Slight loss of hearing

March 14, 2016 5:58 PM

For several months I have been experiencing a slight loss of hearing in one ear. It simply feels like the 'volume' in that ear is a few degrees lower than the other. I visited an ENT doctor who gave me a hearing test. I missed a couple beats in the lower frequency range. Then he gave me an MRI to rule out a tumor. (No tumor.) Now ENT tells me to come back in 6 months to see if the problem has resolved itself. I do not feel like waiting 6 more months, as this problem is annoying... any sounds drives me crazy due to the volume imbalance. I have not experienced any ear trauma from q-tips or concerts. It was just a sudden onset. What the hell is going on, and what can I do besides simply wait it out?

I may have experienced the hearing loss after lifting some heavy weights at the gym but the ENT says I would have felt extremely dizzy after this for him to be concerned, and I was never dizzy.

posted by nologo to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

Have you had a cold or anything else recently? Ears are weird and a eustachian tube that is a little clogged up can definitely cause this. Have you tried decongestants like Sudafed or other antihistamines if you get allergies? Did you try the valsalva maneuver? Have you had clogged ears before and know that this is different? If so, how is it different?

I've had a similar thing, though am less annoyed by it and a lot of what people suggested was just waiting and seeing. I have had some luck keeping my ear un-gluey by doing something more or less like this but just blowing out against a finger instead of a balloon.
posted by jessamyn at 6:22 PM on March 14, 2016 [3 favorites]

I once had an ENT extract from my ear a lump of impacted wax that was nearly the exact size and shape of a kidney bean. It was totally weird and unexpected, and its removal allowed me to hear a whole lot better. The doc said it was not uncommon to see something like that. He needed only long tweezers to remove it.

Could be something like that, though of course your doctor would likely have found such a thing by now.
posted by Dr. Wu at 6:40 PM on March 14, 2016 [2 favorites]

Seconding wondering whether your ENT checked for wax. I assume so, but just in case they didn't, it's worth getting this done. Even your GP should be able to do so, and remove any that has blocked the ear.
posted by lollusc at 6:56 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

You can also get rid of a lot of wax by putting in hydrogen peroxide, letting it fizz for a while, and then rinsing with warm water in a syringe bulb. I like this better than sticking hard, sharp or pointy things in my ears. (Plus you can see the chunks of crud in the sink when you're done. Up to you whether you consider this a bonus.)
posted by spacewrench at 7:56 PM on March 14, 2016

Unequal hearing in my ears is a symptom of my atypical migraines. If you think it's possible that this could be the problem, try to get an appointment with an otoneurologist, or if there's not one near you, try a neurologist specializing in migraine (preferably atypical migraines).
posted by scrambles at 8:25 PM on March 14, 2016

what can I do besides simply wait it out?

I'd get a $2 bulb syringe and take up serious ear-cleaning in the shower, though I'd wonder why my GP hadn't given it a good clean first if they've gone as far as an MRI.

US doctor, I'd suspect? Paid per service, somehow?
posted by pompomtom at 8:25 PM on March 14, 2016

I would get a second opinion from another doctor. I have had intermittent popping in one of my ears that went on for weeks, maybe month, my doctor said he didn't see any problems and then it just eventually went away on its own. If there is nothing immediately of serious concern, it may be a situation you have to wait and see if it gets worse. But you could get a second opinion just to feel like the solvable possibilities have been checked out.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:11 PM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

If you don't like your current physician you could get a second opinion. They may ultimately tell you that the wait and see approach is the best course of action, but perhaps they'd walk you through why that is a bit more? There are times where a sudden onset hearing loss happens for no apparent reason, or sometimes it can take a while for that reason to become apparent.

In the meantime, be proactive with using hearing protection if you work with heavy machinery or go to a concert (which you may do already).

If your hearing remains stable, you may find that you adjust to the imbalance. It can be annoying as you adjust, but I've been surprised as what people get used to. If you're listening to something over headphones, turning the bass down a little may make the difference between your ears less apparent so it's not quite as aggravating (this can impact musical appreciation though, making things sound tinny or harsh, so YMMV).

If you go back in 6 months and everything is stable and the ENT doesnt recommend some sort of medical intervention, but you're still annoyed by the imbalance, you could ask the ENT about a referral for a hearing aid evaluation. It varies person to person, but I've had people with very mild asymmetries love aiding the poorer side (while, as I mentioned earlier, some people just get used to the difference). Sometimes people don't figure out their preference until they've tried one for a while. If it comes to this, any place you go will (or should) have a return period, usually at least 30 days, some may or may not have a restocking fee though.
posted by ghost phoneme at 6:31 AM on March 15, 2016

Nthing second opinion. It's amazing how variable diagnostic approaches and follow-up can be.

In absence of a second opinion, there's no reason to avoid telling your current doctor that you're uncomfortable waiting six months for follow-up. You must tell your doctor--any doctor--how significantly your symptoms are impacting your quality of life. Repeatedly, if need be.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:10 AM on March 15, 2016

Sounds (HAR) like it could be a condition called otosclerosis: http://american-hearing.org/disorders/otosclerosis/

It's a slowly degenerative thing, where the three tiny bones get sort of built up with extra bone over time. This could be why the doc suggested you come back in half a year: if there is an obvious loss of hearing, this could be it. It's surprisingly common, and there is a well-known operation to fix it once you get to the point where you can't stand it any more.

My wife had the (outpatient) operation last fall and recovered quickly and happily.

IANYD IAMNYENT IANYAudiologist
posted by wenestvedt at 12:14 PM on March 15, 2016