ENT Suggested an MRI and an Acoustic Reflex Test — Safe for Someone Who Has Hyperacusis and TTTS?

Hello,

I've just got back from an appointment with another ENT. He was actually a lot more knowledgeable about TTTS and ear pain from sound etc. As usual, my hearing test came back fine again (I know they don't test full ranges).

The question I had was he's put me down to have an MRI scan and have an acoustic reflex test. I have mild hyperacusis and TTTS so would these be considered safe? Would be good to get people's experiences.

Thanks,

Mark

 

An MRI is fine as long as you wear earplugs. They can be quite loud, depending on the make and model of the machine.

As for the acoustic reflex test, absolutely not! A classically clueless test prescribed by ENT's with no idea of the effects of loud volume on hyperacusis sufferers. It involves increasingly louder short bursts of sound into your ear, reaching up to 100 decibels. Yes really! It's a test that is not even considered particularly useful these days. If I were you, I would simply refuse it.

 

No, neither are safe. Is there a good reason for it? Unless the MRI is for a suspected tumour I would avoid at all costs. Acoustic reflex, just no way.
ENTs are not very knowledgeable in this area. Also they won't have to live with any issues that might result and will deny any responsibility.
TTTS and hyperacusis can get much worse. Be very careful.

 

@Gman probably not! I just want my ear spasms to go away

 

Then do not do either one. Just stick to normal/safe sounds and the spasms have a good chance of going away eventually. Don't over protect your ears, but avoid loud places. There's no time frame on them going away either, sorry. Everyone's different.

 

Just had my MRI. No bad effects that I’ve noticed.

It was a new hospital so I’m guessing it was a modern machine.

 

Was it loud?

 

It’s hard to tell. I had foam ear plugs in that they provided and then over ear defenders.

It would have been loud without those

 

no it's not safe for someone with hyperacusis, noise induced pain and middle ear muscle disorders to get a noise injury machine AKA an MRI.

Audiologist are in the total dark about everything related to the inner ear. Plague doctors from 500 years ago would be better off treating us. They have bird mask and birds can naturally regenerate hair cells.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17891722

 

Any MRI's should be done with double protection. Call in advance, and speak to the facility to ensure they have both plugs and muffs available. Also, find out if you can bring your plugs of choice.

There are quieter MRIs out there, but not easily available depending where you are. Supposedly open MRIs are also not as loud as the space is not so contained to reverberate the noise.

Despite double ear protection, random folks do get worse tinnitus and hyperacusis from their MRI.

 

A quiet MRI is illusive and rare from what people are telling me. The demand isn't high at all and we can also assume the technology would be more expensive.

I'd personally love to get an MRI if I could get a quiet one, but apparently modern medicine is still in the dark ages when it comes to treating inner ear disorders and even detecting them.

 

Why the hostility? I’ve only stated I’ve had one with double protection and had no ill effects ?

 

Why did they take MRI? My audiologist said that "we could take picture of your inner ear but most likely there is nothing"

 

To rule out a tumour. They also suggested an acoustic reflex test but I think I’ll pass on that one

 

https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-09/silent-mri/

MRIs are north of 110 dB, and can cause acoustic trauma without proper protection. Folks around here have spiked from a lot less noise than that.

I have never had an MRI, but even from the control booth, behind glass, they sound kind of loud, and that was before my tinnitus.

 

Is an ear pressure test (tympanometry) safe for tinnitus/hyperacusis suffers?

First ENT/audiologist appointment soon and I want to be fully clued up, just in case they're not.

 

There’s also a poll on here something like 60% of people didn’t have any bad effects ? Not disputing that it has affected some though...

 

As you should have noticed, each one with tinnitus and hyperacusis have different tolerance to sound. Some years ago I went to a really loud party in Brazil with those loud wall speakers without protection (reckless) and I noticed no change. Today I am so sensitive to sound I doubt I can make an MRI. I hardly can travel by train, even with foam plugs. It´s a very thin line between feeling nothing and have tinnitus + hyperacusis increased due to a diagnostic test.

 

Well today was my reflex test appointment.

I explained my symptoms to the audiologist and he suggested it was a bad idea to do it so I didn’t have it done.

 

I did n MRI shortly after my tinnitus onset to rule out possible causes, I was provided with earmuffs at the time and did not experience any worsening of my condition. If anything I was more worried about the possible side effects of the contrasting agent I got injected with.

 

Glad the audiologist listened to your concern, and did not just plunge ahead.

 

Amazingly he had heard of hyperacusis and we had a good half hour chat about it

 

Amazing! Also, unfortunate that an audiologist that knows something about T/H is the exception and standout.

 

@Digital Doc agreed. He was pretty knowledgeable but mainly spoke of dr sensitisation. But either way it was nice to talk to someone who had heard of it

 

I'm also getting contrast, should I be worried?

 

I got an MRA/MRV. I had no issues with the agent in my veins.

Only thing, the machine was loud as hell due to being an old machine and the tech didn't know how to do the test properly so they had to do it twice and spend 3 hours.