Wife is experiencing auditory "echo"

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My wife, age 24, has been having issues with hearing in her left ear for about a week and a half. She describes it as a kind of echo which is more pronounced at certain pitches. For instance, if I say "good morning", she will hear it normally in her right ear, but her left ear will hear it normally and then hear it once again pitched up. She describes it as the sound a child's toy microphone makes when you speak into it and the spring inside reverberates. We initially thought it was from sinus buildup she was having due to allergies but that has been ruled out. She went to an urgent care last week and they said her ears looked normal. They administered a steroid shot but so far there is no change in her condition. She also got adjusted by a chiropractor and it did not affect her condition. The next step is to go to our primary care physician (Tricare) and get her a referral to an ENT. This may take up to 4 weeks from the time of the appointment. At this point it is causing her added stress and anxiety. She works in a children's museum but shouldn't have been exposed to any noises loud enough to cause any sort of hearing damage. If any medical professionals can offer their opinion as to what may be causing this and how it may be treated we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. 

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2 Replies

  • Posted

    hi Kyle, although I am not a medical professional I will give you my opinion based upon my recent experience.

    on the 18th of May my ears became blocked and I started getting whooshing noises which turned to a constant vibrating in my ear. I sympathise with your wife as for me this caused so much anxiety and depression. I have now had this for 5 months and I am due an ENT appointment the end of the month, very long wait.

    I have seen various different doctors over this issue and I seen somebody a couple of weeks back who has confirmed this issue has been way over complicated and diagnosed me with eustachian tube dysfunction which sounds perhaps what your wife could have, google it to find out and see if she can relate to it. it can be triggered by various things allergies being one allergies can't simply be ruled out. The eustachian tube becomes blocked or inflamed and fluid cannot be drained causing noise, fullness in the ear etc.

    Doctors looked at my ear and said oh it's fine but it wasnt but, when this doctor I mentioned looked at my ear he said my ear drum was slightly grey and dull suggesting fluid behind which is when I was diagnosed with eustachian tube dysfunction.

    I was prescribed beconase nasal spray you can buy over the counter but, the doctor can prescribe a stronger one it helps to clear out the tubes connecting the ears throat etc. Although, I still have some slight vibration in my ear it is so much better since using this.

    Another alternative spire clinic has an ENT department £150 for a consulatation which is what I did bit of a waste to be honest because, the nasal spray has been a life saver. Try this alongside steam inhalation and a something warm against the ear like hot water bottle.

    don't rule out allergies because, when I looked it up they're various different pollens through different months that people can be allergic to I know one is tree pollen.

    Hope this helps a bit tell your wife I'm sorry she is going through this I really do understand I got so anxious when mine was at it's worse, very anxious constantly and couldn't concentrate I wish I knew about the nasal spray at this point.

  • Posted

    oh another thing, avoid getting any water down the ear it will make it worse as if she already has fluid anything extra will cause more problems. The private ENT appointment I went to he told me to put cotton wool with vaseline on down my ears to shower.

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