New to the Forum — Tinnitus in Left Ear for 15 Years — Acoustic Neuroma?

Hello All,

I am new to the forum but have experienced tinnitus in my left ear for 15 years with mild hearing loss. In addition I wear a hearing aid in one ear due to high frequency hearing loss in that ear. I just had a follow up with my ENT and he told me since my hearing loss has progressed a bit since 2012 I should have an MRI to check for an acoustic neuroma.

Not sure how I feel about this.

Is one sided hearing loss with tinnitus a sure sign of an acoustic neuroma? Opinions welcomed!

 

An MRI made my tinnitus worse! Sorry, that is all I have on the subject.

Welcome!

 

No it's not. You are offered to do an MRI to rule it out. It's a pretty rare condition, but you'd probably want to know if you had it.

 

Thank you so much for your response.

 

Wonderful, just what I need an increase in my symptoms!

 

Since my MRI scan my high pitched tinnitus has taken on an electrical field / metallic sound to it. It's also become permanent in both ears, whereas before it would be in one or the other or sometimes both. Wish I had never had the scan now. All too late.

 

Jim,
On Friday, my ENT ordered an MRI for me. Have you had yours yet? After reading others' comments on your post, I'm a bit frightened. I, too, am new to the forum. My tinnitus began in my right ear on August 3, and then my left ear on Sept 29. My ENT told me that there are other symptoms besides tinnitus that are related to acoustic neuroma - that one-sided tinnitus is NOT a sure sign of acoustic neuroma. Do you have other symptoms? I'm sorry you are suffering. I'm sorry we are all suffering.

 

Jim,

Obviously none of us are doctors. But it seems to me that if you've had tinnitus for 15 years, the chances that you have a neuroma as a cause is exceedingly unlikely. That said, as @GregCA said, if you did have one, you'd want to know.

Personally, I'd probably wait-and-see for now. But obviously this is a personal choice you have to make.

 

Thanks for your response. I was back and forth as to whether or not to follow through with the MRI but think it will give me piece of mind either way.

 

Andrea,
I have Tinnitus and moderate high frequency hearing loss but no other symptoms. Good luck with your MRI . It’s my understanding that acoustic Neuroma typically presents with some one who has at the very least Tinnitus along with other symptoms in one ear not both.

 

The MRI can be undertaken, but with extreme care. You need to call ahead and make sure they have ear muffs for you to wear. Also, bring your best foam earplugs, and don't rely on the cheap ones most MRI places have. Finally, seek out a quieter MRI, or at least one that is open and tends to be quieter.

https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/FullText/2018/04000/MRI_Noise_and_Hearing_Loss.8.aspx

 

I did all that (except i used their ear plugs)! I sought a quiet one. Open scanners are no way as indepth as closed ones.

Even with all that my tinnitus was made worse. All the noise and magnets going through my skull!

 

I did mine for peace of mind too. Just saying. It's your decision i the end.

 

Great information thank you so much. This information really gives me pause to the point I’m not sure I want to proceed. My tinnitus has calmed lately and really seems to increase with stress. As I mentioned earlier I’ve had this for years with a moderate increase in high frequency hearing loss over a 10 year period. That and tinnitus have been my only symptoms but my ENT wants to rule things out.

 

I wouldn't. It's standard procedure for one sided tinnitus, but honestly, with 15 years of stable tinnitus and some hearing loss which is likely due to the natural aging process, it seems very unlikely you'd have a tumor.

 

Thanks Bartoli I'm steering towards that thought process as well.

 

MRI's are really, really loud machines. Also, the 1.5T magnet models are quieter than the 3T models. Most MRI places use the cheapest earplugs, so better to bring your own.

 

I went to an ENT and he told me I have amazingly good ear health and that there's no need for an MRI and that I maybe stuck with the tinnitus.. It was the biggest waste of money I've had in a while.. His theory was that it was just the difference between my left and right ears top end frequency which threw my brain out of whack..

 

Wow that's a very interesting diagnosis from your ENT and actually makes sense!
My MRI is scheduled for tomorrow regardless...wish me luck !

 

How did it turn out? Hope you'll check back in and let us know.