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Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: 20 minutes ago | Replies (1519)Comment receiving replies
Hi, @jfobes and welcome to Connect.
Your problem really is a curious one. The ringing in your ears, I presume is tinnitus, a fairly common problem. The fact that your hearing clears up and has clarity is pretty odd though. Is it possible that you have mild TMJ as @parus mentioned? I would rule out a sinus infection since it's been for so long. I suspect you have done some serious googling about this and not come up with anything.
Is there a large medical center, preferably a teaching center, anywhere close to you? I would think they would be most apt to be able to figure this out if anyone can. I am sure it is beyond the ken of most regular audiologists. I live in southern NH so there is Mass Eye and Ear about 55 miles down the road but there are many all over. I just googled this myself and there is a list at the US News website:
https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/ear-nose-and-throat
Hopefully one of those is close enough to you so you will be able to have a consultation there.
I am very curious about what they have to say if you do go somewhere one of these so I hope you get back to us.
JK
Replies to "Hi, @jfobes and welcome to Connect. Your problem really is a curious one. The ringing in..."
JK I had a miserable experience with a new to me ENT. After spending the $575 to the have the mandatory hearing test to gain access to the ENT. His highly educated diagnoses "you have bad ears, some people are born with bad knees you got bad ears" He did not listen to any of my concerns nor address any of my questions. I have filed a complaint with provider and am waiting to hear back from them. Oh and indecently about 10 days before my appointment I pretty much lost my left ear! I can only hear treble no bass or low tones at all!!! He had no idea why that would be, and of course my ears looked "perfect" and according to the testing my e tubes are working perfectly normal. I asked why do my ear feel plugged and voices sound muffled? "you got bad ears"
This is so frustrating! I'm left handed thus use my left ear for the phone. I can't hear anyone in that ear and switching is proving to be quite challenging to say the least!!!!!!
I may follow up with the University of Wisconsin medical school for advice. I am waiting to hear back from the friend of a friend that is currently in school to become an audiologist. Hope he can mention my condition to an educator and if nothing else raise an eyebrow?
FYI - the chewing gum made my jaw sore from chewing, did nothing for my ears!
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Thank you for your interest and advice! I am an overly analytical person and have researched heavily my dilemma. My best conclusion would be leaning toward eustreatian tube disfunction possibly related to a jaw problem like TMJ. I did get tested for TMJ and I was told nope! I do however have a tight jaw, not clenching teeth just tight and pressing tongue against the roof of my mouth. I have tried to remedy that to no avail! Perhaps I should try chewing gum?