Symptoms are: I hear myself breathe and speak loudly, but all other sounds from outside are dampened, as if I am underwater. My doctor AND a specialist looked inside but it's all clean, and my eardrums are NOT sucked inwards (which is the final symptom of a certain condition which apparently I don't have). At night my ears open up again. Sometime during the morning they block up, more often my right ear than my left but usually both. I haven't been able to figure out when it happens, it's always something else that does it. Occasionally my ears are open during the day too, but not for long and also in this case I haven't been able to figure out what causes them to open up. All standard 'unblock the ears' tricks like swallowing, yawning, blowing gently with the nose closed, etc. don't work. It's been like this for a couple of months now... Any suggestions? It's driving me nuts, I'm a musician!
2006-07-02 00:14:17 · 14 answers · asked by Tasmin 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Thanks for all your wonderful contributions. Please note though: my ears are completely clean, there is no wax or dirt to soften or get rid of... :-/
2006-07-07 10:47:46 · update #1
Thank you saz17 (and all of you)... My musicianship though doesn't explose me to loud noises. I only play the violin!
2006-07-12 23:41:50 · update #2
Did your doctors say anything about a dyfunctional (not working properly) eustachian tube?
That is what causes your symptoms with clean ears without retraction or fluid bubbles behind the tympanic membrane.
See an audiologist. Did anyone test your hearing?
2006-07-13 14:12:29 · answer #1 · answered by Jamie, FNP 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are experiencing a conductive hearing loss. Have you been to an audiologist? If not, make an appointment with a licensed, certified Audiologist. He/She will do a battery of tests, including a hearing test, to help determine the cause of your hearing loss. A conductive hearing loss can be caused by many things, including accumulation of wax or other debris in the ear canal, which is the OUTER ear not the INNER ear. A conductive loss can also be caused by a cold, a MIDDLE ear infection/fluid in the middle ear, or a disease. As for cleaning your outer ear, there are over-the-counter kits available at any pharmacy that you can use to do this safely. Good luck!
2006-07-02 13:34:42 · answer #2 · answered by Kat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
being a musician puts u in an environment where your ears are exposed to very loud noise. Over time, the cillia on the cochlea of your ear become damaged and cannot convert the vibrations of sound waves that pass thru the eardrum and small bones of the ear into quality electrical signals, and hearing loss ensues. My unqualified advice would be to stop immediately your exposure to loud music - try using headphones that will protect your hearing and hope that some recovery of hearing may occur. Otherwise you face deafness.
2006-07-12 19:30:47 · answer #3 · answered by Allasse 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your symptoms come and go then it may be related to allergies. Allergies are such a pain and can affect people in different ways. Do you have a sore throat or a cough also? I am wondering if the problem is the eustacian tube opening and closing because of allergy problems. The specialist (ENT) should have been able to pick this up - as well as a hearing loss. Unless it was a different kind of specialist you went to :)
2006-07-14 02:07:52 · answer #4 · answered by petlover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had something very similar and was told that I had the adult version of 'glue ear', though rarely in both ears simultaneously. Inside noises like chewing were intensified and external ones dampened considerably. It's incredibly irritating and offputting (I sympathise!). The only things that worked on me were using an extra pillow (feathers, not synthetic) and taking a small dose of a mild decongestant like sudafed tablets for a couple of days. Hope this works for you!
2006-07-06 11:54:19 · answer #5 · answered by SilverSongster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sometimes go just about deaf in one ear & the best thing I've used is ear candles.U can get them from health shops & you litterally lay on your side with the ear candle in your ear (lit of course) and as it burns down you can hear a faint crackling & warmth as it gets lower, which I presume softens any hard wax. Usually works for me, but dont fall asleep!
2006-07-07 17:35:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am certainly not your Doctor, but any over the counter cold medicine which has an antihistamine seems to help me. You may try it....what have you got to loose.?
I use Benedryl.
If it helps any, you may need to go to an allergy specialist and you may be having an allergic reaction which would explain why you have episodes of relief.
Good Luck!
2006-07-11 20:50:18 · answer #7 · answered by Rada S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like me with my sinuses.... everything is connected ... try sweet oil in ears not olive oil... olive can turn rancid with ear wax.. the other thing to mention to your doctor is the possibly of dead skin cells laying on the ear drum this is hard to detect and syringing them is your only option
2006-07-02 08:21:35 · answer #8 · answered by Clyde 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have just had mine syringed ,it may be worth a try ,but more than one person recommended olive oil dropped into the ear throughout the day ,its worth a try .this apparently softens whatever is blocking ,its worth a try
2006-07-02 08:08:18 · answer #9 · answered by shoopy213@yahoo.co.uk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a doctor has looked at it and now you're asking a web forum?
possibly a small amount of wax in the inner ear. i had it and went mental.
2006-07-02 07:19:51 · answer #10 · answered by bagpuss_kicks_arse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋