Help and Advice — Tinnitus Worse — Original Cause Ear Syringing — Microsuction Made It Even Worse

Hello everyone, I’m new to Tinnitus Talk and just need to share my experience and hopefully get some solid advice.

I’ve been suffering with noise induced tinnitus now for two years.

It was originally brought on after ear syringing at my Doctors’s surgery and it been getting steadily worse since.

It was also made worse by a moronic ENT doctor who decided to microsuction my ear without asking me or telling he was going to do it!!

I’ve been to hearing therapy three times over the past year and seen three different therapists and all of them have contradicted each other i.e. use earplugs, don’t use them, you need maskers, you don’t need them, hearing aids will help, you don’t need hearing aids! It will get better, it will get worse!

And so on, is it just me or is it fact that these so called therapists have absolutely no clue what they are doing but they are definitely making me feel worse.

I’m at the end of my tether now. Ears are humming and hissing louder than ever. I have to work because I have a family and mortgage. I’m a HGV driver and so worried that I’m gonna have to stop work.

I can still sleep at the moment but if my tinnitus carries on increasing the way it has over the last year that will be it.

I don’t know what to do. I feel like my life is ruined. I just want to stop my tinnitus getting worse and hopefully reduce it a bit.

 

Are you aware of research for hearing loss regeneration?

 

I heard lots of information about research but it’s all years away from finally having any treatment that actually works.

I was hoping for information from fellow sufferers on ways to help NOW.

 

what do you want? just bullshit that boils down to acceptance of suffering?

you might as well just cheat sheet TRT and CBT and accept the suffering then.

 

So sorry this has happened to you. If it was originally brought on by ear syringing, would the cause not have been mechanical trauma to the eardrum rather than noise? Regardless, I understand that mechanical trauma to the eardrum can mimic the damage noise can cause and cause the same consequent hearing loss, at least sometimes.

How long ago did you have the Microsuction? From what I have read sometimes worsening is due to microsuction can be temporary. Sometimes when it gets worse, we understandably freak out and that fear in itself, can, in some cases contribute to the increased loudness. It is all easier said than done, especially if one’s job is under threat. I understand, I had to give up my job when I got tinnitus but this was because I had so many other health conditions already.

Have you ever tried to measure the noise level within your HGV? I believe that one can even get dB measuring apps on a phone.

 

It seems to me that’s exactly what I’m getting from the hearing clinic, “BS’!! Not been given TRT or CBT, also microsuction was in April 2018 and afterwards my tinnitus has just gone mental, sorry to be so blunt but I’m not in a good place at the moment.

 

Sorry to hear of your recent problems and in particular your hearing therapy problems - this is not uncommon. In terms of the questions you have asked:

1. Hearing aids - if you need these depends on whether you have significant hearing loss. Have you had a hearing test? If they found significant hearing loss in either ear then hearing aids may help for the hearing loss - some people say that they can help for the tinnitus also though this is not always the case.

2. Maskers - this is not a question of whether you need them but if you will find them helpful for the tinnitus. I personally did not - some people apparently have so they may be worth considering. They shouldn't be used to "mask" the tinnitus as such but the volume set at below the tinnitus level to help with habituation.

3. Earplugs - It's always a good idea to use them in any noisy situation. Noise is the thing that is likely to worsen tinnitus the most - even if it didn't originally cause the tinnitus - so I would definitely wear them in noisy situations - and if possible try to avoid prolonged exposure to loud noise (even with earplugs) as it will just make the tinnitus worse.

 

Please refrain from Microsuction and Caloric Test- Ear Syringing as they can damage your hearing.

 

did they use a fluid or air for your caloric test?

 

Fluid water

 

So sorry that you too have fallen victim to this, what appears to be, risky procedure. My mild Tinnitus was increased due to getting MS 2 years ago. My friend @Blue28 also went through a similar thing to you. An ENT with no prior warning. Apparently it’s not the safest procedure for those who already have tinnitus, according to another Audiologist I saw. I truly hope things improve for you and 100% understand your despair x

 

I'm so sorry to hear that you too have been affected by this horrific procedure, and that like me you were not warned, and not told about the shocking damage it can cause.

I am absolutely disgusted that some ENTs and audiologists are doing microsuction with little or no knowledge of how damaging it is. I'm even more disgusted that this procedure is legal, it's barbaric and is so clearly damaging when not performed with the utmost care and skill. It not only destroys people who already have mild tinnitus (as my friend @Vicki14 points out that this procedure shouldn't be done on people who already have tinnitus) but it equally damages normal hearing too. I had no hearing damage before microsuction, now I have severe, chronic tinnitus, hearing loss, hyperacusis, middle ear problems and so much more.

 

Shame I didn't know that before trusting the ENT that day...

 

how much hearing losss do you have?

 

Over 65dbhl above 12khz. Notches of 25-30dbhl at several frequencies up to 8khz.

 

That's a lot

 

Thanks for all your replies.

To answer some of them I have mild hearing loss in both ears, I have measured the noise in my truck with the use of an app the reading when in motion is around 90 dB.

I had spoken to my company about this they told me noise level is industry standard and due to us only actually driving around 5-7 hours a day does not warrant intervention i.e. noise exposure law 80 dB+ for 8+ hours per day would then require protection, but I also listen to the radio every day so you turn it up to hear above truck noise, probably not good but when you’re on your own all day it’s a lifesaver, but the strange thing is my tinnitus hasn’t increased after a day at work. It’s suddenly increased after low sound exposure, for example last week Saturday watching cleaning up with my misses, TV only on low volume and afterward my tinnitus went through the roof and has stayed at that volume.

Then each time before my tinnitus has just increased suddenly after low volume it just suddenly goes eeeeeeEEEEEE!! And it stays at that volume, no decrease, just increases each time.

I’m lost with it, I do wear hearing protection around loud noises.

Currently my Audiologist has recommended hearing aids and said my right ear is blocked with wax.

I’ve told her I’m not having ear syringing or microsuction so she recommended Otomize, told me to buy it at Boots. Turns out it’s prescription only because it’s an Antibiotic ear drop.. huhhh she said it would help remove the wax.

You see what I’m up against, so called specialists, who seem to have not one jot of knowledge.

So if I can’t get rid of this wax I cannot have another hearing test and therefore cannot have hearing aids fitted!

 

Try olive oil drops... They're gentle and shouldn't cause damage. Also using warm water and a small bulb syringe carefully may help flush out wax. You can buy these at the chemist. Be sure your eardrum isn't perforated first though.

 

Microsuction should be outlawed.

 

I was given air... I was told it was better than water pressure