hearing loss/vertigo

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.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

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

[Navy_mom_of_2]

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

[bluemom6]

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!

[mj54]

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.

[shaikhmohdmusa1]

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.

[Nanhome]

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.

[bluemom6]

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!

[Navy_mom_of_2]

Hi Bluemom6,

Your bad health year sounds like me again! I'm falling apart too. I'm sorry to hear about your problems though.
I have not gotten a hearing aid. My pride prohibits it. The lack of hearing along with the sounds I do hear. You know, the ringing and the roaring and the tapping you just spoke of, play tricks on me everyday. I think I hear something that's not there. Like a siren or someone lightly knocking on the door. Maybe the doorbell ringing. I realize when it happens (after I make sure the sounds I hear are not real) that I'm not crazy, it's just my ear that's crazy. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Ha! Lame sort of a joke..sorry! All the nosies that we hear don't really bother me. I read here that the noises make people nuts. They can't sleep, ect.. I just ignore the noises.

Anyway, I have a neurologist because I have a disease called Charcot Marie Tooth. I know, it's stupid sounding. Three french guys put their names on it a long time ago. It's CMT for short. But I have not seen my nuerologist for my ear problem. My ENT was sharp enough to order an MRI on me a few years back to rule out an acostic nueroma. Everything was okay except for some fluid in some of my mastoids aircells. I don'tknow how much anatomy you know. The mastoids are behind the ears. Feel the large bump behind your ear. That's where some of your mastoids are.
Anyway, I've been wanting to ask a nuerologist here a question about my CMT but everytime I try, I get a message saying no more questions can be asked. The nuero guys and/or gals here seem very sharp and I have a question that noone has yet to answer. Oh well.
Please take car all!
Kelly

[nex9586]

My bouts of vertigo accompanied by great deal of hearing loss in my righr ear began May 23. I had two short occurrences that day lasting for approximately one half to less than one hour.  The third vertigo incident was the next day for the same duration. The fourth and fifth vertigo events were on July 4th and 5th.  Each one lasted for four to five hours.  These were accompanied by profuse perspiration and almost vomiting.  Since then I've had four major bouts of vertigo lasting up to five hours each.  i actually vomited during one.  The last one I had was a minor one on Aug. 2.  The hearing from my right ear is equivalent to listening to an early 20th century windup record player.  There are no low or high frequencies, only a narrow band of hearing in the voice frequencies.  When I press my palm agains't my right ear and then release it, thus releasing any external pressure I get a momentary ringing.  This does not happen with the good ear.
   I went to the Dr. on June 27.  He prescribed the antibiotic augmentin for one week assuming a bacterial infection even though there was no outward sign of infection.  This did not work.  on July 8 he prescribed a nasal spray of flunisolide 0.25% twice a day. This was supposed to decrease swelling.  He assumed there could be an eustachian tube blockage  This did not work. One July 29 he started me on decreasing doses of prednisone to be completed Aug 6th(nine days).  So far nothing has changed for the better.  From the third week on I have asked him to request a referral from my HMO for an E.N.T. specialist who has more specialized equipment and techniques at their disposal.  He keeps telling me the HMO won't probably allow it to this point in time.    
I don't believe him any more because he seems to be attacking the problem from a very narrow viewpoint.
    Am open to information, please.

[Navy_mom_of_2]

Hi Nex,
I'm sorry to hear about your continued problems. I don't believe your docotr either that your HMO won't let you go to an ENT. If your primary won't refer you, can you change your primary doctor? Because I'm a firm believer of ENT's. I found out the hard way, you can't mess around with your ears. I did and I have permanent hearing loss. Based on the treatments that your primary doctor gave you, it sounds like he's done a pretty good job. But then I'm not a doctor.
I don't know how you can get around your primary doctor, but you need to see a specialist!  Good luck Nex.
Kelly

[shaikhmohdmusa1]

.. LIKELY YOU MAY HAVE EAR INFECTIONS /INNER EAR NERVES PROBLEMS/INJURIES,YOUR DIVE IS COINCIDENTAL,APPROACHED GOOD AND REALIABLE ENT SPECIALISTS,FOR CONCLUSIONS..GOODDAY

[bluemom6]

Hey everyone! Havent been back in a couple of months-been really buzy with kids and stuff... An update on my Neurologists appointment I had awhile back:  He had no concrete answers! Ha! Since I had an Ischemic stroke 14 years ago, he said I could have possibly had a stroke and thats what caused the hearing loss, or- I had a viral infection and it damaged the nerves in my ear. He said to come back in December to see if my hearing had returned. There has been no change, I still have loss of hearing in the left ear. And I still have the ringing and tapping sounds constantly. Quite honestly, Ive gotten use to it all and only notice it when its quite (bedtime). With 6 kids its NEVER quite here! Five weeks ago I had my hysterectomy (piece of cake), but now Im having problems with calcium deposits in my joints. Not fun! Guess I'll have to join a different forum?! Ha! Anyway, take care all and I hope things get better for everyone!