Sudden Sensory Hearing Loss - Associated Tinnitus

[TPT14]

Hi folks.

At the turn of the year, what I initially thought was a blocked ear (water/wax) actually turned out to have been sudden sensory hearing loss in one ear.

Steroid treatment (oral/injections) have helped with restoring high frequency sounds but low and mid are still significantly impaired. The tinnitus has remained - relentless for all times I’m awake.

My consultant has explained that the brain is processing the sudden loss as a blockage, hence this feeling of being constantly under water, or a low pitched droning noise which nothing seems to relieve.

I would love to hear from anyone else (excuse the pun) who experienced tinnitus through sudden sensory hearing loss too.

Thanks.

[cutmle]

Hello, I'm sorry to hear this. I experienced the same 11 years ago. My hearing partially recovered in a similar manner and I can still hear fine on a day-to-day basis, fortunately.

The tinnitus has been with me ever since but faded into the background. Around a month ago, however, it escalated in volume 3x so is now quite annoying and lives as a constant reminder of my hearing loss, but hopefully it will fade away again given time.

Were you given a cause of the sudden hearing loss?

[TPT14 in reply to cutmle]

Hi there. No explanation - either thought it could have been an ear infection, or just a very temporary (even 2-3 seconds) loss of blood supply to the follicles that line the cochlear and transmit the sound).

[Beesmac in reply to TPT14]

Hi TPT14 - I lost the hearing in my right ear literally overnight. Woke up thinking it was blocked then half hour later felt sick and dizzy. It was Labyrinthitis. About a week later I thought I could hear music - that was the start of my tinnitus - I have Musical ear syndrome. Undefined relentless repetitive music 24/7. It happened at the peak of Covid so I didn’t see anyone for about a month. I have lost all the higher tones in that ear, have never recovered any of my hearing. At the time I was devastated but have accepted it and have the help of an Audiolohist at my local hospital who is marvellous and has helped me come to terms with it. I have to take each day as it comes but I do find the more stressed I am the worse my tinnitus gets I also avoid noisy environments. I find distraction helps. Have you been given hearing aids?

[TPT14 in reply to Beesmac]

Hi there. Sorry to hear this, a pun that I can’t help avoid. Yes, I’ve a great audiologist too and I have a hearing aid on one side. It does nothing really for hearing clarity, other than is keeping that ear / side of the brain stimulated with noise.

[cutmle in reply to TPT14]

Would you say the hearing aid has benefitted you enough to make it worthwhile? Has it helped with the tinnitus at all. I've been offered one but wondering whether to pursue.