Can an Earplug in Good Ear Reduce Tinnitus in the Bad One?

Hi, am brand new to this forum. I was diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss recently and started experiencing tinnitus and the feeling of fullness in my bad ear (right). Am still on prednisone. The loss of hearing does not bother me that much, it is more the fullness and sense of balance feeling that bothers me so much along with the on and off tinnitus feeling. Does the fullness and pressure eventually go away? It is very uncomfortable. Also, I noticed that when I put an earplug in my GOOD ear, it somewhat balances the hearing on both sides and I feel much more comfortable, even though I cannot hear as well. With the earplug in the good ear, I almost do not even sense the tinnitus and discomfort, seems it gets worse if I don't have the earplug in my good ear. Has anyone ever tried this? Luckily my left ear is OK so I am not completely debilitated. However, this is one of THE most stressful things I have ever experienced in my life, I am in my mid 40's, too young to have to deal with this the rest of my life.

 

Hi there! And welcome on board

Seems like a sensation of fullness and/or pain in the ear is pretty common in the beginning. I have it as well.
Most people I have been talking to, who have had it says that it either went away or got a lot better.

Im very well aware of how T can increase our stress levels, but it seems like the brain is able to habituate to this new sound in time, at least from what I have experienced myself, and from what I have heard from others.

Dont forget that your T might resolve on its own given time

Personally I would guess that the brain will eventually adopt to the difference in your hearing with time, but i dont know, maybe someone here that has experienced the same issue might be able to give you an answer

Lets stay strong! It will get better one way or another

 

I have the same problem and it is driving me nuts...mine started with a cold and came and went etc. I had a hearing test and while there is hearing loss ENT and my Doc say it's not that bad. It was bearable and then I went to the pistol range last week and when I came out my ear was full and I was deaf. Yes I wore hearing protection, left ear is fine. So back to the doc etc...maybe it was just a coincidence. So now I am on antibiotics and some ear drops, waiting to get into another ENT. My doc seems to think it is blocked or infected Eustachian tubes. I nose rinse, use steroid spray and am now trying mucinex type of stuff to cut back any mucous. Hearing is slowly coming back so I think there is hope. I feel for all of you (us). This is annoying as hell.

 

Thanks, it has been almost 6 weeks since I posted. The prednisone didn't work. After that, I started getting mild dizzy spells and working on a very high floor did not help at all. Am testing a hearing aid, that does help with the fullness and off balance. You are right, I am kind of getting used to it. Not sure if the hearing aid helps though, still playing around with it. It only helps with reducing the aurul fullness, that is about it but it also brings a whole bunch of other complications and annoyances. Question though, does increased tinnitus have the effect of reducing your hearing capacity?

 

Lamasheen
Obviously the auditory system and balance are integrated; therefore, a degradation (or imbalance if you would) to one side of your hearing may very well be linked with your balance issue.

Do you know the cause of your T? If one ear has an infection (or more so than the other) then there may be an imbalance (more fluid in one side than the other). Also, if one ear is straining more than the other (due to hearing loss) this can lead to an imbalance.

Perhaps, in a strange way, putting an ear plug in the good ear is some how leveling the playing field (seems odd, though).

Have you been checked for Meniere's disease? Loss of balance is one of its components...although Meniere's is very tough to accurately diagnose.

Mark