Help identifying symptom

[Tal-r789T]

Hi, hoping someone can help. Before my T got bad and diagnosed with hearing loss, I used to get for periods of about two weeks (randomly) a 'hypersensitivity' in one ear (I think right mostly). What happens is any sound feels like it's echoing, amplified and high pitched. If I whistle, then it echoes in that ear and becomes really high pitch and uncomfortable. I don't know why it's cropped up again as I feel okay, I'm on holiday, but the day we went away was super stressful. I think in the past colds/flu seemed to be a trigger, and I wasn't feeling great last week.

I am now wearing my right hearing aid turned off to compensate until it clears up again.

Anyone any idea what this may be please? It's happend on and off for years

[Happyrosie]

personally I think this is just one or two of the ways that tinnitus tries to have a game with us!

Lots of information, though not specific for this symptom, on Tinnitus UK website

[Tal-r789T in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you anyway, but issue pre-dates my Tinnitus issues and hearing loss. I was hoping someone may experience similar situations. I'm reticent to go to doctors and discuss.

[Comeonyouspurs]

Do you drink alot of alcohol?

[Tal-r789T in reply to Comeonyouspurs]

No, and I didn't drink for two years and can still recall it occurring

[Darren6]

sounds like a variation of hyperacusis - sound sensitivity. When i had it it was very much linked to my nervous system and therefore amplified by stress, bad sleep, flu and illness etc.

[Tal-r789T in reply to Darren6]

Thanks for this. I hope it's not, adding to my challenges - I don't feel stressed and TBH my sleep has been good. Despite the fact that I have T and do wake in the night, it's usually early hours and I manage to get some sleep still. I may have picked up a bug, I usually WFH but visited the office a few times. I remember in the past that it would occur frequently after colds/flu, maybe I have had something mild that's triggered it again.

[Crazylady6]

I am beginning to wonder whether the hyperacusis is the ‘sister’ of T! In my experience the deafness is constant; the T is constant but at varying levels and sounds; and then (icing on the cake) the hyperacusis which seems to come and go as it pleases. My brain seems to be constantly trying to make, manage or run from sound.

You mentioned that you are on holiday - did you fly by any chance?

I am off work at the moment and I expected the H to at least go away but now even my husband returning from work seems to randomly trigger it!

I think, being at home, whilst much better than the classroom, has taken me to the other end of the spectrum - it’s too quiet and I am developing sensitivity to ‘normal’ sound levels. I think our ‘special brains’ are trying to make sense of processing the sounds around us and when we change the environment it struggles to work it all out. As you get to the end of your holiday, I bet it begins to settle and then of course ‘play up’ when you are back at home.

You have found an adaptation that works for you at the moment, take comfort in that but don’t expect that it will fix it and be prepared for it to change again when you get home.

[Tal-r789T in reply to Crazylady6]

Hi, no, I didn't fly, I've never been good at flying as I always struggled with sinus issues afterwards, so avoid as much as possible. I've not flown since before lockdown.

I feel quite relaxed, although it's an active holiday but mine always are, and usually T eases a little when I'm on holiday (presume less stress in general).

Before I went on holiday things were fine and I felt really quite relaxed. It really is bemusing to me.

[Philip6]

An echo in one ear could be the Eustachian tube, have you tried popping your ears? That might clear it. Or try putting your finger in that ear and removing. It works for me when I get an echo in my left ear.

[Tal-r789T in reply to Philip6]

I was wondering - although I had 5 hours driving on Friday to go on holiday. I am climbing mountains, but doesn't feel like a I need to pop ears. It may be I do but cannot.

[Philip6 in reply to Tal-r789T]

You could try inhaling steam or use a decongestant. I hope you feel better soon.

[Tal-r789T]

Well after a week and a half it appears to have calmed down - I can only presume I did have an infection of some kind thats causing this to spike. Thanks all for input and advice.