Perforation of ear, distortion, sensitivity to loud sounds, please help me.

[Corksil]

Hello all, my name is Cory and I am 18. I am male and for some time now (past few years maybe) I have been experienceing some form of distortion and fuzziness in my left ear. When I hear a sound, it sounds fine up to a certain point, when my left ear just seems to distort (the way a speaker with too much volume distorts) and everything gets really fuzzy and sounds like it's buzzing. It's difficult to describe, and it has been irritating me for some time. I am purchasing a nice car audio sound system soon, and if there is a problem with my hearing, I would like it sorted out before so I can fully enjoy my stereo.

When I was younger, I understand I had quite a few ear infections. Does anyone have any ideas on what might be wrong with my left ear?  I would greatly appreciate any help on the matter. I take my hearing very very seriously, and I listen to music at very low volumes, and wear earplugs the entire time I am at work. (Construction/ job-site) Thank you all so very much.

[loutrisha]

I have a slight problem as when people talk to me I cannot hear them and sometimes I hear the wrong thing, usually something that rhymes with what they are actually saying. Please help as i do not know what to do and am only 17 and am embarassd of asking them to repeat their sentence. Thank-you for your time and co-operation. Please reply soon

[Corksil]

I am 17 as well, and I experience similar situations frequently. I didn't want to say I was 17 as supposedly anyone under 18 posting will get deleted.

Anyone have any ideas?

[electric cinema]

hello cory i have EXACTLY the same thing, im 20, its my left ear and no specialists ive been to can help. They've offered me an ear piece which plays white noise into my ear to drown the real thing out but i didnt take it, the best advice ive been given is to pop my ears but its not a great solution. I'm a drummer and i take it equally as seriously.

[MegasAAA]

Hi I have also had the exact same problem now for about 5 years, im 25 now. I have not yet been able to find any type of cure for this problem.  Ive seen everything from ear specialists to acupuncture notthing so far has worked for me, and medically my ear is perfectly normal. Does anyone who has had this condition been able to find a cure or remedy for it??

[Dukessmanukess]

I`ve had the same problem my entire adult life.  Any music or sounds at a certain level become distorted like stic on a radio in my right ear.  No specialist has ever offered a solution and I think it might be part of a problem that keeps me from being focused and balanced in day to day life

[seb83]

Hey mate - I too have this same affliction, now going on 12 yrs, or as long as I can remember, except its getting worse, not better. Has it gotten better for yourself? I too have trouble focusing daily, getting out of bed in the morning is tough too.  Can you think of what might have triggered this problem for you? Were you ever exposed to loud sounds? Or a one off explosion? Regards, Sebastian

[seb83]

Hey mate - I too have this same affliction, now going on 12 yrs, or as long as I can remember, except its getting worse, not better. Has it gotten better for yourself? I too have trouble focusing daily, getting out of bed in the morning is tough too.  Can you think of what might have triggered this problem for you? Were you ever exposed to loud sounds? Or a one off explosion? Regards, Sebastian

[Airbubble]

I have been going through the same thing as well. Im 20. As  a child I had a ton of ear infections and had 6 set of ear tubes in my ears. In March of this year I started getting ear infections once again.. and to this day its still here. I would hear the static noise as well... I cant hear people as well so I have to read thier lips. In order to hear the music clearly I actually have to turn it up very very loud. Which is not healthy but is the only way I can hear it. I suggest you get the device that tunes out the white noise because it really works.

[Muslimun]

I suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome (fibromyalgia confirmed) alongwith which hyperacusis also started, for 3 and a half years. I tried every possible thing (ear-plugs,accupunture, and many things) to avoid the noise problem but my sound tolerance level reduced to 2 on the mark scale 1-10. Recently I attended a 3-day seminar of "Lightning Process" designed by Phil Parker in London. And within 3 days, with the help of Almighty God, I started to get miraculous changes and within a week, now I go out to the airports, large shopping malls, listen tv on very high volumes without wearing silicone ear plugs. I really want other people suffering from the same pain as I did, to contact them through their website www.lightningprocess.com. Read the success stories and achieve the same results.
I searched many things for years and years but nothing helped. I had musulo skeletal pain areas too but my ears have turned normal now.  I really suggest you to call them once and seek their advice.

[greenne]

WOW!!!

Please excuse my excitement because I thought I was the only one with these issues. On Apr 20 I was injured in an explosion in Baghdad (you can read my other posts for more details). Basically, I suffered head (TBI) and ear injuries....I now have Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Ear Tubes in both ears. I also have a ringing that never goes away..it has gotten worse lately and started to impact my life.

Now for the bad news. The Air Force has tested my ears twice and contends I have no hearing loss. It is very obvious to me that something is wrong (besides the ringing), because lots of times it seems like people are mumbling. I can't understand clearly what they are saying--the words seem jumbled to me. I had less difficulty with the "beep, beep, beep" hearing test(other than the beeps getting drowned out by the ringing ears)...but in real world situations it bothers me. I'm asking people to repeat themselves. Loud noises bother me. In a noisy restraunt, for example, it makes it rfeally difficult for me to follow a conversation--so I haven't really argued because I don't think a hearing aid aid would help--probably make it worse.

So that's my story. Sorry to be so long winded. I just thought I was the only one. It has really been depressing for me at times because I know something is wrong and yet the AF keeps telling me I'm fine--no hearing loss.

Nate

[rocco123]

i have had a very similar thing happening for about 4 years now. i'm almost 32 years old. can't think of any specific event that caused this fuzzy distortion in my LEFT ear. so weird!! everyone's affected ear is the left one...odd. for me, high frequencies really trigger it. sometimes i'll go quite a while without experiencing it. sometimes i can kind of control (with popping or manipulating it with my finger). i lost my insurance about a year & a half after it started, so i've never had it checked out. a bit relieved to har i'm not the only one, but....i want it to go away...for all of us, i'm a musician & i don't want any kind of sonic distractions, ya know?

[seb83]

Hey mate - I too have this same affliction, now going on 12 yrs, or as long as I can remember, except its getting worse, not better. Has it gotten better for yourself? I too have trouble focusing daily, getting out of bed in the morning is tough too.  Can you think of what might have triggered this problem for you? Were you ever exposed to loud sounds? Or a one off explosion? Regards, Sebastian

[tri0xinn]

So weird.. Same problem here... in my LEFT ear..  
  I'm 35... been effecting me for probably 10 years..  seems to happen after a certain time period of noise at a certain volume.. for example listening to music in my car at 6-7 of 10 of volume for 15 minutes.. or at a football game and when the crowd  really starts roaring after a while it starts distorting/static'ing ... it's like my ear drum gets tired after a while and can't keep up... Also I've had a TMJ disorder and this seems to antagonize the issue... anyone else with TMJ issues? Where your lower jaw connects to your skull.. a little less than an inch in front of your ear.  Hopefully someone gets this figured out.. I've also been to ENT and audiologists and no one has a clue or ever even heard of it.. at least how we describe it.   Also other than when the static starts my hearing seems to be fine.

[seb83]

Hey mate - I too have this same affliction, now going on 12 yrs, or as long as I can remember, except its getting worse, not better. Has it gotten better for yourself? I too have trouble focusing daily, getting out of bed in the morning is tough too.  Can you think of what might have triggered this problem for you? Were you ever exposed to loud sounds? Or a one off explosion? Regards, Sebastian

[claudine1219]

I have the same problem! It's my right ear that get distorted and it's affecting my singing especially when i try to hit a high note! I've been in the band for 17 yrs..so it could be one of the reason why it's happening to my ear.Anybody,anyone who could help us??!!!!please....

[adamo73]

Hiya all here, I am 36 and I have this exact same thing in my right ear. Going to concerts, crowd clapping, even someone talking loud to me, my ear distorts like a speaker turned up too loud. I can hear quite well, but as soon as it gets loud or even when I speak loud in cases it distorts. I see no-one has had any luck finding out what is going on? It has come to a point of not being able to enjoy some things like concerts, sporting events.

I am going to see someone about it soon. A few years too late, but I thought I better!

[JonRR]

How many people are left or right handed and does your hand match the hearing loss? Just interested, because I have the same problem re the distortion, but in my right ear and I'm right handed. I notice the problem 'sometimes' in loud situations etc. But I *always* get it when speaking on a mobile phone, when I hold it to my right ear - and the other day I was just wondering if it is related to mobile phone use, because I have no problems with my left ear, and I never hold the phone to my left ear... just thoughts though, and not very scientific! Jon.

[Bumble65]

I have had the same problem in my right ear for a few years now and cannot remember when it started! It is the worst when I am out at a bar where there is loud music and people trying to talk to me! I also have a bad problem with it when I am talking on the phone, especially after I have been out the night before!  I have now resorted to holding the phone to my left ear more!
I am right handed and it is in my right ear!
Lets hope someone finds out what it is soon!!!

[CoyoteKolb]

same here. .  im a musician as well, and have had the condition you all describe for years. first it was in the left only, but now sometimes i have effects in both ears.  sometimes there is a feeling of pressure associated which tends to vary in severity. I also can here crackling noises when i swallow, and in addition, with my jaw-when i open it all the way. in the past i had issues with my jaw locking/shifting popping and what not. i am very concerned, and as you all are im sure, very  anxious to defeat it.

[elcaminoreal]

Hello , Im a 20 year old male, I play drums and have been playing for 14 years now and I have THE SAME EXACT THING IN MY EAR!! My left ear that is. I've had it for 5 years now. When i hear a cat cry, or lay down on my side my Left ear goes STATIC and sounds like a Blown Speaker. My DR. told me i have severe allergies and have Inflamed Sinus's. I hardly believe what he told me was right. I dont know what it is, but i would love to have it fixed!

[arminn]

so amazing! cause i got the same problem like u!!!
i'm 22 & playing drums for years...my first tinitus was a few years ago,IT WAS HORRIBLE! and now when i'm talking with phone my right ear doesn't hear like the left one.plus i got a sensitivity too loud sound & really can't handle loud volume.my auricle is always red and painful with a fu**ing headache in sides of my head....i have sinusits too.
i visited so many ear nose throat drs,but their like SHEEPs.
i know it's all because of lisining to loud music and playing without ear plugs......

[darren185]

I've got the same issue, and have been told by an Ear specialist that it's possibly damage to the hair cells in my cochlea (inner ear). When the damage occurred (headphones too loud in my case, and ringing for 2 days constantly afterwards) I damaged some of the cells.  The 'distortion' we experience is apparently the cells unable to function at certain tones or frequencies.  The cells that have been damaged can no longer function and that's why when they try to reproduce a sound they are appear to sound distorted.  

There is a test called an OAE(ottoacoustic emissions test) that can confirm whether you have this issue.

[brighter7]

I'm turning 18 this June and I have very similar conditions, so happy that I'm not all alone! Left Ear problem started due to hearing ear/headphones in 2005 and has been getting slightly bad until now (not  too terrible). Every-time anybody laughs hard/plays music too loud, the sounds start to distort and "crackle". If I were to describe the sound, it sounds very much like a radioactive detector. Fortunately, it subsides as soon as I don't hear the offending noise. I'm cautious with this condition, and more than anything I don't want tinnitus to occur as a result of "pushing" my ears to its limits. I've had a slight ticking noise, which could be described as somebody flicking their nails, only REALLY lightly. Drove me nuts and got me depressed for some time. Anyways, real happy to know i'm not the only one suffering from this condition, good luck with all you guys, and always keep praying!

[stormchase]

I have the same exact problem in my left ear and I have had it for more than 10 years (I'm 34).  I've been a musician my entire life and it has really bothered me - I have to play guitar with an ear plug in that ear.  I can't even stand to try and attempt to sing because it only gets worse with my jaw open.  I went to a few ear, nose and throat specialist and they couldn't figure out anything, one of them told me my ear was normal - but I know that isn't the case.  I can hear fine for a about 5-10 minutes depending on the volume and then it gets progressively worse as if the ear drum is getting "Tired".  I have also had ear infections while I was a child and I also had a bad wisdom tooth on that side, which I wonder hasn't somehow affected the sinus cavity.

I'm interested in hearing from anyone with similar problems who has found a "cure", or from any specialist who know what is going on - I've never been able to find an answer and this posting is the first I have ever found of something that I can relate to it - surprised to see so many others on here.  Please feel free to contact me at brian [at] stormchase [dot] com, I'm a storm chaser - had to give up any chance of a music career - grin.  Thanks, Brian

[jearing]

I also get the distorted sounds in my left ear when the volume is too high.

I'm also a musician and while messing around in flstudio, I've been able to pinpoint the volume and type of sound that triggers the distortion. For me, a steady sine wave can be played continuously without the sound becoming distorted, even at high volume, but if the wave pattern changes, especially in a pulsing type of pattern, the sound becomes distorted and can get really crazy if I play around with different patterns. In fact, the more complicated the pattern, the worse the distortion seems to become and I can even start to feel pressure changes in my ear which makes it feel almost like there's water in my ear canal.

I've also noticed that it's worse for me when I'm lying down on my back, or on my left side, which makes me wonder about inner ear fluid. I've been to an ent who wasn't able to find anything wrong, but at least in my case, there is no doubt that SOMETHING is wrong. What it is, I don't know, but it sure as hell isn't my imagination.

[yeah20]

I'm 54 and had this distortion/sensitivity since childhood. It has been very limiting socially. To join in to a conversation in a group, with noise around me, is almost impossible. This has caused fatigue, insomnia, anxiety etc.
Certain sounds/pitch, and even my own voice distort my hearing. I done lots of research too, seen doctors, specialists, hearing tests etc.
Yeah it is so frustrating....even trying to describe it.. Could be head trauma, loud music/noise, medicine that is ototoxic. Tenseness in the head muscles, recruitment etc.You'd think with the medical advances something would help. hopefully help is just around the corner. Have seen no cure so far..Anxiety and sleep problems make it worse for sure...a vicious circle..Maybe we need to retrain our thinking/brain, as this is all powerful You are what you think you are. Maybe hypnosis. I've tried whitenoise,, pinknoise... Relaxation is prob good too..and yeah after a while the brain expects it I think....

[tri0xinn]

I think we should start a group.. it looks like we all have the same issue.. and obviously it's a very rare condition otherwise it would be known.  My doctor said it could have something to do with infections as a youngster.. which caused scar tissue in my eustacian tubes.. justin my left ear though.. give me some thoughts on domain names and search terms and I'll get a forum/website up for our condition.. it's a bloody annoying issue!.
    email me at  ***@****

[tri0xinn]

ok .. obviously my email won't show up in the post.. but private message me through the website ... also if I register a domain I'll post it in on this page.. so bookmark this thread