All of a sudden I can't hear with my left ear, why?

Question

On Wednesday I woke up and washed my face, then went outside for the newspaper and when I came back in I felt as if my left ear was clogged. I did not pay much attention to it, but when I tried to listen to my voicemail messages with my left ear, I could hardly hear anything (I heard everything so far away and with a slight distortion). By the end of the day I couldn't hear ANYTHING, which led me to visit my doctor. The doctor said it was a "slight ear infection," and that I was NOT losing my left-ear hearing. She gave me ear drops and I have been applying them morning and night, but I still can't feel/hear any improvements. She gave me one week, until next Wednesday--and if I don't "feel better" I will go back to see her--and then she'll send me to an ear specialist.

*Before this happened I did use q-tips a lot; morning and night, every day. Some friends/family members say that I might have wax all the way inside clogged up,they say it's not soo good to use q-tips.

anyone?

Yes, the doctor DID look inside my ear with that tool they use.

Answer 1

your ear could be glogged with wax. you can use an OTC ear wax removal kit, did the doctor look in your ear? they should have told you it was clogged. you can request an antibiotic as well as the drops to help heal your infection

Answer 2

Typically ear wax build up brings on a gradual loss of hearing rather than a sudden loss.
Typically hearing loss caused by an infection is also treated with prednisone, a cheap, powerful anti-inflammatory med. I imagine the doc probably gave you anti-inflammatory ear drops with maybe a broad spectrum antibiotic in them.

If the doctor looked in your ear and it was blocked with ear wax, she would've fixed it for you on the spot and said so, so that theory isn't working for me. I assume she looked in your ears?

A week is a long time to lose hearing in one ear.

Typically with either ear wax or infection, you still get muffled sound conducted through the bones. Having no hearing in an ear is worthy of alarm and should be investigated FAST by a specialist. I would not delay. If a doctor begins treatment and you are not improving or are worse after 3 days, you call that doctor and say the treatment is not working. You may need oral antibiotic/anti-viral/anti-inflammatory medication. Maybe there is just a ton of swelling and the drops can't get iin there. Hard to tell from here.

Why are you using q-tips so often? You may consider ear cleansing drops so that you are not pushing wax into the ear drum, and risking damage, infection, and blockage. Time for a new plan.

Consider an oral anti-inflammatory med such as ibuprofen, a decongestant, and an anti-histamine. The combined efforts may help. Check with your doctor first if you have any health issues contraindicating the above.

If you search the net you will agree that you need to get a specialist and get this resolved a.s.a.p.

Best to you. I don't know what is going on for sure and am hoping you go find someone who does and fix it. I hope you feel better soon and this is something to laugh about later. Take care.

Answer 3

I was once fighting with a buddy and he put me in a headlock. I felt pressure in my ear and suddenly lost most hearing in that ear, long story short it went on for 3 days till I plugged my nose and blew to pop my ear. But fluid in the ear can also cause hearing loss, try some que tips you don't know if anything is blocking it? Can you describe what you were doing when it happened?

Answer 4

i had problems with my ears,for quite some time now !!DON'T use any Q-TIPS,for cleaning out your ears !! at the ER i was told that,using Q-TIPS is bad!! i am still suffering from what an ear specialist did to me!! so be sure to tell that doctor if you are,allergic to any kind of meds!!! also try not to get any water in your ears. if you are allergic to some form of anti biotic,tell the doctor. put cotton in your ears,when taking a shower.i hope you get better soon.

Answer 5

I think you may have ear wax build up- too. If any water got into your ear & onto that wax- the wax could've absorbed it & swelled up, cutting off your hearing altogether! I bet you need your ears cleaned- big time. Your Dr.- or her Assistant will do that when you go back to them. (Oh, & NO- don't use Q- tips. -You're more likely to push ear wax IN, -than get it out.)

Answer 6

Go see another Doctor. This happens to me. Its wax buildup inside the ear. I have to go and get my ears flushed every year or so. Doesn't hurt and don't stick the q-tips way inside. Do it gently. You can also buy the little kits and do it yourself.

Answer 7

go toa different doctor fora second concultation and mention the q tips and bring the meds the first doctor gave u i know some doctors screw up tell the doctor the meds did not improve or work

Answer 8

I have also heard that.I would ask for them to check the fluid level in your ears.My son never had ear infections but he had fluid and he could not hear.He had to have ear surgery and now he can hear fine.

Answer 9

Ear wax, q-tips are not a good idea

Answer 10

go to a health food store and buy ear candles (cones) you stick them in your ear and burn them and it naturally pulls the wax out of your ear...you should try it to see if it helps...they work wonders!