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Neurology  (Expert Forum)
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hearing loss/vertigo
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MedHelp Member's Question

hearing loss/vertigo

by bluemom6, Jun 25, 2005 12:00AM
About a month ago I lost my hearing in my left ear. It happened over the course of about 3-4 days.I experienced extreme dizziness and fullness in the ear. I went to my doctor who examined me and did not detect and signs of infection/inflamation,etc...He said to go to an Ear doctor and ordered an MRI to rule out an Acoustic Neuroma. My ear doctor has since read the MRI and found it to be normal. They did some hearing test and found that I have moderate to severe loss in the left ear. They diagnosed me as having Sensorneural Hearing Loss. He prescribed a therapy of low dose steroids over a several day period. He said it was just a wait-and-see situation now. He suggested to go to a Neurologists so we can rule out Multiple Sclerosis. Iam utterly frustrated about all this. How much more do I need to do before calling it quits and getting a hearing aid? By the way, about 14 years ago I had an ischemic attack while I was 8 mo. pregnant.They did a CT scan (normal).After that I started suffering from Migraines. About 20 years ago I contracted genital herpes. Ive been doing research and Ive read where hearing loss could be caused by a viral infection (Herpes). Could all this be an Autoimmune Disorder? I want answers and need to know when I should stop trying to find out whats wrong and just start treating my hearing loss? Im the mother of 6 children and its been hard to function when you cant hear your childrens cries and your constantly dizzy and running into walls. ANY answers would be greatly appreciated.
Doctor's Answer

by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Jun 30, 2005 12:00AM
Isolated hearing loss without any other neurological symptoms is probably peripheral in nature, that is, a problem with the inner ear. The most common cause would be a viral labyrinthitis, which may also cause some dizziness etc. The virus is usually not found and no specific treatment is used. The hearing may or may not recover, but if still absent at 1 year, is unlikely to recover further. Your doctors are right in looking for other things like acoustic neuroma. A neuro-otologist would be a specialist who could provide you with more answers if you wish. The Cleveland Clinic Neuro-otology Center can help.



Good luck
Member Comments (12)

by Navy_mom_of_2, Jun 29, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Blue mom 6,

Your symptoms sound familiar. My left sided hearing loss started shortly after a middle ear infection was left untreated (because I didn't know I had an infection) and traveled to my inner ear. After that happened, here comes the vertigo and then the progressive hearing loss. Did the ENT you went to see by any chance specialize in inner ear problems? I found a doc in Austin who does and it made a difference. He did tests that I had never had before (and I've seen several ENT's for this problem)and when the diagnosis of Meneries disease was made, he knew the combination of med's to give me. Unfortunetly the hearing loss is gone forever but at least the vertigo has subsided a great deal. I guess if you wanted to find such an ENT, one that specializes in inner ear problems, you could call them up one by one and ask. I just lucked out as the building that I worked in happen to have such a doc.

I really don't know what else to tell you. Vertigo is miserable for sure. And the hearing loss is scary! Look on the bright side. Maybe it's a blessing not being able to hear so well having 6 children and all! Just kidding!! I love kids too! I would have had more that my 2 if I could have.

In all seriousness, my doctor told me with my situation if I had not gotten the problem under control, I could have very well lost the hearing all together in that ear.

I hope this little bit of info helps.

Navy mom-aka-Kelly

by bluemom6, Jul 05, 2005 12:00AM
To: NavyMomof2
I have an appointment to see a Neurologists in August. Im hoping he can find out the problem. I still have hearing loss in the left ear, but the vertigo seems to have subsided. The thing that bugs me the most now is the high-pitched sound in that ear. And if Im in a room with the kids and the tv is on, all the noise seems to be amplified in my "good" ear (right). Drives me nuts. Ive already decided that if the Neurologist cant find anything wrong or cant give me at least a name for what I have, Somewhere down the road I'll look into a hearing aid. Have you resorted to getting one ? Im doing more research on the tinnitus (high-pitched sound)-theres got to be something I can do to relieve this! Thanks for your in-put!

by mj54, Jul 09, 2005 12:00AM
To: bluemom6
Hi!  I am happy that you are pursuing your problem.  I am happy that the doctor mentioned that you see a neurotologist.  A specialist for the inner ear.  I saw many doctors for over a period of almost a year, including an ENT and a neurologist with no results.  An MRI (with contrast) was finally done by a neurotologist and my acoustic neuroma was detected.  I had the surgery on 2-14-05 and am doing well.  But, I did lose all hearing in the right ear and I still have the high pitched ocean mechanical sounds in my deaf ear.  And, you are exactly right about the amplified noise.  I keep telling everyone to turn down the TV and they keep telling me it is not that loud. I am impressed with this site and the doctors.  Good luck.

by shaikhmohdmusa1, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
I encountered acoustic trauma (loud blast)in 1999,retained these cricketing,ringing,buzzing,intolerably  within silence atmosphere,quite - stills  night,unbearably -disturbing my freedom of sleeps,the melodies attract  tiny insects /mosquitoes into the effected ear (left ear)I have consulted with several ent specialists (otologist),but no avail of regaining. I have taken alot of  medications..Dogmatils,merserlon,mycobal,ibufroren,betaserc,chlorphenumine,cinnarine.. with no positive results but creates feeling *HIGH* and stomach pinching, I also experience dizzyness,giddyness,rarely-loss balance,spinning,rarely-false vormitting,contented-compress head,nerve -pain-pulse in the ear, at back of left head to upper middle left head.I been to MRI but with negative results,ringing notch-velocity increases with noisy environments,physical and emotional stress enhances or deteorites further with any ear-cleanser applied.Pure tone /Impedence audiomentry,Otoacoutic Emission conducted,Brainsteim Evoked Response,rinne was done.Left profound loss,60-70%loss on right,likely cochlear damage, WC proclaomed 36% eligiblity loss.

by Nanhome, Jul 17, 2005 12:00AM
To: everyone and mj54
Hi,

My problem is severe dizziness and vertigo, and have been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma.  However, the dizziness etc came on after a dive.  docs are not sure the vertigo is related to the neuroma.  Did you have dizziness/vertigo with your neuroma, if so, was it sudden onset?

THanks.

by bluemom6, Jul 26, 2005 12:00AM
To: Navymom2
Dear Navymom2: I still have another month to go before my appointment with the neurologists. It cant come soon enough!And if thats not enough, Iam going to be going through surgery anytime soon(just waiting for a date). My Gyno says I need a hysterectomy. This year has been the pits thus far with my health. I told my husband if I still dont have my hearing when next year rolls around, Im looking into getting a hearing aid. Never realised how much I took my ability to hear for granted until I didnt have it anymore. I have been experiencing some weird tap-tap-tap sounds from my deaf ear that lasts only a few seconds. It actually sounds like someone is tapping with a teenie tiny hammer. No pain, just a weird tapping.Its only happened a couple of times in the past month.Anyway, just wanted to touch base and see if anybody has anything to say. Take care you all!

by Navy_mom_of_2, Jul 29, 2005 12:00AM
To: bluemom6