Sensorineural Hearing Loss (1 Viewer)

[The General]

Have had plugged up hearing in one ear for about 3 weeks after a terrible cold sinus thing.

Anyone deal with this - sensorineural hearing loss? I’m sort of freaking out and don’t have complete info but this phrase was just thrown at me while I am waiting to see an ENT specialist.

Google has me freaking out. Lots of terms like “permanent“ and “irreversible“.

Talk me down folks!

 

[General Malaise]

WHAT?

 

[The General]

WHAT?

Good one.

 

[mr. furley]

you sure it's not just clogged?

a good old fashioned warm water flush will fix that.

 

[The General]

I have been bugging my regular doc now for weeks. They gave me some antibiotics and then some light steroids. Feel fantastic except for the hearing.

I keep bugging them and finally get the ENT recco. That is weeks out.

If that person tells me I should have come weeks ago I’m going to be so pissed at the other doc.

Should have just gone straight to the ENT after a week and would have been in by now.

 

[The General]

you sure it's not just clogged?

a good old fashioned warm water flush will fix that.

I have done a million different types of things. This included.

Hopefully it’s just this tube that connects sinus and ear called Eustachian Tube or something close that is severely clogged but some tests today indicated perhaps this Sensorineural ****.

This doc stressed she is not a specialist is not very familiar with this test (she is in communication with an ENT through email so some info may be lost in translation) and urged me not to google - but of course that’s what everyone does.

 

[AAABatteries]

Wasn't familiar so read some - sounds like common cause is being in a noisy environment but also said it comes on gradually, but it seems like your just kind of started abruptly, no?

I know what you do but is it a noisy environment?

Maybe it's a 3 year delay in an electrocution event? J/k GB, I know it's a scary situation so hopefully can ease the tension.

 

[General Malaise]

WHAT?

Good one.

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

I had pneumonia about 10 years ago and had hearing loss in my right ear afterwards. Went to an EMT and he put me on some meds that cleared it up. Although he did warn me that my hearing was damaged from prior exposure to concerts, sporting events and a firework going off next to my ear. He said if I didn't start wearing earplugs at all events with crowds, that I'd lose the ability to hear the female voice. I asked "Is that a bad thing" and he found that joke about as funny as you found mine this morning.

 

[The General]

Wasn't familiar so read some - sounds like common cause is being in a noisy environment but also said it comes on gradually, but it seems like your just kind of started abruptly, no?

I know what you do but is it a noisy environment?

Maybe it's a 3 year delay in an electrocution event? J/k GB, I know it's a scary situation so hopefully can ease the tension.

This came on right as I was coming of a terrible sinus infection. Sickest I have been in years. Suddenly an ear was all plugged up and just couldn’t clear. Everything else cleared up but this ear. Everything is just all muffled, I can still hear out of that ear but is very annoying and now freaking me out.

My work isn’t too loud and never had hearing issues so pretty certain it has to be connected to that cold.

If only a little Mezcal could clear it up GB!

 

[The General]

WHAT?

Good one.

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

I had pneumonia about 10 years ago and had hearing loss in my right ear afterwards. Went to an EMT and he put me on some meds that cleared it up. Although he did warn me that my hearing was damaged from prior exposure to concerts, sporting events and a firework going off next to my ear. He said if I didn't start wearing earplugs at all events with crowds, that I'd lose the ability to hear the female voice. I asked "Is that a bad thing" and he found that joke about as funny as you found mine this morning.

I chuckled.

 

[gianmarco]

I have been bugging my regular doc now for weeks. They gave me some antibiotics and then some light steroids. Feel fantastic except for the hearing.

I keep bugging them and finally get the ENT recco. That is weeks out.

If that person tells me I should have come weeks ago I’m going to be so pissed at the other doc.

Should have just gone straight to the ENT after a week and would have been in by now.

Based on this being new (only a few weeks) and related to recent sinus stuff, this sounds more likely to be conductive vs. sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss is basically the sound is being blocked from coming in correctly. Think of it as ear plugs. Canal is blocked. Your ear drum is ruptured. There's fluid behind the ear drum that's not allowing it to conduct sound correctly. Or some other kind of blockage.

Sensorineural loss is the wiring inside the ear and/or going to the brain. The inner ear is malfunctioning, the nerve isn't working, etc. That kind of loss is typically associated with hearing loss at birth or with old age. There are a few instances where it can happen suddenly (like you wake up one day and can't hear on one side), usually develops over 2-3 days, will get treated with steroids and typically has a decent prognosis.

Your doctor may have done a couple tests to distinguish between the two, but they aren't always completely reliable. Seeing an ENT and getting audiometry is going to be the likely next step and, hopefully, if it's just conductive related due to fluid/sinus stuff, should get better.

 

[The General]

I have been bugging my regular doc now for weeks. They gave me some antibiotics and then some light steroids. Feel fantastic except for the hearing.

I keep bugging them and finally get the ENT recco. That is weeks out.

If that person tells me I should have come weeks ago I’m going to be so pissed at the other doc.

Should have just gone straight to the ENT after a week and would have been in by now.

Based on this being new (only a few weeks) and related to recent sinus stuff, this sounds more likely to be conductive vs. sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss is basically the sound is being blocked from coming in correctly. Think of it as ear plugs. Canal is blocked. Your ear drum is ruptured. There's fluid behind the ear drum that's not allowing it to conduct sound correctly. Or some other kind of blockage.

Sensorineural loss is the wiring inside the ear and/or going to the brain. The inner ear is malfunctioning, the nerve isn't working, etc. That kind of loss is typically associated with hearing loss at birth, with old age, There are a few instances where it can happen suddenly (like you wake up one day and can't hear on one side), usually develops over 2-3 days, will get treated with steroids and typically has a decent prognosis.

Your doctor may have done a couple tests to distinguish between the two, but they aren't always completely reliable. Seeing an ENT and getting audiometry is going to be the likely next step and, hopefully, if it's just conductive related due to fluid/sinus stuff, should get better.

Thanks. This all aligns with how I understood what the regular doc said. She did these tests with a tuning fork (I believe) and held it against my skull and other areas and asked questions. She wasn’t familiar with it and was working off directions but she indicated that she thought it was not conductive, which sounded like the better option, but was this other thing.

I do have the ENT coming up but that is still awhile out so will hopefully get more concrete info.

Would you mind if I ask are you a doc or have you had this? We could PM if that would be better.

 

[AAABatteries]

Did they rule out ball cancer?

/mandatory

 

[The General]

Did they rule out ball cancer?

/mandatory

Can’t believe it took this many posts. The doc said my set is in fine condition!

 

[Runkle]

Had a bad cold once that ended up plugging up one ear. The air pressure difference couldn't resolve normally to allow the tube to reopen. A week of mild steroids let it fix itself.

 

[Hawks64]

I have been bugging my regular doc now for weeks. They gave me some antibiotics and then some light steroids. Feel fantastic except for the hearing.

I keep bugging them and finally get the ENT recco. That is weeks out.

If that person tells me I should have come weeks ago I’m going to be so pissed at the other doc.

Should have just gone straight to the ENT after a week and would have been in by now.

Based on this being new (only a few weeks) and related to recent sinus stuff, this sounds more likely to be conductive vs. sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss is basically the sound is being blocked from coming in correctly. Think of it as ear plugs. Canal is blocked. Your ear drum is ruptured. There's fluid behind the ear drum that's not allowing it to conduct sound correctly. Or some other kind of blockage.

Sensorineural loss is the wiring inside the ear and/or going to the brain. The inner ear is malfunctioning, the nerve isn't working, etc. That kind of loss is typically associated with hearing loss at birth, with old age, There are a few instances where it can happen suddenly (like you wake up one day and can't hear on one side), usually develops over 2-3 days, will get treated with steroids and typically has a decent prognosis.

Your doctor may have done a couple tests to distinguish between the two, but they aren't always completely reliable. Seeing an ENT and getting audiometry is going to be the likely next step and, hopefully, if it's just conductive related due to fluid/sinus stuff, should get better.

Thanks. This all aligns with how I understood what the regular doc said. She did these tests with a tuning fork (I believe) and held it against my skull and other areas and asked questions. She wasn’t familiar with it and was working off directions but she indicated that she thought it was not conductive, which sounded like the better option, but was this other thing.

I do have the ENT coming up but that is still awhile out so will hopefully get more concrete info.

Would you mind if I ask are you a doc or have you had this? We could PM if that would be better.

Personally, I wouldn't get overly concerned until you talk to the ENT and their Audiologist. I had something similar and was put on some steroids and sent to a specialist, never got the sensorineural diagnosis but they did some crazy tests that came back clean. And the hearing returned to normal in a few more days.

 

[The General]

Had a bad cold once that ended up plugging up one ear. The air pressure difference couldn't resolve normally to allow the tube to reopen. A week of mild steroids let it fix itself.

So I have been on these for 5 days and it seemed to help with the pressure issue a bit (but that could also just be time) but still can’t hear we’ll out of the ear.

 

[The General]

I have been bugging my regular doc now for weeks. They gave me some antibiotics and then some light steroids. Feel fantastic except for the hearing.

I keep bugging them and finally get the ENT recco. That is weeks out.

If that person tells me I should have come weeks ago I’m going to be so pissed at the other doc.

Should have just gone straight to the ENT after a week and would have been in by now.

Based on this being new (only a few weeks) and related to recent sinus stuff, this sounds more likely to be conductive vs. sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss is basically the sound is being blocked from coming in correctly. Think of it as ear plugs. Canal is blocked. Your ear drum is ruptured. There's fluid behind the ear drum that's not allowing it to conduct sound correctly. Or some other kind of blockage.

Sensorineural loss is the wiring inside the ear and/or going to the brain. The inner ear is malfunctioning, the nerve isn't working, etc. That kind of loss is typically associated with hearing loss at birth, with old age, There are a few instances where it can happen suddenly (like you wake up one day and can't hear on one side), usually develops over 2-3 days, will get treated with steroids and typically has a decent prognosis.

Your doctor may have done a couple tests to distinguish between the two, but they aren't always completely reliable. Seeing an ENT and getting audiometry is going to be the likely next step and, hopefully, if it's just conductive related due to fluid/sinus stuff, should get better.

Thanks. This all aligns with how I understood what the regular doc said. She did these tests with a tuning fork (I believe) and held it against my skull and other areas and asked questions. She wasn’t familiar with it and was working off directions but she indicated that she thought it was not conductive, which sounded like the better option, but was this other thing.

I do have the ENT coming up but that is still awhile out so will hopefully get more concrete info.

Would you mind if I ask are you a doc or have you had this? We could PM if that would be better.

Personally, I wouldn't get overly concerned until you talk to the ENT and their Audiologist. I had something similar and was put on some steroids and sent to a specialist, never got the sensorineural diagnosis but they did some crazy tests that came back clean. And the hearing returned to normal in a few more days.

I am right where you were at in this but before the ENT. You are totally correct that I shouldn’t get concerned because there’s nothing I can do.

I do need to spend more time getting a regular doc I think. I just take whoever is available. I’m sure they are all well trained and do their best etc but I think I would prefer to have one that I know and see for everything,

 

[cosjobs]

Coincidentally, I've been battling ear problems. I was doing some pool repairs on the pool floor last week, staying under multiple times, as long as I could hold my breath. Evidently I didn't get all the water out of my ears afterwards and got a nasty infection. It was bad enough that I went to Urgent care for an exam Sunday. He said my left ear was full of pus. Yuck. He gave me some ear drops and antibiotics and told me to go see my ENT doc this week if it is not improved.
Anyway, it's gotten only marginally better, so I ordered this gadget that you can use to clean your ears it's has a little camera do I can watch the grotesqueness on my phone while I scrape the really nasty crap out.
It's pretty amazing/disgusting what you can get/do for$20 and a Prime account.

Amazon.com

Next year I may do my own colonoscopy.

 

[Terminalxylem]

I have been bugging my regular doc now for weeks. They gave me some antibiotics and then some light steroids. Feel fantastic except for the hearing.

I keep bugging them and finally get the ENT recco. That is weeks out.

If that person tells me I should have come weeks ago I’m going to be so pissed at the other doc.

Should have just gone straight to the ENT after a week and would have been in by now.

Based on this being new (only a few weeks) and related to recent sinus stuff, this sounds more likely to be conductive vs. sensorineural.

Conductive hearing loss is basically the sound is being blocked from coming in correctly. Think of it as ear plugs. Canal is blocked. Your ear drum is ruptured. There's fluid behind the ear drum that's not allowing it to conduct sound correctly. Or some other kind of blockage.

Sensorineural loss is the wiring inside the ear and/or going to the brain. The inner ear is malfunctioning, the nerve isn't working, etc. That kind of loss is typically associated with hearing loss at birth, with old age, There are a few instances where it can happen suddenly (like you wake up one day and can't hear on one side), usually develops over 2-3 days, will get treated with steroids and typically has a decent prognosis.

Your doctor may have done a couple tests to distinguish between the two, but they aren't always completely reliable. Seeing an ENT and getting audiometry is going to be the likely next step and, hopefully, if it's just conductive related due to fluid/sinus stuff, should get better.

Thanks. This all aligns with how I understood what the regular doc said. She did these tests with a tuning fork (I believe) and held it against my skull and other areas and asked questions. She wasn’t familiar with it and was working off directions but she indicated that she thought it was not conductive, which sounded like the better option, but was this other thing.

I do have the ENT coming up but that is still awhile out so will hopefully get more concrete info.

Would you mind if I ask are you a doc or have you had this? We could PM if that would be better.

It sounds like your doctor did Weber/Rinne tests with the tuning fork - very basic stuff taught in med school. It’s a little concerning she didn’t know how to interpret the results. But ignoring that, I completely agree with @gianmarco’s assessment and plan.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

 

[The General]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

 

[The General]

Coincidentally, I've been battling ear problems. I was doing some pool repairs on the pool floor last week, staying under multiple times, as long as I could hold my breath. Evidently I didn't get all the water out of my ears afterwards and got a nasty infection. It was bad enough that I went to Urgent care for an exam Sunday. He said my left ear was full of pus. Yuck. He gave me some ear drops and antibiotics and told me to go see my ENT doc this week if it is not improved.
Anyway, it's gotten only marginally better, so I ordered this gadget that you can use to clean your ears it's has a little camera do I can watch the grotesqueness on my phone while I scrape the really nasty crap out.
It's pretty amazing/disgusting what you can get/do for$20 and a Prime account.

Amazon.com

Next year I may do my own colonoscopy.

I hope it’s just some goo in there but they have said I’m all clear.

A couple weeks back they said the ear was very red and irritated inside but that apparently has gone away.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

Did the antibiotics include a Z-pak, or something that ended in -mycin? That class is associated with ototoxicity, including SNHL (usually reversible FWIW).

And FTR, I still agree with @gianmarco - this is probably conductive, and readily diagnosed/treated by an audiologist and/or ENT. I don’t think it is age-related, or due to meds; it‘s most likely a sequelae of your infection.

 

[gianmarco]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

Based on the bolded, this is almost assuredly fluid/congestion related. It is not sensorineural loss.

This will go away.

 

[The General]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

Did the antibiotics include a Z-pak, or something that ended in -mycin? That class is associated with ototoxicity, including SNHL (usually reversible FWIW).

And FTR, I still agree with @gianmarco - this is probably conductive, and readily diagnosed/treated by an audiologist and/or ENT. I don’t think it is age-related, or due to meds; it‘s most likely a sequelae of your infection.

First one was azithromycin, second round I am not remembering name but was different type but I think may have included z-pac. Was red and the packaging had the pills labeled by what to take by day which was nice.

I got a note from doc to up the steroid use for a week, this would be 2nd week of that, and then taper down and also got the specialist date moved up by 2 weeks so am now getting in next week so that was good news.

 

[The General]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

Based on the bolded, this is almost assuredly fluid/congestion related. It is not sensorineural loss.

This will go away.

This is great. I cannot wait. I haven’t heard properly now for all of 2023

 

[fatness]

I've had numerous ear problems my whole life due to crappy sinuses, and a couple come to mind as similar to yours.

Maybe 20 years ago both my ears went "shut" like your ear is. I saw an ENT who just drained the fluid from behind each eardrum, really nasty-looking fluid. I walked into his office with at best 50% hearing level and walked out with 100%. Cars honking and people yelling sounded awesome.

About 6 years ago I sneezed and got a searing pain in my right ear which immediately lost all hearing. Ear and neck started swelling, pain persisted, and I was able to get in to see my doc the next morning. He said it was like "swimmers ear",put me on steroids, said that would clear up the pain and swelling but there was no guarantee that any nerve damage would repair itself. In a few days the pain and swelling were gone but the ear was deaf. It took 6 weeks for the hearing to come back to my normal level.

 

[The General]

I've had numerous ear problems my whole life due to crappy sinuses, and a couple come to mind as similar to yours.

Maybe 20 years ago both my ears went "shut" like your ear is. I saw an ENT who just drained the fluid from behind each eardrum, really nasty-looking fluid. I walked into his office with at best 50% hearing level and walked out with 100%. Cars honking and people yelling sounded awesome.

About 6 years ago I sneezed and got a searing pain in my right ear which immediately lost all hearing. Ear and neck started swelling, pain persisted, and I was able to get in to see my doc the next morning. He said it was like "swimmers ear",put me on steroids, said that would clear up the pain and swelling but there was no guarantee that any nerve damage would repair itself. In a few days the pain and swelling were gone but the ear was deaf. It took 6 weeks for the hearing to come back to my normal level.

Wow. Sorry to hear you have dealt with this type of thing off and on for so long. Definitely has given me a bit of perspective, even in this small way, to be happy when I can get everything working normally again :knocksonwood:

Really hoping next week for a procedure or something like you had that is immediate relief.

 

[jobarules]

Poor Bob Costas is becoming Helen Keller

 

[The General]

Poor Bob Costas is becoming Helen Keller

I got one good ear still!

 

[Terminalxylem]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

Did the antibiotics include a Z-pak, or something that ended in -mycin? That class is associated with ototoxicity, including SNHL (usually reversible FWIW).

And FTR, I still agree with @gianmarco - this is probably conductive, and readily diagnosed/treated by an audiologist and/or ENT. I don’t think it is age-related, or due to meds; it‘s most likely a sequelae of your infection.

First one was azithromycin, second round I am not remembering name but was different type but I think may have included z-pac. Was red and the packaging had the pills labeled by what to take by day which was nice.

I got a note from doc to up the steroid use for a week, this would be 2nd week of that, and then taper down and also got the specialist date moved up by 2 weeks so am now getting in next week so that was good news.

azithromycin = antibiotic in Z-pak. Two pills day 1, one days 2-5. It’s red too.

Again, not too worried about it. Just throwing it out as a possibility, and a reminder that antibiotics can cause harm.

 

[belljr]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

My last flight - I could not get my ear to "pop" when we landed - I couldn't hear out of my left ear for 3 full days and it became painful. Luckily morning of N4 it was jsut better.

GL

 

[The General]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

Did the antibiotics include a Z-pak, or something that ended in -mycin? That class is associated with ototoxicity, including SNHL (usually reversible FWIW).

And FTR, I still agree with @gianmarco - this is probably conductive, and readily diagnosed/treated by an audiologist and/or ENT. I don’t think it is age-related, or due to meds; it‘s most likely a sequelae of your infection.

First one was azithromycin, second round I am not remembering name but was different type but I think may have included z-pac. Was red and the packaging had the pills labeled by what to take by day which was nice.

I got a note from doc to up the steroid use for a week, this would be 2nd week of that, and then taper down and also got the specialist date moved up by 2 weeks so am now getting in next week so that was good news.

azithromycin = antibiotic in Z-pak. Two pills day 1, one days 2-5. It’s red too.

Again, not too worried about it. Just throwing it out as a possibility, and a reminder that antibiotics can cause harm.

Well I am done with the antibiotics in any case. The first set was white for about a week...second one was what you described with the 2 on day one and then 1 per day. Those were red.

I try not to take this stuff too often but the ear discomfort was pretty bad so was taking whatever they gave me. I may have just been getting better with time but as I was taking those pills the sinus issues finally cleared up. I hadn't been that sick in some time so was glad that **** was over.

Now just left with this hearing issue and slight pressure pain which kind of comes and goes. I have gotten started to get used to it TBH but can't wait for it to be gone and hear again normally.

 

[growlers]

this is just a serous otitis media, I have seen this dozens of times in the ER. No big deal, just annoying. Can take months to clear up.

copied explanation because I am lazy:
Serous otitis media (SOM) is when liquid or mucus in the middle ear blocks the eustachian tube, a channel that would otherwise be able to drain fluid and equalize pressure in the ear. The fluid build-up can cause discomfort or hearing loss.

 

[Terminalxylem]

this is just a serous otitis media, I have seen this dozens of times in the ER. No big deal, just annoying. Can take months to clear up.

copied explanation because I am lazy:
Serous otitis media (SOM) is when liquid or mucus in the middle ear blocks the eustachian tube, a channel that would otherwise be able to drain fluid and equalize pressure in the ear. The fluid build-up can cause discomfort or hearing loss.

Sure sounds like it. Not common in adults though, so the ENT referral makes sense, to exclude some unexpected anatomic/physical obstruction of the eustachian tube.

 

[LawFitz]

FYI,

https://twitter.com/GaryFrommAZ/status/1619131522409451520

Take it or leave it, bro. #Ivermectin

 

[growlers]

FYI,

https://twitter.com/GaryFrommAZ/status/1619131522409451520

Take it or leave it, bro. #Ivermectin

must your vaccine idiocy extend to every thread?
Read a book.

 

[The General]

this is just a serous otitis media, I have seen this dozens of times in the ER. No big deal, just annoying. Can take months to clear up.

copied explanation because I am lazy:
Serous otitis media (SOM) is when liquid or mucus in the middle ear blocks the eustachian tube, a channel that would otherwise be able to drain fluid and equalize pressure in the ear. The fluid build-up can cause discomfort or hearing loss.

I really hope it is just this, but I can’t imagine months of this. That would suck hard.

Is there a procedure to clear that thing? Cut me, Mick!

 

[growlers]

It can be drained, but that is a risk/benefit discussion to be had with an ENT who examines you first.
Tincture of time is what I would want. It works great for a lot of non-emergency medical diagnoses

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Also, some degree of sensorineural hearing loss is an expected part of aging. It shouldn’t be so acute and one-sided, however.

Did you receive antibiotics for your sinus infection?

Couple rounds of antibiotics a week or so on each and now on some steroids.

If this were age related I definitely wouldn’t have expected one day my ear just plugs up and my hearing is muffled especially right after this bad sinus thing.

Who knows. The ear with the trouble makes all kinds of weird noises as I try to do the pinch nose and clear ears thing or if I yawn. Hopefully this is easily figured out by a specialist who does this everyday.

I just flew and that was a special treat.

Did the antibiotics include a Z-pak, or something that ended in -mycin? That class is associated with ototoxicity, including SNHL (usually reversible FWIW).

And FTR, I still agree with @gianmarco - this is probably conductive, and readily diagnosed/treated by an audiologist and/or ENT. I don’t think it is age-related, or due to meds; it‘s most likely a sequelae of your infection.

First one was azithromycin, second round I am not remembering name but was different type but I think may have included z-pac. Was red and the packaging had the pills labeled by what to take by day which was nice.

I got a note from doc to up the steroid use for a week, this would be 2nd week of that, and then taper down and also got the specialist date moved up by 2 weeks so am now getting in next week so that was good news.

azithromycin = antibiotic in Z-pak. Two pills day 1, one days 2-5. It’s red too.

Again, not too worried about it. Just throwing it out as a possibility, and a reminder that antibiotics can cause harm.

Well I am done with the antibiotics in any case. The first set was white for about a week...second one was what you described with the 2 on day one and then 1 per day. Those were red.

I try not to take this stuff too often but the ear discomfort was pretty bad so was taking whatever they gave me. I may have just been getting better with time but as I was taking those pills the sinus issues finally cleared up. I hadn't been that sick in some time so was glad that **** was over.

Now just left with this hearing issue and slight pressure pain which kind of comes and goes. I have gotten started to get used to it TBH but can't wait for it to be gone and hear again normally.

I had almost the exact same symptoms as you for 2-3 weeks. Was convinced my hearing in the right ear was permanently damaged. (most of this happened while on vacation) Got home and about 2-3 days later it just disappeared. I read somewhere that me constantly doing stuff to clear my ear might be making it worse. So I stopped and just let nature take its course. (Not a recommendation — I’m not a doctor — but Term and Gian are. Listen to them and your ENT.)

Good luck. Don’t lose hope and don’t panic.

 

[LawFitz]

FYI,

https://twitter.com/GaryFrommAZ/status/1619131522409451520

Take it or leave it, bro. #Ivermectin

must your vaccine idiocy extend to every thread?
Read a book.

Look at you

 

[song]

Have had plugged up hearing in one ear for about 3 weeks after a terrible cold sinus thing.

Anyone deal with this - sensorineural hearing loss? I’m sort of freaking out and don’t have complete info but this phrase was just thrown at me while I am waiting to see an ENT specialist.

Google has me freaking out. Lots of terms like “permanent“ and “irreversible“.

Talk me down folks!

my experience. not a recommendation. not a match for your circumstance (my ear didn't feel clogged or make weird or squishy sounds)

in Sept. 2021 i noticed diminished hearing in my left ear that after a few days became zero hearing in that ear.

(spoiler alert hearing ended up returning kind of gradually after a few weeks of zero hearing.

i had come to suspect that the issue might be related to suspected covid a few weeks prior.

i googled of course, and what do you know, there was reporting from Great Britain that hearing loss in usually the left ear only was a not uncommon covid symptom.

there was reportedly "some" success treating with corticosteroids (sp?), and i hoped to avoid doctoring with the ENT's i looked up.

so i started putting a little cortizone cream and Source Naturals colloidal silver in my tilted ear for 15-20 minutes 2 or 3 times a day.

after several days hearing began returning. all good now. no idea if it was "treatment" related or just time.

good luck to you. one ear is inconvenient, but it's scary to think "what if the other one goes".

 

[mr. furley]

gonna go ahead and guess that putting colloidal silver in your anything isn't helping at all

COLLOIDAL SILVER: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Learn more about COLLOIDAL SILVER uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain COLLOIDAL SILVER.

www.webmd.com

 

[cosjobs]

I've been putting hydrogen peroxide in my ear the last several days since I ran out of amoxicillin and Ofloaxin without progress. I rinse with distilled water after the peroxide douche. I've been using that ear cleaner/camera device to get out a lot of pus and wax. I can't get in to see my ENT until Tuesday. I hope I'm not making it worse, but it feels much better.

 

[The General]

I can't tell if the steroids are helping or I am just getting used to the light pressure and ringing. I feel like I can definitely hear better. Probably up to like 75%.

Was really hoping for a "pop" and suddenly I would hear normally again.

 

[top dog]

I was in probably 3rd grade when the hearing tests in school showed I was losing my hearing in my right ear. Ended up being Cholesteatoma. I have no idea how many surgeries I've had on my ear from the age of like 8 - 22 but it was in double digits. Lost my ear drum and 2 of the bones you hear with. To this day only have about 25% hearing in that ear. When my wife insists on watching some horrible reality TV when I'm trying to go to sleep I just roll over onto my left ear and problem solved. When I forget to do something she told me to do I always go with "Oh. I didn't hear that." Works most of the time. My point is that everything can have a silver lining. Hoping your situation is just temporary though.

 

[Runkle]

I can't tell if the steroids are helping or I am just getting used to the light pressure and ringing. I feel like I can definitely hear better. Probably up to like 75%.

Was really hoping for a "pop" and suddenly I would hear normally again.

When mine cleared up, I don't really remember that satisfying pop. More like I woke up and could hear a little better, then improved without having a sudden notice of it, just... gradually got better slowly but surely until I just realized I was back to normal.

 

[tri-man 47]

I was in probably 3rd grade when the hearing tests in school showed I was losing my hearing in my right ear. Ended up being Cholesteatoma. I have no idea how many surgeries I've had on my ear from the age of like 8 - 22 but it was in double digits. Lost my ear drum and 2 of the bones you hear with. To this day only have about 25% hearing in that ear. When my wife insists on watching some horrible reality TV when I'm trying to go to sleep I just roll over onto my left ear and problem solved. When I forget to do something she told me to do I always go with "Oh. I didn't hear that." Works most of the time. My point is that everything can have a silver lining. Hoping your situation is just temporary though.

For me, it's Meniere's Disease ...an inner ear disorder with no known cause or cure. Lotta dizziness for a few months when it first started up 20 years ago (middle age). Now it's just a general lack of hearing in that ear. It's great for sleeping, at least.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I was in probably 3rd grade when the hearing tests in school showed I was losing my hearing in my right ear. Ended up being Cholesteatoma. I have no idea how many surgeries I've had on my ear from the age of like 8 - 22 but it was in double digits. Lost my ear drum and 2 of the bones you hear with. To this day only have about 25% hearing in that ear. When my wife insists on watching some horrible reality TV when I'm trying to go to sleep I just roll over onto my left ear and problem solved. When I forget to do something she told me to do I always go with "Oh. I didn't hear that." Works most of the time. My point is that everything can have a silver lining. Hoping your situation is just temporary though.

I'm exactly the same. Grew up pretty close to the Mayo Clinic, so they'd do experimental surgeries on me every few years to try new stuff. Got my entire hearing back once in my late 20s. But it only lasted about two weeks.