ENT Doc Recommends Tinnitus Clinic w/ ICP (Increased Intracranial Pressure), Sound Distortions? Why?

Symptoms: sound and voice distortions, primarily in left ear, tinnitus ringing in right ear, escalating-hourly (through the day) headache at top of cranial area.

I saw a local ENT doc here in the Minneapolis (MN) area for the above hearing issues and after getting "normal" scores from an audiogram test, I was referred for an MRI. The MRI results also came back as "normal". Then they simply said they could recommend a good tinnitus clinic. So I'm confused - why would they do this with my symptoms? My head seems to have increased intracranial pressure (ICP) that increases with simple actions like coughing. A sneeze sends me reeling in head pain! And they have no idea why voices sound to me like someone talking through a synthesizer.

Should I take them up in their referral? Or tell them to go pound sand and seek a competent neurologist?

 

I am assuming they are probably going to send you to the tinnitus clinic in Edina? Personally, I would seek a second opinion. Did they do any tympanometry testing?

 

Yep - exactly right.

(Not sure about what a tympanometry test is, but think they did that too! They did the normal sound-booth checks, and said there was no indication of fluid in my ears.)

One other 'symptom' I hadn't mentioned- every time I swallow, my ears 'click'. Is that odd?

 

I wouldn't have thought that a neurologist would be able to help significantly as your MRI has come back "normal" which suggests that this is not a neurological condition. It's probably worth accepting the referral to a tinnitus clinic or a specialist audiology centre as this is where further investigation and treatment for your symptoms will be given. Certainly the swallowing/ears clicking is very common with tinnitus.

 

Do you know about hidden hearing loss?

Were you exposed to noise recently that may have caused this?

 

Yes tinnitus is usually neurological.

Roland Schaette talks about tinnitus research...

 

Nope, no sudden loud noises and nope, didn't hit my head on anything either.