Preparing for Second ENT Appointment — Clogged Ears

I've had tinnitus from an acoustic trauma (in left ear, right ear cause unknown) for 9 months. I went to the ENT and audiologist about a week after onset and they told me my ears/hearing is fine, I'm just a stressed new mom and to try lipoflavinoids. No steroids or anything offered. At that time my tinnitus was in my left ear (maybe slightly in the right), with both ears very clogged.

Since then, tinnitus started, or got much louder, in my right ear, where it is now louder than my left (albeit less tones). My ears feel slightly less clogged but I am unable to pop them fully still. I finally worked up the motivation to get my hearing tested again and hopefully get some custom earplugs. I want to be ready this time so I don't get dismissed.

My questions are:

- Do you think I should ask for steroids/anti-inflammatory for my clogged ears? I feel like if my ears would just unclog my tinnitus would reduce. I know they say you have to start them right away but if my ears still feel clogged doesn't it mean there is still inflammation? I know the ear can self-perpetuate an inflammatory loop for a very long time. At the same time I really don't want my tinnitus to get worse.

- Should I ask for an extended audiogram? Is there a point? It's not like I can do anything about any high frequency loss at this time.

- Is one set of custom earplugs enough or should I get multiple? Not worried about the cost.

- As an aside, what's the difference between clogged ears and aural fullness? I see them used interchangeably here. I highly doubt I have ETD from sinuses since it started the day or two after the acoustic trauma, yet when people say "fullness" from hearing loss I'm confused if that includes clogged ears, like where when I talk I hear the clicking of my Eustachian tube in my nose sticking and unsticking (?), can hear every swallow, get more clogged in higher elevations (where they didn't pre-tinnitus), etc.

Thank you in advance for your input!

 

Hi @Ngo13.

My advice is to tell your ENT doctor your symptoms because this person is supposed to be your healthcare professional, and the Ear, Nose and Throat is their area of expertise. If you require tests, you should be advised of this and hopefully be given a diagnosis and recommended treatment for the fullness and clogged up feeling in your ears.

Since your tinnitus was caused by an acoustic trauma, you may need to see an audiologist, that specialises in the treatment of tinnitus and hyperacusis, because ENTs treat underlying medical problems within the auditory system that cause tinnitus, but they don't treat the condition.

Michael

 

Blocked middle ears due to congestion can cause temporary conductive hearing loss and increased tinnitus which should resolve when things clear up.

Be careful what tests the ENT does. When checking pressure in your ears, a test called tympanometry, make sure they don't play loud beeps to test the acoustic reflex as this happened to me recently and made my tinnitus worse and brought back hyperacusis.

 

It is unfortunate that your tinnitus and hyperacusis was made worse by tympanometry.

When I had severe hyperacusis and tinnitus they weren't made worse by tympanometry. Although my hyperacusis has been cured for many years, I have had hearing tests with tympanometry quite a few times in 26 years, and fortunately the tinnitus hasn't been affected.

Michael

 

Did they play beeping noises as part of the tympanometry? I believe I must have had the acoustic reflex test as part of the tympanometry because they played loud beeps. I think this is what affected my ears unless it was the pressure test because they found I had some negative pressure after COVID-19 infection, likely middle-ear congestion.

 

Yes, I had the beeping noises and was concerned about this because they sounded loud. I felt the pressure in my ears too. We are all different so one never knows what might happen during a medical procedure. The health professionals do this regularly to patients, because it's their job. They never advised me beforehand about the beeping noises might be loud and never mentioned the pressure I would feel in my ears.

I am sorry to know your tinnitus increased.

Michael

 

I hope your ear fullness subside with time. Mine come and go, sometimes more in one ear than the other. In my case it’s very related to the hyperacusis (and possibly GERD).