Hearing loss and distortion

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hello All,

New member to the site. I stumbled across the forum while looking for answers to my current situation. I was diagnosed with MD in 2009 for my left ear. I was lucky in that I had very infrequent vertigo attacks but when they hit, they hit. In August of 2016 I woke up to almost my entire right ear having hearing loss. Not only that but fullness and distortion. It wasn't just low sound it was a distortion in the transmission of sounds too. Very scary. I went to several specialists who all told me nothing new and no diagnosis. I wound up getting hearing aids in January of 2017 which helped enough for me to make my way. Interestingly, in July of 2017 I noticed my hearing coming back almost completely in the right ear and have been without the hearing aids since. One week ago I experienced an intense vertigo attack at work (i work in a restaurant as a server) and over the last week my hearing has gradually declined again in my right ear. This time even the hearing aid doesn't do anything except increase the distortion. I say all this to ask the group if anyone has encountered this issue as well. I am unable to discern what people are saying to me unless I am facing them directly and the environment is quiet. Can anyone here relate? If so, any recommendations? Thanks so much!

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Yea i experience these issues and i don't get any help with these sotuations at the moment my doctor just tells me to work o think his a t**t, 8 am trying too get the NDIS for a Support carer thou my files are floting around from the Doctor surgery prior to the centre Liquidation and doctor left and trying too find a Good Doctor that can Support me for signing these forms for my illness of this MD and this doctor that i have at the moment is taking me off my balance tablets and he reckons that MD is not a Diagnoise as my prior Doctor that gave me a diognose of this Medical Condition so i am Confused, talk soon.

  • Posted

    Hi Mike, I’m Jenny.  Yes, my right ear has had tinnitus and distorted sound since 2013.  When I cover my good (left) ear I can barely hear out of my bad ear.  It sounds like I am under water.   I was diagnosed with MD in 2014 after I started getting the vertigo spells.   I only get the vertigo about 4-6 times per year, but the hearing loss has never improved and will get worse during vertigo attacks when I get the aural fullness.  I am only 37 so it is very upsetting for me to know that I will have this for the rest of my life.   I just pray that I can continue to work and drive.
    • Posted

      Thanks for your response. It sounds harsh but it helps to know someone is going through what I am. It is very difficult to explain to people what this is because there aren't any noticeable abnormalities other than the vertigo. If I may ask, what type of work do you do. I currently work in a restaurant and if this keeps up I am not sure what else to do. Thanks!

    • Posted

      I work for my county’s sheriff’s office.  Fortunately, I have a desk job and do not have to do a lot of walking.  I used to be a server and there’s no way I could do that line of work anymore.  I am fortunate that my coworkers & boss are aware of my dizziness and always encourage me to rest if I’m not feeling well.  I’ve even had coworkers drive me home before during a vertigo spell.  I really would like to stay employed here and unless my MD gets significantly worse, I should be able to.  I am in Florida, by the way. Where are you?

  • Posted

    I too have almost the same symptoms, left ear though, 6 episodes my first year. Workaholic, lots of travel, stress and long hours. Started having episodes in May of 2017, did not go to PCP until February the next year after the 4th episode. Diagnosed shortly after by an ENT lost most of hearing in the left ear in less than 6 months,  24/7 loud tinnitus, dizzy and nausea almost daily. Just started with a specialist in San Diego, CA. Looks like I have gone bilateral now. Just took time off 5 weeks ago to work on things, starting come to terms with the fact that my career put this disease that normally takes 5-15 years through the stages on a fast track and permanently damaged things much faster. I never even caught colds, did not imagine that a couple of acute episodes of vertigo was something much more severe. I originally wrote it off as due to plane travel 3 times per month.
    • Posted

      Hi Belinda.  I do think plane travel has an impact on the disease.  I traveled to Seattle from Florida and had a vertigo attack the day after I returned back home.  I think the change in pressure aggravates the MD.   I also drove from FL to TN mountains and for sick the day after arriving at the higher altitude cabin I rented.   It ruined my whole vacation.   This disease makes me not want to travel which has always been my passion.

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