Anyone lose hearing overnight?

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Woke up about 5 weeks ago and had noticable hearing loss/ringing in my left ear. I figured it just had fluid or something and thought it would clear up in a day or two. Five weeks later and it is no better. I went to the ENT 2 weeks ago and he thought it may be fluid as well, gave me some nose spray and said come back in two weeks. I told him I shot quite a bit (with protection) but he didn't seem to think it was related. Tomorrow is two weeks and nothing has changed. I have certainly been exposed to plenty of loud engines, music, and a few uprotected gunshots when I was younger and dumber, and sure that I did some damage then but have been pretty religious about wearing protection over the past 10 years. I kinda figured I would go gradually deaf like my grandfather, but didn't expect to lose quite so much hearing in my early 30's.

Anyone else just wake up half (well maybe 25%) deaf one morning?

[sundog]

I had an ear infection two years ago that was successfully treated with antibiotics. However, it has not equalized pressure since then. I've had several treatments with no success, including a full head/brain MRI to make sure nothing neurological is going on. I've been dealing with hearing loss and tinnitis for years, but not being able to equalize pressure is driving me nuts. Last trip to the specialist we discussed surgery options - which are not good options.

[felix]

Yep, very same as Sundog. Docs around here say it is caused by a flu like virus, much like diabetes (type 1). ... felix

[375RUGER]

Huuh?

[bowfin]

Yep.

It happened when I was 21, and it's still there thirty years later.

[x101airborne]

Why? Is my wife talking again?

[Pb2au]

My wife lost about 85% of her hearing in her left in an instant. We were walking down to the beach and she suddenly stopped, and sat down. Just like that. She said she couldn't hear a thing in her left ear. She was a bit dizzy, and felt a little under the weather.
We were camping, so we had to find a hospital in the middle of nowhere. The Doc checked her out, and couldn't find anything mechanical wrong. Eardrum was good, etc etc. We ended up going home and to a specialist. The best guess was a viral infection which screwed up the nerves in her ear.
That was about ten years ago. Her hearing has gotten a bit worse over the years. The saw bones speculate that it will eventually get to the point where it is a total loss.
So maybe this might be some food for thought.

[Jailer]

Friend of mine lost almost all of his hearing in one ear from an infection about a year or so ago.

He went from great hearing to needing hearing aids in less than a weeks time.

[oldred]

Have you been taking any medications? Quite a few of the antibiotics can cause this and unfortunately it's usually permanent. Pain medications containing Hydrocodone can also cause this problem and the newer pain medication Tramadol has apparently been causing this problem for some people. I have noise induced Tinnitus and these pain medications really kick it into high gear, especially the Tramadol containing preparations (Ultram and Ultracet).

[geargnasher]

My left ear occasionally and suddenly just shuts off like you flipped a switch and all I can hear is a high-pitched squeal like microphone feedback, usually comes back in 15-20 seconds, never figured out why. I think it has to do with blood pressure spikes, but usually occurs while resting or going to sleep.

As to what may be wrong with yours, I coudn't say.

Gear

[brassrat]

Wow this is scary talk. I did have wax cause some hearing loss a couple times and once both ears just about shut off at the same time.

[felix]

Tramadol. I just looked it up, appears deadly in itself to anyone with any kind of psych problem even if unknown. Much safer, in my opinion, would be OxyCotin for a continuous release. ... felix

[Horace]

In 1986 I had a "Acoustic neuroma"tumor removed from my right acoustic nerve is was benign, I lost all hearing in the right side.

Horace

[WILCO]

Wow this is scary talk.

Indeed!

[Freightman]

In 1986 I had a "Acoustic neuroma"tumor removed from my right acoustic nerve is was benign, I lost all hearing in the right side.

Horace
Same thing in '93 right ear is good for holding up my glasses, left ear is getting where I can not hear women's or children's voices without looking at them.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

My left ear occasionally and suddenly just shuts off like you flipped a switch and all I can hear is a high-pitched squeal like microphone feedback, usually comes back in 15-20 seconds, never figured out why. I think it has to do with blood pressure spikes, but usually occurs while resting or going to sleep.

As to what may be wrong with yours, I coudn't say.

Gear

Yeah, I had that happen too, seems like a certain tone/pitch sound sets it off. Can't really remember the last time it happened though, pobably only get it once every several months.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Have you been taking any medications? Quite a few of the antibiotics can cause this and unfortunately it's usually permanent. Pain medications containing Hydrocodone can also cause this problem and the newer pain medication Tramadol has apparently been causing this problem for some people. I have noise induced Tinnitus and these pain medications really kick it into high gear, especially the Tramadol containing preparations (Ultram and Ultracet).

Not recently but I have certainly taken my fair share of antibiotics and pain meds for various things over the past 10 years.

[Bill*]

My left ear occasionally and suddenly just shuts off like you flipped a switch and all I can hear is a high-pitched squeal like microphone feedback, usually comes back in 15-20 seconds, never figured out why. I think it has to do with blood pressure spikes, but usually occurs while resting or going to sleep.

As to what may be wrong with yours, I coudn't say.

Gear

Yup....three/four times a year. Seems to happen when I'm reading. It hasn't gotten worse in a couple of decades so I just ignore it.

[montana_charlie]

I occasionally get a small piece of dried wax, or perhaps dead skin cells, or a mixture of both, that forms a little 'mobile deadener'.
Mobile because it moves in and out of position, and deadener because it lays against the eardrum and causes it to stop vibrating.

It is like going almost totally deaf in one ear ... all in an instant.

The most effective way of getting that little 'gob' gone from the ear is to wash it out with a stream of warm water.
If you lay on your back while the gentle flush is squirting in, the liquid will drain out very efficiently, carrying the debris with it.

One method for the flush is to use a large syringe (without a needle), but that takes two people.
I have one of those dental hygiene devices for squirting water in between your teeth.
Warm water and a carefully chosen pressure setting gets it done for me.

CM

[popper]

SIL had scarlet fever as a child and lost all hearing in one ear. I've had tinnitus for >30 yrs, but hearing is quite sensitive, instead of some loss. I get that temp. loss every once in a while, I think caused by allergies; pressure blockage. Sounds are really muffled for a while. I usually push under the lower lobe and it clears up. Infections and drugs can really mess up hearing.
all I can hear is a high-pitched squeal like microphone feedback gear - that is beginning tinnitus. I think mine started when playing in a rock band.

[462]

Gear,
During the course of a V. A. hearing test, I mentioned that I have tinnitus and occasionally the pitch and intensity in one ear will drastically increase, lasting for the 15 to 20 seconds that you experience. The audiologist said that is a fairly common complaint of tinnitus sufferers.

Also, he said that, while there is no scientific explanation, there are many who think it is the dying off and laying down of the little "hairs" that move when they are subjected to a noise, and that those dead, lying down "hairs" are the cause of tinnitus -- our brain thinks it is hearing something.

So, as Popper mentioned, you may be in the beginning stages tinnitus.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Had a follow up visit today. Hearing test revealed only minor hearing loss in the ear, but doc thinks there is still fluid in the ear and wants to try steroids said if that doesn't work the next step is a tube, I told him I,d just live with it if the steroids don't work! Even if it is not related, after this, there will not even be a subsonic 22 fired without protection!

[Echo]

I woke up one Saturday a few years ago and couldn't hear anything out of my right ear. I've had tinnitis for some time. I went to the VA, they did tests, and said, 'You're deaf in your right ear'. Well, DUH. Actually, they said my hearing was down 30-50 dbs in that ear. Got hearing aids - that did nothing. Got other hearing aids - still nothing. The good news is that with the rt ear out of commission, the co-pilot's comments (in the car) are unheard...

[popper]

the little "hairs" that move when they are subjected to a noise Others think it is nerve stimulus that makes the hairs move causing an audible response. Kind of 'I think I hear something, oh, yea, there it is'.

[462]

". . . there will not even be a subsonic 22 fired without protection!"

Back in my Air Force days, I thought it was cool to work next to idling and taxiing jets, and listen to their afterburners kick in from only a few yards away, all the while not wear hearing protection. In addition to the aforementioned tinnitus, I wear a pair of hearing aids.

Don't be cool, be smart.

[Arnie]

A few years ago i had sudden hearing loss in my right ear .I went to the doctor and he gave me a prescription for a steroid i cant remember the name of and said i needed to get to a ear doctor right away.I called them and they didnt have any openings for two weeks so i called my doctor back and they took me in right away.The ear doc gave me the same steroid only a stronger dose and for a longer time .I couldnt hear any thing at all but i had a white noise very faint like the older tvs when you didnt have a signal.It lasted about three weeks and suddenly came back all at once . Havent had a problem since . arnie Oh BTW I really slept good with that faint white noise . ha

[smoked turkey]

The hearing in my left ear is almost totally gone. I can hear lower frequencies better than higher pitched ones. My right ear is functioning at about 70%. I have constant ringing and as others have noted it is the pits. My poor wife has to repeat everything to me unless I am able to see her and attempt to read her lips. Best I can tell the bulk of the loss in my left ear was due to an afternoon running a log splitter. I was wearing ear plugs but obviously they are not sufficient for something like that. I did a fair amount of shooting in my younger days without ear protection. You can bet that I am a stickler for anyone shooting with me now and insist they wear ear protection.

[Aaron]

Yes, I had sudden loss snd tinnitus right after a guy fired a 243 winchester with the muzzle inches from my head inside a pawnshop. Never went away.

Aaron

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Yes, I had sudden loss snd tinnitus right after a guy fired a 243 winchester with the muzzle inches from my head inside a pawnshop. Never went away.

Aaron

Woah! Glad your still with us! Hope the guy at least bought you some new underwear. I actually fear ADs/richocets/beyond target issues more than bad guys!

[mortre]

Tramadol. I just looked it up, appears deadly in itself to anyone with any kind of psych problem even if unknown. Much safer, in my opinion, would be OxyCotin for a continuous release. ... felix

Nasty stuff it is, the VA put me and the wife on it at one point. I am diagnosed with "readjustment disorder with anxiety" and she is diagnosed with PTSD. We both ended up near suicidal. VA witch doctoring blows my mind. We do a yearly checkup with the VA simply to pass medical records from our civilian doctor so they don't cancel our VA ratings. We no longer accept treatment from them.

[sundog]

Prednizone. I have no idea why the docs push that stuff, but it DON"T work for an ear problem. I've been through four sessions over the last two years and the problem is worse now than when I started.

[canyon-ghost]

This is a little off to one side but, I've had tonsilitis with fluid buildup. The Eustachian tube in one's throat leads to your ears. So, it helps mine out to use regular raw honey if I have a cold or sore throat. Vitamin C helps too. I've had tubes in both ears for the fluid, it's a procedure that takes a microsurgeon. It's not really painful though. I had all that done at 26 years old, I'm 56 now and still have some of my hearing. I think they say you need green vegetables for tinnitis, I only have it very seldom. I do know that a couple of tablespoons of raw honey is good on my throat and keeps my ears from plugging up.

If you find my homeopathic stuff silly, that's alright. Thought I'd throw that in there, maybe it'll do somebody some good.

Good Luck,
Ron

[dmize]

Oh wow I remember being a teenager,8 to 12 hours on a tractor,dawn to dusk with a chainsaw,then all kinds of garage noise,air tools are the worst,and all the open headers and everything else.....At least you get used to the ringing and most times the hearing loss is gradual.

[little willie]

A friend of ours had that happen to her (long before we met her). She went to bed just fine and woke up the next morning, totally deaf in one ear.

The explanation was, it was some virus. She never regained her "natural" hearing.

They did some type of surgical implant that uses a hearing aid type of devise that transfers the noise vibrations to the bones of her skull and helps her to hear them with her other ear.

That explanation probably isn't 100% accurate, it is just kind of what I remember from what was told to me when we met her, several years ago.

Best of wishes in your case,

little willie