Hearing goes in an out - What can this be??

[daniela77]

I'm a 32 year old female. About 2 months ago I started feeling a bit off-balanced and sometimes I would have mini episodes of vertigo. I would sit at my desk for example, and suddenly the room would spin to one side a little. But literally just for 2 seconds then everything was fine again.

I went to an ENT. They said my ear pressure was fine, the audiogram was ok they said, and they put a little lamp up my nose to see if anything was blocked but it wasn't. Also no fluid they said. They also did some balance tests with me which didn't trigger any dizziness.

The ENT suspected benign positional vertigo and recommended that I get a VNG to further test my balance to see if that is the problem. I have an appointment for that in a week.

I did some maneuvers at home like the doctor said, and then 2 weeks ago, a few days after I went to the ENT, my dizziness improved a lot and I also haven't had that mini spinning sensation. I barely notice anything anymore.

However, a few days ago something else happened. My hearing went out all of a sudden. I was sitting on the couch, no loud noise, and suddenly from one second to the next everything became very quiet in my left ear. I could still hear but quietly and muffled as if I had cotton in my ear. It was only bad for a second or two and then my hearing came back quickly within 5 seconds or so. This has been happening every other day now. Always just for a few seconds. My left ear feels different too now. Things sound muffled, not that crisp and clear. I have a little bit of ear pain too in that ear every once in a while. It's kind of a stinging sensation deep inside the ear. It only lasts a moment. Not bad, maybe a 3 on the 1-10 pain scale but it's definitely a slight pain.        

Has anybody had this happen too? What could this be? Should I go back to the ENT with these new problems? Or shouldI get a second opionion from a different doctor?

I have a health anxiety disorder so I worry a lot about my health and I am hyper aware of symptoms. Also diagnosed with mild depression. I was just prescribed Zoloft and I started taking it 3 days ago. I know that dizziness can be a symptom of anxiety and I know that sometimes things are just in your head too but those mini hearing losses now are definitely real. I've never had this before. It's like you are listening to music in stereo and then all of a sudden someone turns it to mono for a few seconds.  

Please help. I really appreciate your advice. Thanks!!

[Hodges56]

Hi,  I've experienced these symptoms as well. I,'ll get vertigo and nausea often preceded by a migraine.Sometimes after that I'll hear a loud rining in the ear that's blocked up, usually my left ear, then my hearing will come back. Sometimes the same sometimes I'll be able to hear a little less out of that ear. I've gone to Mayo clinic and several ENTs and an Inner ear specialist. Nobody really knows what or why this happens. I will tell you what works for me though. I was initially given a dose of Prednisone which brought ny hearing almost back to normal. I hated the side affects so moved on to an arthritis medication called azathioprene.  It helped as well but again the side affects were horrible.  I now take large amounts of Tumeric for at least 2 weeks and it will often help. I just have to be very consistent with it. I wear hearing aids in both ears and these symptoms often go hand in hand with permanent hearing loss such as mine. I really hope this helps somewhat and that you are able to find relief.

[DenTek]

Hi:

I also have that problem I would loose my hearing for a second then the hearing will come back in both ears.  I have no headaches, no vertigo, and no earache.  I do have lightheadedness most of the time while walking for a while and now sitting.  I do have low blood pressure and my heart rate runs from 40-100 depends what I am doing usually high if I'm walking up the steps but lying or sitting it can be 40 (heart rate) Blood pressure runs from 90/50-140/95.  I also have a balance problem that comes and goes.  2-3 months of staggering loosing my balance when walking and then it will go away like it never happen.  It goes away for about 4 weeks.  Thanks

[jennhall]

Did u find out what it was?? the exact same just happened to me.. on the couch and hearing goes out in left ear and i hear ringing in the right..

im also very aware of symptoms and have slight anxiety but can't pretend these very obvious symptoms aren't happening.
Very nervous / scared right now

[edsdev1]

Go see your ENT as soon as possible, make sure the problem isn't (a) easy to solve (b) has a clear diagnosis with a known cure.

If neither of these is true, please consider what happened to me ( http://sshlcure.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/cure-for-sshl/ ), my loss was caused by a powerful food allergy brought on by stress.  I would consider this esp. since you wrote "I have a health anxiety disorder".  Thank G-d, I'm fully cured today.

[marienikkanen]

I always feel that no one can judge yourself better tha you. You can better know yourself about the degree of diabilities.

Hearing ABC offers free online hearing which one can take by themselves by just sitting at home.

Be your doctor.

[yda]

Go to your ENT immediately something need to check inside. i suffered the same also and i got an MRI and the result shows that there is a nerve problem. Even worst the neuro suspected i have MS. Im so sad right now...

[marienikkanen]

Hi,

Eveny my aunt goes through the same problem and yes rightly said by Nancy T that there is no explanation for that.

She has gone through online hearing test and was in observation of many audiologists but none have any answer to it. But the good thing is that through online hearing test we come to know that her hearing is perfect except for that certain period of time.

[Nancy T]

Yes, I would go back to the ENT and report these new symptoms. The sudden muffled feeling lasting a few seconds seems pretty common in people with certain kinds of ear problems, though if you've already had testing and they couldn't find anything, I'm not sure what else they would do. They might want to test your hearing again. Often these things are never explained. Sad but true. Good luck!