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Help! Hearing problems following infection.

Posted , 53 users are following.

Supergav
Supergav

Hi,

I'm 36-year old male and about 3-weeks ago I went to my doctor with typical flu-like symptoms. He informed me I had a Respiratory Tract Infection and prescribed some antibiotics and pain killers which I took over the course of the following week. The problem did not clear-up and, after developing a chesty cough and severe pain in one ear, I returned to the doctor who then told me the infection had most likely spread to my chest and most certainly in to my ears - particularly my left one. He prescribed stronger antibiotics and pain killers and a nasal steroid spray, all of which again I took religiously over the following week once again.

Although my cough and general flu symptoms have pretty much cleared up, for the past week or so I have been left with almost complete loss of hearing in my left ear. It feels as if there's still a wee bit of pressure both in and around the ear itself with a sort of numbness when i touch the skin on my face and head around the ear. This extends in to my hair-line, over my left cheek and a short distance down my neck below my ear. There's also a small amount of ringing from within the ear and it sounds as if I'm hearing things "internally" all the time. Hard to explain but extremely frustrating and my concern is that the infection has somehow managed to damage my hearing permanently.

Can anyone offer any advice please?

Thanks in advance!!

Gavin

1 like, 134 replies

134 Replies

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  • Rebecca764
    Rebecca764 Supergav

    Posted

    Severe infections will cause tinnitus.  If you have been on antibiotics then it could be that the fluid that was in your ear has gelled.  This is called Glue Ear.  I have had an ENT perferate my ear drum and suck it out then put a tube in.  They can do this in their office.  When they suck it out you will be able to hear.  The only problem with this is that if you just go to a regualar doctor they wont do it.  Its well worth whatever the ENT charges.  The tinnitus may go away and it may not.  There could be damage to the hairs in your ear and if that happened then more than likely you will have to live with the ringing in your ear.
  • Rebecca764
    Rebecca764 Supergav

    Posted

    also, numbness is never a good thing.  Should see an ENT
  • mitch61185
    mitch61185 Supergav

    Posted

    Hi all, i am here also due to my anoying inner ear infection which started last week after the flu which i had time off work for that. Then on Tuesday night my left ear started to get unbearable preesure behind it to the point blood came out of me ear. I drove myself to Hospital for pain relief more than anything. Nothinng they could do but prescibed me some more pain relief. Then went to see the docotor and he also said there was nothing he could do either and prescibed me some anitbiotics which he thought may or may not work.. The unbearable pressure has eased but now both ears are completely block and i have lost nearly all hearing in both ear with sinus conjestion. This is driving me insane and not looking foward to going back to work next week...Hope i get my hearing back soon.
    • nanbeeba53341
      nanbeeba53341 mitch61185

      Posted

      Hi,

      My advice is to go to an ENT specialist; if you have already been to an ENT, then go to another one, you need to be proactive here; you may need a steroid to help resolve any inflammation that can result in an infection; the less time your ears are blocked the better the chances that you will not develop hearing loss; my ears were blocked for about two weeks and i know i have suffered hearing loss; doctors were not able to confirm my hearing loss to be from infection because they did not have a baseline to compare but i know that my hearing is worse as a result of my ear infection and blockage for nearly two weeks; all my upper resp symptoms were cleared except my ears remained blocked, even after a course of antibiotics. ENT helped to unblock my right ear but my left ear stayed blocked longer and that is the ear with more hearing loss. I don't want to scare you but if you can, go to an ENT who may be able to help you unblock your ears sooner. I hope they clear up soon.

    • mitch61185
      mitch61185 nanbeeba53341

      Posted

      Cheers for the info....will go asap..

      wonder if the eustachian tubes are now clear and its the eardrum itself thats bad...cheers

  • sheetha20286
    sheetha20286 Supergav

    Posted

    Hi I am facing the same problem as u.when I try to explain to the ent drs what I face they don't seem to understand it is really very fustrating .I am suffering veritgo dr say it will be better the other ear block he has no answer for it as the mri shows its nice but I feel so fed ..my right ear I hv no earing even after treatment so they say not suitable for earing g aid only can go colear implant that also I hv to decide in two weeks has I had a bleeding in my inner ear .I hv so many question non answered .please help me

    • nanbeeba53341
      nanbeeba53341 sheetha20286

      Posted

      Did you also have upper resp infection? Flu? Virus? Are you taking antibiotics? Steroid? Visited ENT specialist? How long have you had problems with your ears?
    • mitch61185
      mitch61185 nanbeeba53341

      Posted

      My ears are bad today..Both have totally gone must have 10% hearing. I am going insane litening to my ears like this for 3 days now this whislting noise is teriible..going to try an adventure to the shops to get out the house..not looking foward to Monday work..
    • nanbeeba53341
      nanbeeba53341 mitch61185

      Posted

      Hello,

      Go see your ENT as soon as you can, hopefully Monday. Do not wait, explain you need to be seen asap and be persuasive and proactive.

    • sheetha20286
      sheetha20286 mitch61185

      Posted

      I know the sound kills.i went for the inner ear injections but my side effects are terrible so pls avoid that if possible.
    • gjl3109
      gjl3109 mitch61185

      Posted

      Mitch61185, whatever this is, it is not pleasant.  I too lost my hearing in both ears.  Started out as a sinus infection, that went into an upper respiratory infection, and a dual ear infection.  after 40 days of oral antibiotics and visiting 2 urgent cares and my pcp (primary care physician) 2 times,  I was told I may have to just live with the loss as being preminate.  I asked for a referral for an ENT (ear nose and throat) specialist and he has given me 2 shots so far and had me stop doing and taking what the other doctors told me to do or other drugs they told me to take;  After 2 visits to the ENT, I have regained about 30% of my hearing from the 90% loss.  Still looking for 60 more percent.
  • keithf11
    keithf11 Supergav

    Posted

    I had also experienced the same situation. I lost hearing of my left ear permanently due to some virus. Later, sought the help of Westside audiology, an audiology clinic in Calgary. The  doctor there suggested advanced hearing aids for me. Does anyone have experience of losing their hearing ability permanently?

     

    • sheetha20286
      sheetha20286 keithf11

      Posted

      I lost my earing but I can't even use earing aids. Totally deaf they say cannot offer earing aid

    • gjl3109
      gjl3109 keithf11

      Posted

      Keithf11, I lost the hearing in both ears (90%) over a month ago after a sinus infection / cold / flu / upper respiratory infection / dual ear infection.  No one seems to know what is up or how to cure it.  After 40 days on different antibiotics, I was told I would need to accept that it may never come back.  I requested a referral for an ENT.  While after 2 weeks with the ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) specialist, I have some hope.  While I currently am using 2 hearing aids that I purchased off the internet to cope with conversations with others and the ability to hear the sounds around me.  Out of the 90% loss in both ears, I have regained about 30 % in one ear and maybe 20% in the other.  I have another weekly appt with the ent this friday,   If he hasn't any other ideas, I have some of my own that I will try.  If they don't work, 2016 means I need to look for a new doctor, and another ENT.  I am NOT giving up on myself or my hearing.
    • Rebecca764
      Rebecca764 keithf11

      Posted

      First of all, this is called glue ear.  This is when you have had an infection and the fluid in your ear gelled up.  This makes you lose your hearing.  The remedy is to have your ENT to numb your ear drum and take a syringe with suction and suction the goo out.  that is what they do to mine.  I also know if a person is continously getting ear infections that this could be autoimmune.  This means that your body attacks a part of your body.  Mine is attacking my ears.    If you people are experiencing infections of the ear often then you need to be seeing a NEUROTOLOGIST.  they are above the ENT experties.  ENTs are only for sickness of a virus or something like that.  A neurotologist knows about the entire ear and diseases of the ear and brain.  Ear infections are very dangerous.  I about died from one.  I ended up at Vanderbilt in Tennessee to get things fixed.  This problem you are having is a simple fix if it is just from a virus.  Your ENT should know to suction this out.  The eustation tube is blocked also with this gelled substance.
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