Help, Tinnitus Louder After Microsuction

Around late February time I started hearing a high pitch noise in both of my ears. I was really worried because I always look after my ears and advised my friends to do so by not playing music too loud in their earphones, always wear ear plugs at live music concerts indoor and outdoor.

So I went to my GP. He's had a look at my ears and he's said that "there's so much wax in your ears that I can't see your ear drums at all".

So he booked an appointment for me to have my ears syringed and on that day I told the nurse to stop because the procedure was just way too painful and uncomfortable.

He recommended that I have my ears microsuctioned at the ENT. The microsuction wasn't too bad, it was quite loud at times but they managed to get all the wax out.

When I went home the ringing had gone down A LOT to the point where I couldn't even hear it anymore.

Then the next morning the ringing had gone A LOT louder than before and it's been bothering me for the past 4 days. Does anyone know how long it's supposed to last?

 

@Jama

I'm so sorry to read that you're suffering, and that you're possibly another victim of microsuction. I had microsuction 2 years ago to remove wax in both ears and I developed tinnitus, hyperacusis and hearing loss after the procedure. Please read my post on "the dangers of microsuction". I would advise you to get a course of steroids as a matter of urgency to try to help the inner ear recover, if possible. Please don't take a "wait and see" attitude, as the longer you wait the less chance the steroids have of helping. Good luck to you, Blue

 

Hi @Jama

Did your doctor advise you before having microsuction, to apply olive oil eardrops to each ear, 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days before having this procedure done? If you didn't apply olive oil in the manner I've described problems can arise. Even when the earwax is softened problems can still occur with microsuction. This is a medical procedure although relatively minor it carries risks for some people. Therefore, everything should be done to minimise these risks. The same applies if you are having ear irrigation or having the wax manually removed by curette. Always use olive oil in the manner I've suggested to try and prevent problems. Other tinnitus forums that I visit people have microsuction without using any oil and have no problems which surprises me. Earwax build-up needs to be removed if it won't exit the ear naturally, otherwise it will cause problems:

Ear pain
Tinnitus
Infection
Fever
Impaired hearing
Coughing
Dizziness

 

Check out the noise levels generated by suctioning in this study ...

[Suction-generated noise levels during aural toilet].
Hansen S, et al. Laryngorhinootologie. 2012.
Show full citation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The use of suction for the removal of foreign bodies or cerumen from the external auditory canal is a common procedure in ENT outpatient centers. Patients' lamentations about high noise levels during microsuction can cause assault charges concerning permanent hearing loss or tinnitus. However, the medical opinion of these cases is difficult because only a small amount of objective data about suction-generated noise is available.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, noise levels of different suction devices were measured under standardized conditions in an artificial model head (HEAD acoustics, Germany). In a second set-up water and lard (instead of cerumen) were suctioned from an artificial external auditory canal, which was coupled with a noise mediator (Mediator 2238, Brüel & Kjaer, Denmark).

RESULTS: There was a significant influence of the inner diameter of the sucker on the noise level. A sucker with a diameter of 1.4 mm generated a noise level of more than 100 dB(A). The suctioning of water generated a maximum noise level of more than 130 dB(LAmax), while the suctioning of lard reached nearly 150 dB(LAmax). The time lapse of both noise and frequency level for lard suctioning was characteristic of a bang.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates objective and reproducible data for suction-generated noise levels and could help to evaluate patients' complaints.

 

I don't think the bold, block capital letters and shouting in your post, is going to make hospital ENT departments and private clinics, stop using microsuction to remove earwax from patients, even though the points raised on loud sound levels are valid.

I have severe chronic tinnitus. I have had microsuction three times. Ear irrigation three times without any problems.

If you or anyone else have concerns about the dangers of microsuction, then I suggest you take your concerns to some governing health organisation to make them take notice. Or contact: The British Tinnitus Association, American Tinnitus Association, Australian Tinnitus Association, German Tinnitus Association etc and hopefully something can be done about it.

Michael