ENT Appointment... What to Do? What Tests NOT to Do?

So I have an ENT Appointment on Monday and I'm kinda freaking out!!

I've read on this forum that people say DO NOT have the "Acoustic Reflex Test" or "Tympanometry" tests as these will make your tinnitus much worse! The hearing test seems to be ok. I certainly don't want to do anything to make my tinnitus worse as it's unbearable as it is already....

What exactly are these tests and should I have them or not?

Thanks,
Michelle

 

Hey again Tinnitus Talk!

I have my first appointment tomorrow to try and discover where my tinnitus comes from (it's intermittent and unilateral tinnitus, some hours its a 9/10 on the tinnitus scale and some hours it's a 0/10, my root cause diagnosis is muscular/neck tension/TMJ related since adding pressure to the head or stretching my neck temporarily stops the tinnitus).

I know a lot of you have more experience than an ENT specialist has so my question to you is this;

What is your advice for me while I'm there?

I appreciate all the knowledge you have!

I'll start;

I should avoid Tympanometry tests.

 

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tests-procedures-to-avoid.26681/

 

DO NOT LET THEM DO A TYMPANOGRAM. IT IS LOUD.
ALSO DO NOT LET THEM DO MICROSUCTION IF YOU HAVE WAX.

 

Any tests that the ENT doctor suggests you have then I advise you to have them. I had very severe tinnitus and hyperacusis, and had all the tests including Tympanometry and had no problems. I have had these same tests a few times over the years and never had a problem.

Listen to the advice that your ENT doctor suggests that is all you need to do. He/she is the professional this is their field, not the fireside quacks in this forum that advise you to tell doctor what you will and not have. This is the wrong approach and you will end-up making life harder for yourself believe me!

Michael

 

Ask the ENT if he/she is any smarter than a box of rocks in regards to tinnitus advice.

 

@Adrianfox

If it is suggested to you at any time to have microsuction or ear irrigation to remove earwax, before having the procedure, apply eardrops 3x a day to each ear for 10 days then have the wax removed. I have had both procedures 3 times and never had a problem. I used eardrops 3x a day for 10 days.

 

Even a tympanogram? An extremely loud in ear device? What in the world is your malfunction?

Do NOT take this person's advice.

Nothing a tympanogram could tell you outweighs the risk of further damage. It is a loud noise they play on your eardrum that measures the pressure in your middle ear vs your outer ear. It is very loud.

One thing you as one of us needs to understand is that ENTs are basically in the dark ages regarding understanding yet equipped with modern technology. You don't need a tympanogram. If anything it will help them diagnose you with ETD, which is where your Eustachian tubes dont equalize efficiently or drain fluids. Unless you have glue ear chances are your tinnitus is from that, and if it is, then you have every chance to heal eventually because ETD could transiently be a symptom of allergies, which will easily head over time. If you have cochlear damage, and get a tympanogram, it could permanently make your situation much worse. The benefits are nothing compared to the risks.

 

@Adrianfox

Do not take microsuction no matter what. They can manually remove your earwax.

Microsuction goes like this:

They have a tube with a vacuum on it that can fit done your ear canal. Sometimes when wax is getting sucked out it can get lodged in the tip and creating a "fluting" effect that makes it way way too loud and can and often times causes permanent damage.

Please realize that there are many people that can't question reality for themselves and would jump off of a cliff if their doctor recommend it. Just search this website for "microsuction" and read the experiences.

Research around this site and you will see that many users got here from a medical procedure by an ENT, or some prescribed medication.

 

I had a tympanometry test done. It wasn't loud. You're probably referring to the acoustic reflex test, which plays a loud tone. The problem with doing a tympanometry test is that it is often combined with the acoustic reflex test.

 

I am talking about tympanograms. There's still no good reason to do that right off the bat if you have hearing damage. They should rule out cochlear damage before playing loud sounds in your ear.

 

A tympanogram produces the tympanometry test. I agree with ruling out damage first.

 

As I have previously said, you are promoting negativity in this forum and if people follow it, this is how tinnitus can become a long term chronic problem.

Michael

 

On the contrary.
Considering that most ENT's are utterly clueless about Tinnitus and treat it as a minor itch or a sore back, one needs to be extra vigillant and as informed as possible.

Did you not read any of the numerous TT members stories, about having their lives destroyed by letting the ENT perform some of those procedures in question??

It sounds to me that @JohnAdams is promoting caution, supported by plenty of evidence from TT members themselves, who's Tinnitus has ironically became the "long time chronic problem" which you seem to caution against, only after their encounter with the ENT.

Knowledge is power and this knowledge could literally save someone's life here.
The fact remains, that most ENT's are in the dark ages when it comes to Tinnitus.
In light of this, we have every reason to be our own advocates, when dealing with these people.

 

I agree with this. I had a tympanometry test without any acoustic reflex test. I asked them first to put it on the lowest possible volume. I did feel a bit of pressure in my bad ear for the next couple of days, but if you don't have ear pain or TTTS (both of which I was experiencing a lot at the time) then it will probably be fine.

 

Indeed, knowledge is power. When I believe you have acquired, a sufficient amount in tinnitus, I may correspond with you at length.

Good day
Michael

 

I'm supposed to see an ENT soon in order to get a referal to an audiologist. I'm based in the UK.
Is it the audiologist who will give all the tests or will the ENT also give some? Having had a bad experience with an MRI, I don't want anything done that will make things even worse.

Is an audiogram the only thing I should have done? Does it involve attaching anything to me?

 

And I will be happy to correspond with you at lenght, once you aquire a sufficient amount of basic common sense.

There are members on this very forum, who's lives got obliterated by some of these procedures in question.

 

ENTs usually will check for wax and stuff like that. If you have impacted earwax, get a manual cleaning.

As far as the audiologist goes, request an extended audiogram (16-20khz) and get an OAE. Those are the most useful tests at the audiologist. Make sure to avoid the acoustic reflex test.

 

I’m visiting an ENT tomorrow for my acoustic trauma (fire alarm) that occurred 14 days ago and was just wondering what I can likely expect/ what tests I shouldn’t do in case of worsening my tinnitus or hyperacusis. Thanks everyone in advance ❤️

 

Was that the cause of your tinnitus or has it become louder?
How long were you exposed to the fire alarm?

 

It’s hard to swallow that not only are “they” still in dark ages considering tinnitus but who in the right frame of mind would blast a sound up to 115dB into anyone’s ear? Sure you don’t need to be super smart to put two and two together, only a bit of logic!

If melanoma patients were advised it’s safe to sun bake I’m sure it would cause an outrage.

But blasting a loud sound into already damaged ears is somehow ok! Or even healthy ears! Crazy!!!

 

No the original cause was ear wax impaction about a year and a half ago, made permanent (I believe) by a botched ear irrigation, this just made it louder/new tone/hyperacusis aggravated, I was exposed for about 2-3 min with no protection unfortunately. I’d guess around 105-110 dB.

 

Went to the ENT today, I was offered a hearing test and a pressure test but ended up declining both due to anxiety. The pressure test is a bad one yeah?

I’ve also seen that hearing tests have worsened tinnitus so I just couldn’t make myself go through with it... plus high frequency noises of any kind hurt my ears so much I feel so stupid, I just couldn’t make myself go through with the hearing test. She did remove my ear wax at least.

 

But holy god, those YouTube videos are so icky and addictive and satisfying. I'm such a weirdo.

 

Look up the Toe Bro.

 

Do any of those tests ever help? I don't think so. In most cases, they don't help but probably more likely to cause harm than help in any way. Same with the MRI.

They might be standard tests, but often the outcome isn't standard and harm results. Some people do okay with an MRI by wearing ear plugs or muffs but those are individual cases and there's still risk. So, I still ask what benefit can be demonstrated and proved by having them done? How does it help someone with tinnitus and hyperacusis?

 

If your Tinnitus was caused by accustic trauma, none of these tests will help you and the risk outweighs the benefit (my personal opinion of course)

I'm pretty sure, that there are some people out there, who did benefit from having some of those tests done, such as cases of acoustic neuroma, which could be revealed by MRI...etc.

But my guess is, that the percentage of Tinnitus sufferers, whom were helped by any of those procedures is likely pretty low.

 

I’m looking to find out what the tests are that the ENT should not be doing due to me having tinnitus (had tinnitus for 6 months). I’m a bit anxious to find out before tomorrow. I don’t want tinnitus worsened by any loud tests.

I’ve started Prednisone 60mg per day from GP.