Frequent Transient Hearing Loss for a Few Hours — ENT Suspects Cochlear Hydrops

Hi Folks,

Strange new evolution of my tinnitus. I started to get this weird issue in one ear where hearing at 6000 Hz drops by up up 20 dB. It comes on over a couple of hours then lasts for 4 to 6 hours before getting back to normal. Usually starts in the afternoon.

ENT thinks cochlear hydrops and has given me diuretics and advised a very low sodium diet, but I'm still getting same thing.

Anyone experience anything similar? Any advice on how to prevent or minimize?

Thanks,
Peter

 

Hello, the doctor cannot say that it is cochlear hydrops without doing tests.

I even took the tests to find out if I had cochlear hydrops and not. The most accurate exam is the intratympanic electrocochleography, and even if this exam is inconclusive, there are other complementary tests that help the diagnosis.

 

When does the transient hearing loss occur? Did you get the 20 dB hearing loss diagnosis at ENT?

Earwax impaction moving around in the ear can cause transient hearing issues.

 

Actually the ENT said that this was the most probably diagnosis - he offered to do a special type of MRI to confirm, but like you said, he said it is not a conclusive test, and even if it was, that it does not really affect the course of any possible treament. So I did not follow up.

Did your tests confirm cochlear hydrops?

 

Occurs whenever it seems to want to :-o

Seem to happen in clusters - had a bout of it over a month about a year ago, and another one now. Has been confirmed by ENT - both loss and then recovery. No earwax unfortunately :-( I have nice clean ear canals according to my ENT.

 

So it's like fluctuating hearing. You hear worse for a few hours and then back to normal?

 

I have insanity tinnitus and this happens to me too. Hearing drops get a piercing Eeeeeeeeee and audiogram shows 6 kHz losses for hours.

Talking loudly or having full ears definitely seems like a prerequisite for it to happen.

 

I have had something similar happen to me twice in the last 6 months.

The first time I lost about 30-40 dB a @ 500-1000 Hz. The hearing came back after about 12 hours. The doctor thought it was sudden deafness and I got Prednisolone (the hearing returned before I started the Prednisolone).

The second time I only lost about 20 dB @ 2 kHz. Hearing returned gradually after about 2 hours.

Has anyone had any success with the previously mentioned treatments? Did it continue to happen or was it something temporary?