My own voice sounds like a broken speaker to only my ears

@distortedhearing

We need more information such as...Do you wear hearing aids? Have you been to an ENT specialist?
How long has it been going on? Have you been sick etc.?

I am sure someone on this site can help if you give us more information. Thanks

FL Mary

I have a normal audiogram (no hearing loss below (15 DB HL). My distorted hearing occured after a doctor didn't give me a new antibiotic while I had a bacterial infection in my sinuses that spread to both middle ears.
I have seen probally 8 ENTs and 5 Nuerotologists/Otologist. One diagnosed me with Semicircular Canal Dehiscence
Syndrome because of thin bone on my Lateral/ horizontal semicircular canal from demineralization from the bacteria eating away at it. The John's Hopkins Otologists Disagrees. But nobody is infallible and all doctors have been failing me. Why is my audiogram "normal" and I have tinnitus and a distorted voice since my sinus amd ear infection from almost 4 years ago. All doctors that specialize in the ear seem to be bad at their jobs... I went from being happy and loving life to miserable and debilitated... I can't imagine a happy life when my voice sounds distorted when I speak. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY EARS ;( I feel like most doctors ONLY care about lining their pocket books. Of course they will help you if it's something easy to diagnose like an ongoing ear infection, step throat.

I just want to get better I haven't been happy for 4 years and even worse I'm severely depressed and debilitated... humans are social beings... I hear a mix of very quick screech noises & high pitched static that happens simultaneously as I speak. My own voice makes me cringe, makes it so im hesitant to speak or don't want to speak at all. I sometimes get the feeling of nails on a chalkboard from my own voice. And obviously my voice sounds the same to other people because the problem is in my inner or middle ear.

You can have those symptoms with Semicircular Canal Dehiscence or SCDS Do you have any other symptoms? There is a support group on Facebook that’s called SCDS Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence that you might want to join and read others symptoms. I’m a member of that group as well. I’m post Perilymph Fistula Repair and still may have a leak somewhere. I too get the robotic distorted hearing but it’s comes and goes. Good luck!

Hi, I'm part of that group. Who fixed your PLF? The distorted hearing is so horrible. My only other symptom is Tinnitus. What symptoms bother you the most now?

I had a penetrating ear trauma and my first surgery was done in West Burlington, IA. I had some unresolved issues so I went to UIHC in Iowa City and found I had a PLF. Had surgery to repair 2/23 but I’m still having some issues. My most bothersome symptoms now are the lightheadedness with walking, brain fatigue, pulsatile tinnitus ,hyperacusis and intermittent distorted hearing. Seems to correlate with ear fullness.

My surgeon has not had such a complex and complicated case so we are currently working on answers and what the next step will be.

Did you have a Round Window Reinforcement surgery to repair your PLF?

I only had the oval window grafted. I felt “normal” for 2 days post op surgery then the symptoms returned, so I believe the graft failed because of post op inflammation and possible secondary hydrops that’s not related to Menieres but rather the trauma of surgery.

Did you have a well known surgeon?

I'm sorry to hear about all of your ear struggles you have had as well 🙁

I met with my surgeon on Monday and apparently my case is rare and complex and they have never dealt with this type of injury. My surgeon is consulting his partners and other resources to see what the next step will be.