Not sure what is causing this??

[Sweetheartsluv]

I woke up this morning with a very loud high pitched ringing in my left ear it has been three and a half hours and it hasn't gone away. Has anyone ever had this problem before? I didn't do anything out of the normal yesteday just worked, went out for dinner, watched some tv and then went to bed. If anyone can offer some words of wisdom I'd be very greatful :)


Thanks,
Krista

[Sweetheartsluv]

Thanks for all of your replies guys I really appreciate it so much. Well ithe ringing did go away for a little while today only to come back again... Very frustrating. I will def keep track of this and mention it to my pcp. I have an app with the MS specialist on Oct 21st so I will also mention it to her. Thanks for making me not feel crazy.

~Krista~  :)

[Audrey_M]

I have had tinnitus now for 8 years, without any abnormal hearing loss. Any hearing loss is considered age appropriate.

The ringing in my right ear has been pretty much constant for the last 8 years. Every once in a while it will stop for a few months.

The left ear is a different story. This comes and goes and lasts only a brief period of time and is episodic when it occurs. In simple terms, it pops up for a hour or two and then stops only to come back the next day; this pattern can last a week or two and then go away. When it does happen in the left ear, it is much stronger (louder and much higher frequency) than in the right ear.

???

Audrey

[Deb61]

I also have hearing loss.  The tinnitus started first in one ear, then years later the other.  I finally had my ears examined and I was found to have sensoineural hearing loss.  I could use hearing aids in both my ears, but haven't the money for them.   One ear is better than the other, so I can function without aids now.  I do have problems, though, hearing someone talking softly--especially a child, and I'm a teacher.  I cannot hear people whispering at all.  I cannot hear the TV at a normal level and I can't hear people speaking when there's other noise--like in a crowd.  

I found a really good article which mentions possible causes of tinnitus.  Most tinnitus is caused by hearing loss.  There's different kinds of hearing loss caused by different reasons.  Sensorineural hearing loss is most likely caused by noise.  However, diseases and problems that are associated with the 8th cranial nerve, is listed.  People with MS make up 5 to 10 percent of the people that complain of tinnitus.  That's a pretty big number.  The question that I have, then, is how many people with MS complain of tinnitus.  My assumption is that it is a big percentage.

Here's the article from the American on tinnitus where I got the information from.  It's a good one!

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0101/p120.html

[Sparkysarah]

I  had tinnitus for several months and also mild hearing loss. It was very annoying and made talking in rooms with lots of people difficult and I felt very debilitated. This was the reason I was dx's with MS as ENT Consultant said hearing was near enough normal but MRI scan showed lesions and so he said I had sensory hearing loss and tinnitus.

The not such good news is that there is little you can do to make it disappear. I had my ears syringed and it was just a matter of waiting until it went away....but no guarantee how long this would be or if at all.

I would suggest that if you still have it after a week you go and see your doctor and get it logged and if it continues then also tell your neuro. Keep a note of when it started and if any symptoms change, or come and go.

Best wishes

Sarah

[Lulu54]

it sounds like a form of tinnitus to me.  It can be caused by simple things like excess ear wax, to more serious medical causes like high blood pressure.  Some drugs can also cause this problem.

If you want to read a comprehensive over view of causes, check out this wiki entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

It is reported by some MS patients, but I don't know how common a cause that is.  The wiki article states some pretty high numbers for people experiencing this problem.

I get the occassional hum, usually in my right ear.  My father has it in both ears, and has lived with it for about 40 years.  It is a common complaint among older people.

If it persists, you definitely need to be seen by your doctor to see if it can be treated.  In the meantime I hope it quiets a bit.

Lu