Sorry, not sure if there’s a more fitting community for discussions, but 196 doesn’t have specific required content ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So, last Sunday I suddenly got high-pitched tinnitus, mostly in my left ear. I thought it would be gone when I wake up next day, but it was still there. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday I had some pain and pressure in both ears. Unfortunately, I’d need to get referred to ENT by my GP, and she was on vacation. The substitute was there for “acute cases only”.
So far this was just… quite annoying. I tested for possible changes I haven’t noticed with frequency generator on my phone. With medium volume, both ears went to 19.5kHz just fine.
Thursday it improved. Or so I thought. The tinnitus got quieter. Later during the day I went to check again. I started with 16kHz at lowest volume. Suddenly, I could only hear it on my right ear, so I started panicking.
Left ear fell from 19.5kHz to 15.5kHz in just 1 day. This was a fairly sudden change, and I am not exactly emotionally strong. I panicked and was crying and hyperventilating for about an hour.
So I decided I’ll go to the substitute doctor next day to get referred to ENT. I set up alarm for the morning, but I didn’t need it. I was too anxious too sleep much anyway.
So I got to the ENT right that day.
She visually inspected my ears and throat finding no signs of inflammation. Tympanometry OK. Audiogram just confirmed my feeling of right ear being muffled with slight low frequency hearing loss, but nothing for my left ear, primary source of my concern.
I explained the loss occurred in higher frequencies than I heard during the test. I asked what frequency they tested up to as it sounded fairly low. “6kHz.” Apparently, even 8kHz (worldwide standard) is considered “experimental” in my country… I hoped for possibility of EHF audiometry (9 - 20kHz).
Back to talking with ENT, I said that I could hear up to 19.5kHz on both ears ereyesterday, yet yesterday I couldn’t even hear 16kHz on my left ear. She re-assured me that we normally loose ability to hear these frequencies with age (I am 18).
I further explained that my concern is rather the sudden unilateral loss as opposed to gradual bilateral loss over longer timespan as it could continue worsening further.
She replied with “Hearing above 6kHz is not important to humans.” I wanted to tell her to resample all her music to 12kHz, then tell me how useless it was, but I didn’t want to be rude.
At last, I asked “What about the tinnitus?” with response being “Nothing.”
So, she just prescribed me vitamins B1, B12 and some Ginko extract pills for increasing blood flow to ears for 1 month which I still had to pay €30 for even with insurance.
Welp, I just apologized for bothering them (non-sarcastically) as they had more patients and left no less concerned.
I am pretty worried about this. I’ve been careful with my ears. I don’t listen to music loudly, I don’t go to concerts, hell, I didn’t even have to go to theatre with school the last time as my current class teacher noticed I wasn’t exactly OK with being in a room with lots of people, especially with loud noise.
I can only suspect some issue with inner ear, perhaps inflammation. That wouldn’t even be noticeable with just visual examination. However, I suppose that would also be accompanied by dizziness and vertigo.
So I have no idea what’s going on.
At least I distracted myself while typing this.
I’m sorry that you’re going through this. Quick changes can be terrifying, especially when one goes out of their way to ensure proper care.
I have nothing of substance to add other than support as my specialty lies elsewhere. I just wanted you to know that people are reading your post and that I feel for you.
That could either be earwax buildup or eustachian tube dysfunction. Assuming the doctors checked for any buildup that may have been impacting the eardrum, you might try the Valsalva or Toynbee maneuver.
I wish you the best of luck with your tinnitus. Medicine is unfortunately imperfect, and sometimes it takes a while and a few doctors to find the cause of an ailment.
Your concern does remind me of a younger version of myself. What have you done to help treat your anxiety?
Sounds pretty typical for ear infection, maybe more in the tubes that are between ear and nose. I had one earlier this year that was very similar to yours. I did get antibiotics for it after about a week and it still took nearly two weeks to clear up completely.
I can’t help much, just gonna say that it’s so annoying when they dont take you seriously and they essentially gaslight you into thinking whatever they believe is true, without bothering to do proper (lab) tests…
(I had to go to ~5 different doctors for someone to kinda take me seriously and prescribe lab tests. As surprizing as it may seem, lab tests ~diagnose external and internal infections better than an eye with a magnifying glass…) If possible, check reviews on google maps or wherever try another doctor and before you go make sure they’re gonna do whatever test you want (insist if needed).
I ~suppose your doctor checked if there’s any earwax and tried to clean it, right? (I had to go twice for that, it blocked a lot of sound.)
Hope your ears eventually recover🥲
I ~suppose your doctor checked if there’s any earwax and tried to clean it, right?
She didn’t say anything about it, but she did look into my ear, so I guess that’s fine.
Have you started new meds, or injured your head/neck, or maybe have TMJ (it’s a jaw thing)?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156
Wow, I have TMJ but didn’t know it’s called that. Basically, the jaw joint clicks when eating certain foods. And I have bruxism and occasional tinnitus. Didn’t know the connection, thanks for clearing it up!