during the rain. Only the rain was playing in the left side.
I don't know why it didn't test for speech, but there were beeps across a range of frequencies, from low to high.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I had my ENT appointment yesterday, 27th Dec, for my current situation with my hearing. Links will be at the bottom for new readers or if any of the tagged users forgot the details.

@Hariz Nonis
My advice to you, is to keep away from overly loud sounds and not to use any type of "headphones" even at low volume. Try to stop worrying over your tinnitus. Now that you have had tests at ENT leave it at that and in time you will improve. Constantly focusing on tinnitus worrying over it and negative thinking will only make it worse. Try to redirect your thoughts and interests to other things and get a long with your life. Keeping away from tinnitus forums will be a help to you or not visiting them too often.

Michael

 

[Hariz Nonis]

@Hariz Nonis
My advice to you, is to keep away from overly loud sounds and not to use any type of "headphones" even at low volume. Try to stop worrying over your tinnitus. Now that you have had tests at ENT leave it at that and in time you will improve. Constantly focusing on tinnitus worrying over it and negative thinking will only make it worse. Try to redirect your thoughts and interests to other things and get a long with your life. Keeping away from tinnitus forums will be a help to you or not visiting them too often.

Michael

Hehe, will take care as much as I can. Hopefully we will all get better. Thank you so much.

 

[Lin94]

Finally, she wanted to do a Stapedial reflex test, as that was probably the only likely cause that had not been checked out. Sadly, there were no slots available for me to do it yesterday. I'll be having an appointment in a little less than three months most likely for that, in addition to checking up on my condition after some time has passed.

She prescribed me a few medicines to help with nerve repair and management of the ringing. A box of 90 Vitamin B1/B6/B12 tablets to be taken once a day, along with 60 tablets of 40mg Gingko Biloba, also taken once a day. For my neck, she prescribed me two packets of Ketoprofen pain relief patches.

It's only been a day since I've started taking those meds. Only time will tell now if they can at least help with making everything better. I'll have to continue taking of myself of course. Any tips are welcome.

I may have missed out some minute details, so ask or give your thoughts down below. May this end quickly. For all of us.

Hi Hariz I read somewhere that you are also experiencing middle ear myoclonus. Has it gotten any better after the medication? Have you also done the stapedial reflex test? I am also a fellow MEM sufferer in Singapore but I don't have tinnitus. My ear started thumping to human voices out of the blue a month ago. I went to the ENT clinic in mount E Orchard. I was given corticosteroids for anti inflammation and betaserc for regulating ear pressure in my first appointment but those didn't help. I just had my follow up and the doc couldn't diagnose what's really wrong with my ear and he advised me to observe it. I suspect, based on my online research, it could be myoclonus or Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome. Don't really know what's the difference. Right now I am not on any medication. If it doesn't get better in a few months, planning to try out the TCM or other ENTs. Does your ear thumping also get triggered by human voices? If the specialist you're seeing has diagnosed you and given any medication on the ear thumping part, would you mind sharing which hospital or clinic you went to? Kinda desperate here as I know this kind of syndrome is very rare and not sure if Singapore has any doc who can address this issue.

 

[Gman]

That's sad. An ENT prescribing steroids and anti vertigo medication for MEM. Shows they generally have no idea.

MEM is a nervous system/spasming dysfunction type condition, in a way it's like hiccups in the ear. It can be due to sound sensitivity, but also possibly nerve compression somewhere in the neck.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

why not detect a beep in the right ear during the rain, the audiogram did not test for speech in background noise therefore it is not entirely credible. Did it test above 8khz?

probably not.

Now that I'm no longer such a noob at reading my audiogram; no, they did not test above 8kHz

 

[Hariz Nonis]

Hi Hariz I read somewhere that you are also experiencing middle ear myoclonus. Has it gotten any better after the medication? Have you also done the stapedial reflex test? I am also a fellow MEM sufferer in Singapore but I don't have tinnitus. My ear started thumping to human voices out of the blue a month ago. I went to the ENT clinic in mount E Orchard. I was given corticosteroids for anti inflammation and betaserc for regulating ear pressure in my first appointment but those didn't help. I just had my follow up and the doc couldn't diagnose what's really wrong with my ear and he advised me to observe it. I suspect, based on my online research, it could be myoclonus or Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome. Don't really know what's the difference. Right now I am not on any medication. If it doesn't get better in a few months, planning to try out the TCM or other ENTs. Does your ear thumping also get triggered by human voices? If the specialist you're seeing has diagnosed you and given any medication on the ear thumping part, would you mind sharing which hospital or clinic you went to? Kinda desperate here as I know this kind of syndrome is very rare and not sure if Singapore has any doc who can address this issue.

Hi Lin,

My hearing is honestly not much different from when it first started. I can say that it does seem to be less sensitive to some of the sounds that would cause reactions. Mine seems to most likely be because of the Stapedial muscle. I'll be having an appointment on the 22nd of this month, so I'll probably have the reflex test done on that day.

Mine isn't really a thump, it's more of this kind of ringing or distortion that occurs when certain sounds are picked up by my right ear. At the same time that this is happening, my right hearing is not as good as my left in certaim frequencies. Yes, some voices, including my own, can trigger it, along with other sounds. On the day this started, I had some issues with my neck/shoulder, and I suspect it may be connected. In fact, lying down and resting my head/neck does seem to help somewhat. I had about a month's worth of Gingko Biloba, and am still currently on Vitamin B1/B6/B12 tablets.

I saw an ENT from Sengkang Hospital. She did seem to be aware of the different possible causes of my issues. In fact, she was the one who mentioned the reflex test. Only the hospital was fully booked for it on that day. I guess I'll know whether my Stapedial muscle is the cause in a few days.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

MEM is a nervous system/spasming dysfunction type condition, in a way it's like hiccups in the ear. It can be due to sound sensitivity, but also possibly nerve compression somewhere in the neck.

If a nerve compression is the cause, will cold or heat compress work?

Also, can MEM actually cause my overall hearing in the affected ear to not be as good as my other ear?

 

[Gman]

If a nerve compression is the cause, will cold or heat compress work?

Also, can MEM actually cause my overall hearing in the affected ear to not be as good as my other ear?

I can't say it's that for sure. I was just speculating it as one of the possible triggers. I know I get the odd MEM when I'm watching tv with my neck in a weird position and I have a bad neck with nerve issues, impingements and such. You could try it.

Did you end up using those ketoprofen patches? Did they give you a spike? I would tend to stay clear of any anti inflammatory with a 'fen' on the end, including neurofen. They're not too good for the ears.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

Did you end up using those ketoprofen patches? Did they give you a spike? I would tend to stay clear of any anti inflammatory with a 'fen' on the end, including neurofen. They're not too good for the ears.

Yeah, I was prescribed those patches as well. I don't think those kind of things affect me. I've taken Ibuprofen within my current situation, and there has been nothing so far to suggest that they are affecting me negatively.

When your MEM comes on because of your posture, etc., how long does it last and does simply changing your position help?

 

[Gman]

Yeah, I was prescribed those patches as well. I don't think those kind of things affect me. I've taken Ibuprofen within my current situation, and there has been nothing so far to suggest that they are affecting me negatively.

When your MEM comes on because of your posture, etc., how long does it last and does simply changing your position help?

Luckily, I've only had it here and there. Posture, stress and anticipation of loud sounds have triggered it for me. Now only weird neck position triggers a thump or few. Sitting up properly stops it.
Some people get it a lot, like all the time.
TTTS fluttering/clicking was more of an issue for me and only triggered by small sounds and voices. But I know how to make it go away for extended periods now.

You could even try massaging gently around your ears, side of head, neck, shoulders and face to see if it helps.

Not sure if you've read through the thread below:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/for-those-with-middle-ear-myoclonus.16222/

 

[Lin94]

Hi Lin,

My hearing is honestly not much different from when it first started. I can say that it does seem to be less sensitive to some of the sounds that would cause reactions. Mine seems to most likely be because of the Stapedial muscle. I'll be having an appointment on the 22nd of this month, so I'll probably have the reflex test done on that day.

Mine isn't really a thump, it's more of this kind of ringing or distortion that occurs when certain sounds are picked up by my right ear. At the same time that this is happening, my right hearing is not as good as my left in certaim frequencies. Yes, some voices, including my own, can trigger it, along with other sounds. On the day this started, I had some issues with my neck/shoulder, and I suspect it may be connected. In fact, lying down and resting my head/neck does seem to help somewhat. I had about a month's worth of Gingko Biloba, and am still currently on Vitamin B1/B6/B12 tablets.

I saw an ENT from Sengkang Hospital. She did seem to be aware of the different possible causes of my issues. In fact, she was the one who mentioned the reflex test. Only the hospital was fully booked for it on that day. I guess I'll know whether my Stapedial muscle is the cause in a few days.

Oh i see. Mine is more like how an eye lid can twitch but it's inside the ear. I can hear it's sound as if someone tapping on the microphone. My hearing test and tympanometry test come out normal. Before the ear spasm happens, I remember I had some neck/shoulder tension which I usually get from staring at the computer screen. But I don't have the tension nowadays. It's on the opposite side of my problem ear though. I read on a blog someone found the ear fluttering relief from c1 and c2 chiropractic adjustment.
Keep us posted on how the reflext test goes and sometimes time will just heal all those tinnitus and MEM issues

 

[Hariz Nonis]

@Lin94 other than the thumping, is there anything else you experience?

 

[Greg Sacramento]

It's most likely your neck and posture causing your problem - arteries of back side of neck that pump blood. With that often lymph fluids, nasal fluids and fluids from ETD are also involved. It appears that you had a neck injury at some point, then neck muscle spasms from lifting head in a lying back position. I be careful of neck adjustments if what I mention is cause. Have you had a X Ray yet?

 

[Hariz Nonis]

It's most likely your neck and posture causing your problem - arteries of back side of neck that pump blood. With that often lymph fluids, nasal fluids and fluids from ETD are also involved. It appears that you had a neck injury at some point, then neck muscle spasms from lifting head in a lying back position. I be careful of neck adjustments if what I mention is cause. Have you had a X Ray yet?

Are you referring to me?

 

[Hariz Nonis]

I just had my appointment today.

Long story short, I'm gonna have an MRI scan done to check/rule out any brain tumours.

I didn't do the reflex test. The doctor said something along the lines of "the MRI would be a bigger priority".

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Are you referring to me?

Yes. It could be a neck injury with nerve or artery compression or a c spine issue. MRI of head and neck would help verify as there could be any of many factors with involvement. With this hopefully an easy treatment plan can be established. MEM and sounds distortions can certainly be involved.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

I just had my appointment today.

Long story short, I'm gonna have an MRI scan done to check/rule out any brain tumours.

I didn't do the reflex test. The doctor said something along the lines of "the MRI would be a bigger priority".

@Greg Sacramento what do you think of this? Should I have done the reflex test?

 

[Greg Sacramento]

We need more information and MRIs of head and neck is advisable as your doctor said.

I mentioned the issues I had with my hearing, and the things I had done or experienced prior to or while this has been going on. I told her that my neck had been stiff, and that it had been swelling for some time. She tried to feel for the swelling, but because I had been taking Ibuprofen for the past week and icing my neck, I guess it had gone down.

I also mentioned my head hitting a low ceiling a few days before all this started, along with my carrying of a laptop during the same period, but she didn't say much about those things.

She also performed a nasal endoscopy to look at my nose and throat, but there were no issues inside those parts of my body. It also seems my ears are fine after all.

Since a nasal endoscopy was done with throat and nose being fine, this almost completely eliminates all 6 facial systems and oral. Since oral is eliminated, the C1 and c spine probably have less chance of involvement with a stiff neck from hitting head. With that nerves such as occipital nerve compression or other nerve/artery compression may be cause as that can certainly be causing your ear problems. If this is cause, then neck muscles treatment or injections may help.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

We need more information and MRIs of head and neck is advisable as your doctor said.



Since a nasal endoscopy was done with throat and nose being fine, this almost completely eliminates all 6 facial systems and oral. Since oral is eliminated, the C1 and c spine probably have less chance of involvement with a stiff neck from hitting head. With that nerves such as occipital nerve compression or other nerve/artery compression may be cause as that can certainly be causing your ear problems. If this is cause, then neck muscles treatment or injections may help.

I did have a second nasal endoscopy last week and was then prescribed a nasal spray and decongestant-of-sorts flu medicine. I don't know if that will change your view. But assuming it doesn't, what I'm going through is very likely my neck nerves/muscles?

 

[Lin94]

@Lin94 other than the thumping, is there anything else you experience?

Hi Hariz, Sorry. I forgot to check the forum regularly. No, i don't happen to have other issues like tinnitus/ pain or hearing loss. Other than my ear, i do get some shoulder/neck tension from poor posture. My ear would just thump to human voices selectively (mostly to deeper voices) or sometimes it would thump once or twice on its own. The doctor asked me observe it for a few months and if it get worse, he suggested to take MRI. I am thinking of going for second opinion.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

No, i don't happen to have other issues like tinnitus/ pain or hearing loss

Have you done a hearing test?

I'm also curious, would you mind describing how it all started? Like, on the day you got it, what were you doing, were you wearing headphones, etc.?