Spasming Left Ear

If it's stronger with your own speech, maybe the eustachian tube is involved, or you have a dehiscence.

https://patient.info/forums/discuss...on-sound-in-ear-and-hearing-distortion-499831

''Well the loud roaring vibration and distortion of sound, ( particularly of my own voice) when talking was recently diagnosed as patulous eustachian tube. It has taken years to find an answer. Apparently most specialists overlook this one. very simple test of breathing quickly in and out of the nose whilst the inner ear is viewed to see if the tube remains open. If so then that is a certain diagnosis of PET and the only time one gets relief is when one either lies down (tube closes) or puts head between knees. My ENT specialist tells me there is an operation they can perform which 'bulks' up the tube with fat, gel foam, cartilage or even scarring it closed with cautery. The not so good news is that it is not always succesful. It is a very rare condition and I have yet to talk with anyone who has actually had an operation. The misdiagnosed patient may also have tubes surgically inserted into the eardrum, which increases the risk of ear infection and will not alleviate patulous Eustachian tube. (My previous specialist did just that - put in grommets, hoping that I may be able to equalise better - worst thing possible!!! They are still in my ears) If these treatments are tried and failed, and the doctor is not aware of the actual condition, the symptoms may even be classified as psychological. It has literally just about driven me crazy and I have been so close to ending everything as I have been trying to deal with a severe case of Meniere's disease as well. Even yesterday I was at my wits end but today is another day. I sure hope you do not have Meniere's as the attacks are horrendous. I've never heard of Meniere's without vertigo or dizziness. I do believe mine all began with a 'severe inner ear virus'. Personally I think that term is used when they just don't know what it is. Vision, sound, balance all went completely haywire very suddenly. That was 11 years ago. Anyway Donna, sorry for rambling, but it may be worth asking them to check for PET or the other one is 'superior canal dehiscence' which requires a CT scan. I had that too. Hopefully you will find an answer.''

 

Great description.

I would ask a couple of questions more, if you don’t mind.

Apart from the moving things (probably a tensed/out of place/irritated tensor tympani which at the same time stiffens the tympanic membrane), do you also feel tension? If this is the case, how often: all the time, after hearing to sudden sounds that bother you, just by thinking...?

You said you have the problem “primarily” in your left ear. In the right ear, is it the same but less intense or is it different? What sensations do you have in the right ear? Tension, movements...?

 

I have very similar things happening. My right ear always feels clogged, I have T in both, and now sensitivity to sound has developed in both. Sometimes it's worse than others. Sometimes I can listen to music and not be bothered, other times chewing starts a spasm in my right ear or a fork hitting a plate makes me literally cringe. Sometimes in a crowded restaurant it'll be like a sonic barrage causing constant spasms and distorted sounds. The thumping is always my right ear, though. It actually started about 10 years ago way before the ringing or anything began. It used to be very mild but it has gotten much worse now. Ringing and other symptoms started about 1.5 hears ago.

I've had some luck with low doses of benzos but I'm still experimenting. I'm never sure if it's the ear or the jaw at the root. I have TMJ symptoms and my jaw pops like mad some days. Just opening my mouth can send shooting pain into my ear. I also get terrible neck stiffness. I've had it called TMJ, ETD, etc. But nobody is ever sure. My dentist wouldn't prescribe me a muscle relaxer so I haven't gotten to try that route yet.

I also wonder if I haven't made myself worse by doing things like valsalva too hard too often, pressing on my ears with my palms, etc. out of frustration. Stretching, massaging, meditating... They all can help a bit but nothing that really made me feel like I was winning the battle for very long.