[Schalldampfer]

So, I'm a sophomore in college, and just noticed that my hearing in the 20kHz to 18kHz range has gone down recently in my left ear only. I also have this sudden surge of tinnitus that's been going on for about a week and a half.

When I went to see the doctor, she told me that I probably developed allergies while staying in the city, which is notoriously allergenic. So... I'm wondering if my slight hearing loss could be attributed to the allergies. I haven't been exposed to any loud noises for extended periods of time, so I don't think my headphone usage can be attributed to this.

I'm going to a follow-up appointment next Thursday. Hopefully sooner.

 

[dimm0k]

Hopefully it's just allergies... let us know how you make out.

 

[Schalldampfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimm0k /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hopefully it's just allergies... let us know how you make out.

Yeah, thanks... this is a pretty difficult time... I think I had a pretty good hearing, but this new sudden "stuffiness" of hearing is really really getting under my skin.

 

[silencewithin]

Hopefully it is something underlying like alergies. If you haven't done any thing to damage your hearing like going to loud concerts then you certainly can't blame yourself. Good luck.

 

[Schalldampfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silencewithin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hopefully it is something underlying like alergies. If you haven't done any thing to damage your hearing like going to loud concerts then you certainly can't blame yourself. Good luck.

Thank you... those words are very encouraging... It makes me feel so depressed when I go back to my dorm room and its silence and hear my increased tinnitus.

 

[kamal007]

get well soon man

 

[appophylite]

Same thing happened to me after just 2 weeks in OK City. I left a week later but it took another couple of weeks for my hearing to feel right. My audiologist reiterated what your doctor said in that allergies can wreak havoc on your ears, causing serumen problems, temporary hearing loss, swimmer's ear, pressure change and even tinnitus. Some symptoms will be more prevalent and some will take a longer time to disappear.

 

[Schalldampfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by appophylite /img/forum/go_quote.gif Same thing happened to me after just 2 weeks in OK City. I left a week later but it took another couple of weeks for my hearing to feel right. My audiologist reiterated what your doctor said in that allergies can wreak havoc on your ears, causing serumen problems, temporary hearing loss, swimmer's ear, pressure change and even tinnitus. Some symptoms will be more prevalent and some will take a longer time to disappear.

Uagh... still about a month more of school to go...

 

[LawnGnome]

It can also be from stress and lack of sleep.

Any unusual stress lately?

 

[Schalldampfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LawnGnome /img/forum/go_quote.gif It can also be from stress and lack of sleep. Any unusual stress lately?

Unusual stresses... 3 tests next week and the tinnitus. Oh, and my phone just died on me. Maybe it is stress... even though I don't feel stressed out that much.

 

[ADD]

You can try masking the tinnitus with something like Tinnitus Masker Pro. It is a fairly cheap piece of Windows software that lets you record custom masking files that you can then compress as MP3 files and put on your DAP. You might be surprised at how little volume is needed to mask your tinnitus once you have found a specific sound(s) and frequency that masks it.

I got tinnitus after taking antibiotics and following a long respiratory illness. It is with me all the time (allergy definitely makes it much worse), but I can cope with quiet places and bedtime by listening to very quiet masking sounds (not much louder than the patter of rain on the roof) on my iriver player.

As for hearing loss in the 18 - 20 khz range, I honestly wouldn't be that concerned. Most people can't even hear up that high to begin with and standard audiology tests only go to 8 khz anyway. You audiologist should also have mentioned that hearing thresholds can vary quite noticeably from day to day.

 

[Schalldampfer]

Went to an ENT specialist today finally and took audiometry, tymponometry and some other tests.

Turns out my hearing's excellent, and my ears are physically sound.

Yet I still have tinnitus, sometimes get physical pain in both ears, and my left ear feels clogged.

The doctor thinks it COULD be allergies and that I should try some nasal spray allergy medication.

 

[Oliver :)]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schalldämpfer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Unusual stresses... 3 tests next week and the tinnitus. Oh, and my phone just died on me. Maybe it is stress... even though I don't feel stressed out that much.

In my case tinnitus is a very good indicator of stress I wasn't even aware of

It might well disappear right after you're through with your tests. Don't worry too much until then.

It's not that you have a latent cold, by the way?

 

[rivieraranch]

I blew my nose and my right ear closed up. It felt like I had a cloth over it. this persisted for a day or so. I took a decongestant and within an hour the ear opened up.

 

[Schalldampfer]

Dang it... after I went to see the doctor and took the tests, my right ear developed tinnitus, too. I really don't know what the heck is going on any more.