Can Acoustic Shock Lead to Eustachian Tube Problems?

Hi all,

I underwent what I thought is an acoustic shock with headphones back in March.

While I have largely habituated to my tinnitus, I have some TTTS in my right ear and some sensitivity to higher frequency sounds. My right ear is the one with a more significant hearing loss as well.

However, my left ear has this intermittent fullness that creeps up randomly, seemingly independent to my sound exposure. I feel a lot of of congestion in my nose on that side, clicking and so on.

I was wondering, could an acoustic shock lead to Eustachian Tube problems or is this just a coincidence?

 

The researchers in this paper seem to think so...

"The tensor veli palatini muscle is well known for its role in opening the Eustachian tube (which communicates with nasal cavities), allowing for the tympanic cavity pressure to adjust to atmospheric pressure. A difference in pressure between the auditory bulla and outside results in a distortion of the eardrum with in turn more or less strain on the TTM. The information concerning this strain could be sent to the brain via the TTM muscle spindle. The trigeminal motor root could consequently activate the tensor veli palatini muscle inducing the opening of the Eustachian tube allowing a readjustment of middle ear pressure. This hypothesis suggests that the TTM plays a sensory and signal transduction role in the middle ear. It also suggests that the pressure in the auditory bulla could be poorly regulated in patients with a dysfunctional TTM-tensor veli palatini muscle unit."

An Integrative Model Accounting for the Symptom Cluster Triggered After an Acoustic Shock

 

I believe the symptoms you describe in your post are related to the acoustic trauma you suffered in March. I had something similar and a lot more 25 years ago after my noise trauma caused by headphones. I think you are fortunate to be making recovery so quickly, as I've read your previous posts. My advice is to be careful and keep away from loud sounds. If you are still using headphones, earbuds or headsets, keep the volume as low as possible. It would be better not to use them at all but I know you produce music and you're also a DJ.

Loud music and listening to audio through headphones, even at low volume, does not go well with noise induced tinnitus. Some people are not affected but many are. I know whereof I speak and the misery tinnitus can cause.

If you are concerned about the congestion, then it's best to make an appointment at ENT for tests.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

I have taken break from headphone use altogether and won't be using them for the foreseeable future. If I get back to DJing, I will be religiously wearing custom earplugs.

The fullness is random and I can't really pinpoint what the reason might be. Sometimes when I'm with friends it can get a bit loud, and the next day I will have the fullness feeling. Other days it comes from nowhere after spending a few days in silence and maybe going for a run. I'm trying to not let it get to me and be more social but not sure if the general loudness of London can have a negative effect too.

Sadly ENT waiting lists in the UK are 6 months to 1 year so not sure how I can best get this checked, private ENTs seem like a rip off!

@Michael Leigh, do you think I could cause more damage if I made music at a low volume (below 60 dB) with speakers positioned around 1 meter from my ears?

 

You need to tread carefully and not rock the boat. When I suffered my noise trauma 25 years ago, my whole head was completely numb. I could hear but it felt like my head was under water. I was so frightened I kept it to myself, so friends and family only knew I had tinnitus and hyperacusis. The fullness you speak of, I had it constantly in my ears and it was a constant worry.

I met a herbalist that knew all about noise-induced tinnitus. She said the fullness in my ears and my head feeling numb, was the result of the nerves in the auditory system being shocked or traumatised, by exposure to loud noise from headphone use. She advised me to take Magnesium tablets and Ginkgo biloba. Magnesium helps to repair nerve damage. After six months the fullness and numbness in my head were gone but continued taking magnesium for two years. I still take Ginkgo biloba. I hope I never have to experience those symptoms again.

You are right to stop using headphones. You have to understand that you have suffered a noise trauma and recovery will take time. As I have previously said, I think you are fortunate to get off so lightly so don't push it. I am not saying that you shouldn't listen and mix your music. Keep sound levels low and try not to listen for too long a period at a time. See how you go and if your ears feel fatigued or you notice any irritation to sound, then give things a rest for a while.

For someone with tinnitus in the UK, the standard appointment time to be seen at ENT is around 6 months. There is a good reason for this which I have explained in some of my posts. If a person is experiencing: deafness, dizziness, balance problems or acute pain in the ears, they will usually be fast-tracked to ENT. Please read my post: Tinnitus, A Personal View.

All the best,
Michael

Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Thanks for the reply and knowledge!