Worried about hearing loss.

[fookinhellm8_]

Hello tattlers, hope you’re well and safe.

I’m not sure if this is appropriate to post or in the right forum but I apologise to admin in advance if so. I do know that I have to seek medical attention for this but I do worry that I’d be wasting someone’s time if it isn’t that serious I suffer with anxiety also, so that’s been more of a nightmare to deal with. So, please be gentle with me tattlers

I’m a little worried about hearing in my right ear, I’ve never had any problems with my hearing before until now. It’s been going on for the past 3-4 weeks, I get this kind of muffled sound coming from it and sometimes I can hear like a bell or something ringing constantly. I have cleared the earwax out of my ear as much as I can and the muffling and ringing sounds are still present. I can also feel that “blocking” sensation in the ear when the muffling happens. I don’t think it’s an ear infection as my ear isn’t sore and it’s not smelling “funky”. I’m a little indecisive on what I should do. I did phone my GP but they are only taking emergency appointments. I will try to book a hearing test if possible. I’m just posting this to see if anyone has had similar issues with their hearing and what did they do.

 

[samhneach]

Hello tattlers, hope you’re well and safe.

I’m not sure if this is appropriate to post or in the right forum but I apologise to admin in advance if so. I do know that I have to seek medical attention for this but I do worry that I’d be wasting someone’s time if it isn’t that serious I suffer with anxiety also, so that’s been more of a nightmare to deal with. So, please be gentle with me tattlers

I’m a little worried about hearing in my right ear, I’ve never had any problems with my hearing before until now. It’s been going on for the past 3-4 weeks, I get this kind of muffled sound coming from it and sometimes I can hear like a bell or something ringing constantly. I have cleared the earwax out of my ear as much as I can and the muffling and ringing sounds are still present. I can also feel that “blocking” sensation in the ear when the muffling happens. I don’t think it’s an ear infection as my ear isn’t sore and it’s not smelling “funky”. I’m a little indecisive on what I should do. I did phone my GP but they are only taking emergency appointments. I will try to book a hearing test if possible. I’m just posting this to see if anyone has had similar issues with their hearing and what did they do.

I would start with a hearing test and go from there.

I had a similar situation back in December 2019, I wear headphones a lot while I work and I noticed the volume on my music was always a little lower on the left than on the right. I went for a hearing test and they looked inside my ear and seen some wax build up deep inside.
I was referred for microsuction which is a short non painful process of vacuuming out the wax from your ear, and later that night my hearing was back to normal.

In my situation using cotton buds was the problem, I was impacting the wax deep down in the ear canal.

All I can say is never ignore things like that, 99% of the time its nothing serious and solved easily.

 

[WilmaHun]

My other half had a similar issue, he actually ended up having one of the hearing tests at Specsavers rather than going to his GP.

I know of somebody else who went private to have their ears properly cleaned out, even though she cleans them regularly she was disgusted at what came out! There was tons of wax which she'd just been pushing further into her ear via cotton buds when she thought she was "cleaning" them.

It may not be anything serious so try not to get too concerned (I know, easier said than done with anxiety!) however it's definitely best to get it checked now, rather than let it go on on and and make yourself more worked up about it.

Good luck!

 

[Raininvain]

Sounds like you might need your ears syringing. My Mum had this done a few times.
I'd ring the Drs and say you need to be seen because your ear is blocked and its an emergency.They will look down it with that black instrument with a torch on.!

 

[Lulu Goss]

If you call the doctors they should be able to book you in to have your ears syringed. If not, Boots do it privately I think (obviously you have to pay for that though)

I had it done a few years ago after my ear felt blocked - as others have said I’d actually inadvertently done it myself with cotton buds when I was cleaning them. Easily done though and having them syringed is quick and painless!

 

[Yel]

Book a free hearing test at Specsavers - https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/offers/free-hearing-tests

Someone needs to look at the drum to very quick see what's going on.

 

[1001 others]

Hello tattlers, hope you’re well and safe.

I’m not sure if this is appropriate to post or in the right forum but I apologise to admin in advance if so. I do know that I have to seek medical attention for this but I do worry that I’d be wasting someone’s time if it isn’t that serious I suffer with anxiety also, so that’s been more of a nightmare to deal with. So, please be gentle with me tattlers

I’m a little worried about hearing in my right ear, I’ve never had any problems with my hearing before until now. It’s been going on for the past 3-4 weeks, I get this kind of muffled sound coming from it and sometimes I can hear like a bell or something ringing constantly. I have cleared the earwax out of my ear as much as I can and the muffling and ringing sounds are still present. I can also feel that “blocking” sensation in the ear when the muffling happens. I don’t think it’s an ear infection as my ear isn’t sore and it’s not smelling “funky”. I’m a little indecisive on what I should do. I did phone my GP but they are only taking emergency appointments. I will try to book a hearing test if possible. I’m just posting this to see if anyone has had similar issues with their hearing and what did they do.

Definitely book in to see an audiologist.

The ringing in your ears sounds very much like tinnitus which seems to get worse with age (speaking from my and a friend's experience). You do learn to cope with it though.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Ive noticed my hearing getting worse, but its when theres other noises drowning out voices. Walking around town is a pain, i struggle to hear whats being said to me. The masks make it even harder.

 

[laughing]

Sounds like it's more blocked.

Try some warm Oliveoil in your ear for about a week and see if that helps

 

[Onepotatotwopotato]

Sounds like wax, getting microsuction is really good for that. I had absolutely loads in there. Regarding hearing, the boots online hearing test is quite good as a start point

 

[Raininvain]

Ive noticed my hearing getting worse, but its when theres other noises drowning out voices. Walking around town is a pain, i struggle to hear whats being said to me. The masks make it even harder.

Go to Specsavers for an hearing test if you're genuinely worried, I don't think it costs much. With masks it makes you realize how much you rely on watching peoples lips to understand what's been said, I cant hear people half the time, especially with a distance, mask and cars etc going past.

 

[Ohflogoff]

I suffer with tinnitus and didn’t realise the extent I lip read until we had to wear masks. Jeeeeez.

The muffled thing does sound like compacted ear wax. The more you try to clean, the more it’ll shove it the wrong way. My husband suffers often with it. The drs advise warm olive oil and massage it. Then a week later they syringe it. He says it feels amazing.

 

[Lico]

I got tinnitus from antidepressants. It is hard to get used to, and hard to accept. I'm having a really hard time with this situation.

 

[Ohflogoff]

I got tinnitus from antidepressants. It is hard to get used to, and hard to accept. I'm having a really hard time with this situation.

I’m sorry you’re finding it tough. It feels like a high pitched white noise machine in my head

 

[Grabspopcorn]

I got tinnitus from antidepressants. It is hard to get used to, and hard to accept. I'm having a really hard time with this situation.

Me too Lico, mine was from a benzodiazepine and since then the tinnitus gets worse and worse. Then I get used to it for a while then it gets a little worse. Your brain learns to live with it somewhat but it can take a while to get to that point. Keep hanging in there x

 

[Lico]

Me too Lico, mine was from a benzodiazepine and since then the tinnitus gets worse and worse. Then I get used to it for a while then it gets a little worse. Your brain learns to live with it somewhat but it can take a while to get to that point. Keep hanging in there x

Thanks. I am habituating. It just sucks. X

 

[catscradle]

Ive noticed my hearing getting worse, but its when theres other noises drowning out voices. Walking around town is a pain, i struggle to hear whats being said to me. The masks make it even harder.

There is a phenomenon now known as "hidden hearing loss" which commonly manifests as difficulty with speech in noise. This type of hearing loss typically doesn't show up on an audiogram, however. Current methods of diagnosing hearing issues aren't great unfortunately.

 

[Kim Mild]

I have been getting earache / popping/ discomfort and tinnitus in my left ear for years. I had a hearing test but it didn't show anything significant and the gp didn't seem bothered enough , which I found disappointing. I think I'm more used to it now.

I used to spend a lot of time in music venues with my ex so think I may have damage from the very loud music.

There is a phenomenon now known as "hidden hearing loss" which commonly manifests as difficulty with speech in noise. This type of hearing loss typically doesn't show up on an audiogram, however. Current methods of diagnosing hearing issues aren't great unfortunately.

That is interesting.

 

[catscradle]

I have been getting earache / popping/ discomfort and tinnitus in my left ear for years. I had a hearing test but it didn't show anything significant and the gp didn't seem bothered enough , which I found disappointing. I think I'm more used to it now.

I used to spend a lot of time in music venues with my ex so think I may have damage from the very loud music.



That is interesting.

There is a scientist from Harvard called Charles Liberman who has essentially pioneered the study of hidden hearing loss as well as tinnitus and hyperacusis if you're interested in reading more about this. It's now established that you can suffer significant hearing damage without it showing up on a standard audigram. At least amongst researchers, awarness amongst clinicians is a bit hit and miss.
You can get extended audiograms but they are not widely available although I have heard that they sometimes administer them to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy as chemo drugs can be highly damaging to hearing.

Sorry for the ramble lol, it's jusr a topic I am v interested in as I have tinnitus myself

 

[1001 others]

@fookinhellm8_ have you had any luck in getting a diagnosis?