Eustachian tube dysfunction and balloon dilation

Please let us know how this goes.
I have never had a definitive explanation as to what caused my sensorial hearing loss. Probably Covid. It has turned my life upside down for three years. I have had differing diagnosis for my problems from eight different ENTs. I wear traditional hearing aids but they don’t really work for me. I am wondering if this might help me.

I'm sorry I know it's hard not to be able to join in when you can't make
out what people are saying.
And some people think screaming at you works..
Yikes..
It's going to take an ear specialist to say what will work for you.
I know the bone conduction bypasses the ear drum and canal
But don't know if it requires the ear hairs to be in adequate condition.
It works with my smartphone.
So it'll be weeks before I talk to my ENT.
I'll let you know what he tells me.

I’ve seen so many “ear specialists” I’ve given up on them. Audiologists as well have proved completely worthless for me. I suppose there are some good ones. I just haven’t found any (and not for lack of trying)
I have spent thousands on state of the art traditional hearing aids, so spending a few hundred to try bone conductive ones doesn’t seem like an outrageous thing to try.
Anyway, if you have luck it would be good to hear.
Thanks.

I honestly think it’s some physical issue with a compressed nerve or muscle-skeleton issue that gets exacerbated with poor posture spending time in bed and//or inflammation. Mine is completely cured when I take muscle relaxers and steroids

Ents don’t know about muscle/head structural issues so they usually just tell everyone it can’t be cured and to move on w the problem

Hi, I’ve had the procedure twice in my left ear. I heard my heartbeat all day everyday in my ear and my muffled voice. Was driving me crazy because I also have bilateral tinnitus. I woke from first procedure and it was gone. It lasted about 3 months and it came back. I tried it again with tubes in the ear like kids get from many ear infections. It’s been 8 months and it’s good.
Your ENT can do certain tests right in the office that actually watch it open and close and tine testing around your head.
I also tries taping the eardrum but it didn’t work. My ENT tried that right in the office. The tube can be placed in the office. It might be something you want to discuss. Best of luck, it’s so annoying.

Tubes are the only thing that I’ve found helpful, but some ENTs are hesitant to do them and others just won’t. I’ve had to talk them into it, and then I get relief until they fall out again.

I see an ENT at Emory in Atlanta. Prior I went to Mass General Eye&Ear in Boston. They did a head scan to be sure no tumors near the ear. I get a hearing test hearing now. I’m bordering aids. It is awful in a room full of people trying to get what is being said or you say something that doesn’t pertain to the conversation. I just lay it on the table from the start. Im HOH with tinnitus so I won’t hear everything and honestly you just have to get past it.
I have a neurologist too just to be sure I get her prospective as well.
I have many health issues far worse than this so I just deal.
I’m my own advocate so I’m extremely pushy to get stuff done. I just constantly make appointments or leave portal messages till they are so sick of me they order it. They work for me. I pay my insurance. I know me better than anyone.

Which muscle relaxer and steroids. Were they prescribed or over the counter

So sorry to hear so much trouble and no solutions. I wanted to update since it's been awhile. The dr at LIJ in New Hyde Park (head of ENT) DID give up on me. She referred me to a Eustachian tube "expert" specialist in Boston (5 hours away) So I called them because I can't give up. They want me to send all the records of my last 3 doctors I've seen regarding this issue. He'll read them and decide if he'll see me! ;(((( He's supposed to be good. His name is Dr. Allan Poe I think. Anyway, someone in his office who I spoke to told me there's a dr in NY who worked with him and has the same expertise and I should try her first since I live in NY. Well, that was nice of her. So that's who I'm seeing now, this dr in NY. (still collecting all my records) I saw her 1/2. I liked her. She sent me for a CT scan (which no other of the 8 doctors ever did) and then a VEMP test. I'm seeing her tomorrow (3/10) and see what she says. I will be a very strong advocate for myself tom because I don't think she's addressing or listening to my most distressing issue which is the ETD. I will update. Meanwhile no hearing or very little in left ear, hear screeching noises maybe due to residual hearing which isn't translating to words, horrible tinnitus in left ear, Eustachian tube dysfunction in both ears, can hear well out of right ear but MY OWN voice is muffled. Thanks so much for reading all this :)))

jcj123, thanks for including the names of the practitioners. I hope you find resolution. Keep us posted.