Tinnitus in Just One Ear — Anyone Else?

Hi there. New to the forum. I've had high pitched constant T in my left ear since last May. Still awaiting ENT appt on 17th April.

Is there anyone else experiencing it in just one ear and if so, have you received a diagnosis or reason why?

Looking forward to hearing from others with similar circumstances.

 

Hi 13, Most of the people that have T only get it in one ear. As for the cause, there are just to many to list. I just went to the search box and typed in "cause of tinnitus" Many threads came up. Not trying to cop out on you, it's just that even the researchers, ENT's, can't agree on the exact cause. There isn't really a test to find out if you have T. Well, actually T is a symptom, of something awry in the the way you process sound.

Some times T can be caused by wax built up in you're ear..

 

not true!! most people have t in both ears (both ears = BILATERAL)

In most cases, tinnitus is bilateral. Unilateral tinnitus may indicate a more serious medical condition.
It is a common presenting sign of both vestibular schwannoma (also known as acoustic neuroma) and Meniere’s disease.
Patients with unilateral tinnitus should receive a hearing test as soon as possible; if asymmetric hearing loss is found, MRI is indicated, both with and without contrast of the internal auditory canal, to rule out vestibular schwannoma.

check here if you want http://www.ncrar.research.va.gov/Education/Documents/TinnitusDocuments/Triage_Guide.pdf

 

Thanks Stink. I thought I read just the other day, that the most people get T in only one ear. Thank you for the correction. don't want to put false information out here...

 

Thank you both. To be honest, I've read both: that unilateral is a warning sign that merits further investigation but also that after bilateral T, idiopathic left ear T is the most common.

I'm panicking due to what the further investigation might reveal and was hoping for a few others who have it in one ear and why.

Again thanks for your replies.

 

One ear. No answers here.

 

Left ear, probably due to cochlea damage.

 

Hi, I am new to the site. I came down with roaring T in my right ear a month ago. I have my suspicions that it is from going to the cinema and seeing a war movie that literally hurt my ears. I only went because my WW2 father in law wanted compamy. But since then, the roar has changed to a hissing, high pitched noise. I had a hearing test done and the audiologist confirmed that I have hearing loss in both ears, more in my right which is giving me the T. I was told through my family doctor and the audiologist that I have Sensory hearing loss. That means that the little hairs in the ear that control the hearing apparatus are damage. At least some of them. But, I am told hearing aids may help me. I am just moving along with this to try and solve the puzzle. Last night I had no sound in my ears. This morning it is a different story. But challenges we all have to face in this life and this is just another one. Huggzzzzz to you. You are not alone. Lots of good folks here.

 

I've always thought unilateral tinnitus was the most common. Even if that's not true, there are certainly a lot of people with that condition, so you're definitely not alone.

 

I have tinnitus only in my left ear. Mine was caused by sudden hearing loss. They don't know what caused it, I just suddenly lost hearing in that ear, and then most of my hearing came back over the next month while I was taking prednisone, but I have enough hearing loss that apparently I have some ringing. I had an MRI with contrast and everything looked normal. Yay, hearing loss.

 

13, I forgot to mentioned my T is right ear only. I had the same tests as Karen when T first started. All tests came back normal except some hearing loss in my right ear. I did however have a repeat of my carotids a few months ago and they found a 70% blockage in my left carotid. They are giving me MRA's every 6 months to see if the blockage gets worse. Dr. told be they do not do surgery for a blockage in the carotids until it reaches 90%. Wouldn't that be something if mine got to 90%, had the surgery and T was minimal afterwards. At 68 if they look hard enough they will find something


You are a young lady, things should go well for you....

 

Hi 13, Yes the unilateral sometimes is an indication of a benign tumor called an acoustic neuroma.
I know this to be true because unfortunately I had one which got surgically removed leaving me deaf
in that ear with ongoing tinnitus. The odds are way against you having this but it is worth investigating with
an MRI. Don't give up on life, you can still lead a productive life with tinnitus; its just more challenging.

 

13, Joe is correct on the above quote. MRI's are standard procedure to rule out anything like that. You will pass the MRI with flying colors

 

I have in mine in both, but it started off in one ear. So be lucky to only have it in one ear...

 

Haha...I never even got an MRI, guess they don't care or the UK healthcare system is truly broke.

 

My T is unilateral pulsitile tinnitus in my right ear. MRI/MRA showed a vascular loop coursing into my internal meatus, compressing the auditory nerve and displacing my vestibular nerve.

 

@Karen , have you read about @svintegrity 's surgery (pulsatile T)?
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...-explanation-of-habituation.8541/#post-100216

@Lara K , left ear same here. How bad is your hearing loss?

 

Left ear. Don't panic! 99% dr will find nothing abnormal

 

NiNyu,

My left ear is back up to baseline levels except for a dip to 45db between 500 and 1000 HZ. It is kind of crazy looking on an audiogram. I actually got a hearing aid because I wanted to see if it would help, but I hear fine out of that ear. It is very different from when I first had the hearing loss. When it was at its worst I could brush a hand over that ear and not hear anything, and it constantly sounded like i was talking around a jet sound.

 

I have it in just one ear, my left.

It also happens to be the very same ear I have a bunch of impacted wax in. Fingers crossed for a good cleaning today and a reduction in the severity of my T.