Brief history: Age, 51 young year old male. Many ear infections as a
toddler. Right ear opened by doctor at 9yr old. Sinus problems started
at 30 yr old. By about 40 yr I developed an aggravating, (like a cracked
speaker) sound in my rt ear after a sinus infection, about the same time
a gunshot from a .357 at close range made my ear ring real bad for a day
or two. Therefore I don't know what did what. I went to an ENT and he
sent me to a specialist that did a tympanectomy and said he only found
some web-like material in the inner ear. He then did a mastoidectomy
and found nothing. After the ear was packed it felt pretty good. I
thought it was going to be ok for a day or two after the packing was
removed but then it started again. A couple of years ago I noticed air
leaking from the ear when I would put pressure on it. Another ENT says
the membrane only opens under pressure.
Can this be creating my problem with hearing my own words sound
different when I talk?
How does other patients describe their symptoms with this problem?
I have a problem with hearing. My voice doesn't even sound right to
me. I have tinnitis that is much worse at times. Decongestants help
sometimes. I cannot hear high frequencies. I have problems with tuning
a guitar for instance.
Any ideas of where to start?
> >
Thanks,
Reply: ------------------------------
It may be that you have a combination of problems in the ear causing an auditory disturbance - both interference in hearing acuity and tinnitus. I suspect that the problem involves both eustachian tube dysfunction and neurosensory dysfunction of the inner ear nerve or end organ. Some of this may be the result of prior inflammatory conditions and some may be the result of noise trauma. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that there will be a simple intervention that will have high potential for curative results. A thorough audiometric evaluation would be necessary to study your symptoms including standard hearing tests, acoustic nerve studies, and tympanogram before a treatment program could be designed. You might wish to consider an evaluation by an otolaryngologist who deals primarily with ear conditions - an otologist or neurotologist.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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