Change in Hearing Loss

[luv2sew]

Our daughter was diagnosed with  hearing loss when she was 6 years old.  She has what they call a “cookie bite”  moderate loss.  She does wear hearing aids. She was diagnosed with lymphocytic/Hashimotos thyroiditis 2 years ago, which took NUMEROUS VISITS to doctors to finally get a diagnoises.  By the time she was diagnosed her Thyroglobulin Antibodies where 2911.  She also suffers from chronic ear/sinus infections. She’s 20 years old & has had no change in her hearing until now & has had a 7dcb loss in both ears.  She had gone to a new audiologist, they  are concerned, so then I took her back to her old audiologist & she saw the changes, but she is not concerned.  Her ears where checked for fluid & ear wax, both are clear.  I have 3 questions:  1. Could her high antibodies have anything to do with  this?  2.  Should we be concerned?  3. If so. how do we find a competent ENT doctor? I DO NOT want a repeat of what she/we went through to find out what was wrong with her thyroid 2 years ago

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

I doubt that the Hashimoto's has anything to do with the hearing loss, if it was diagnosed at age 6.  If you tell me where you are located, I can recommend an otologist for you to see.  

[luv2sew]

Thanks for your reply.  We live in Palm Coast, FL, traveling is not a issue,  We will see who ever you recomond

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

Is Palm Coast close to Miami?  If you can travel to Miami I would recommend that you see Simon Angeli at the University of Miami.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!