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Hearing Loss & Valsalva Maneuver: Looking for Information
I'm an older man and have one issue that I am looking for information on. My hearing was recently diagnosed with hearing loss, especially of the higher frequencies. I was told that my hearing test indicated nerve hearing loss common for my age. I had gotten a CAT scan looking for other issues.
If I pressurize my ears (Valsalva Maneuver, I believe) there is a great but brief improvement in my higher frequency response. I was seeing an ear specialist and asked him about it. There was no available information.
I find that hearing the high frequency sound response improve so strongly from simply pressurizing my ears does not seem consistent with 'nerve hearing loss'.
I have tried searching and get nowhere. I noted that the carotid artery passes next to my ear and that the Valsalva Maneuver has some complex effects on blood pressure. What is known about this?
If you have any information that might apply please post.
Chas
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@siosal The Eustachian tube keeps equal pressure between the outer ear and middle ear. If the Eustachian tube becomes blocked, the pressure is unequal and the eardrum is prevented from moving like it should. I did not know that it shrinks so thanks for that tidbit. It will warrant more research. I use Flonase on an occasional basis. It helps with my allergies. I use it if I don't want people thinking I have Covid, unfortunately.
It's interesting that you say that yawning helps with the tinnitus. I have not heard that either. Have you had your hearing tested? Hearing aids help tinnitus by increasing the ambient sounds more than what is internally generated.
Tony in Michigan
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1 ReactionHi
I am not sure of my terminology, ie shrinking.
Really exaggerating a yawn seems to help temporarily for me.
I am beginning to have hearing loss extending into our speech sounds. I was told that as you lose hearing tinnitus is the brain trying to fill in.
I am not yet aware of any communication issues so I am not rushing out to get the hearing aides but I am sure I will have to in the future.
Thank you for your reply.
@siosal Yes, losing hearing is only one cause of tinnitus. I experience it just about every night when I take my hearing aids out so you're right about the brain filling in for what it is expecting.
I could not find anything about the Eustachian tube shrinking by doing a Google search. It would not surprise me if something like that happens though. It would seem that a shrinkage would not necessarily cause a blockage problem, which typically opens when we yawn or swallow.
Regarding you perception of losing speech sounds, you may not want to wait too long to address the problem. Hearing only gets worse as we age. It never gets better on its own. Hearing aids only help a bigger problem.
Thanks for sharing your input. It kept me thinking
Tony in Michigan
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2 ReactionsI read that under some circumstances, the tinnitus one person is hearing can be heard by other people. Of course, that tinnitus would not be very loud and probably a stethoscope was used. If that is true, some Tinnitus would be accompanied by a real sound, Then a sensitive audio spectrum analyzer could record interesting and useful sounds from tinnitus. Has that been done?
Any information or publications on actually hearing sounds that accompany some cases of tinnitus?
When I have Spectroid running on my smart phone and place my thumb over the microphone, it produces a signal in the spectrum analyzer. The frequency shows strongest from 23-170 Hz. Is this a real sound on an artifact? This is one thing of many that I'm trying to understand with the new Spectroid audio frequency analyzer. There is an audio spectrum analyzer for iPhones and iPads called "Spectrum".
@tonyinmi
Hi,
I have heard or read of the word “shrinking” or “shrinkage” in relation to the Eustachian tube . It was used when the tube was congested or clogged and it meant that the inner lining of the tube had shrunk or returned to normal with either yawning, decongestants etc, or a Doctors intervention. It doesn’t actually shrink from its normal “healthy” size. I liken it to a swollen ankle that will shrink to it’s normal size when elevated or iced. The word can be misleading when thrown around.
That’s about it for what I learned.
FL Mary
@chasmayhear You may want to post this under one of the tinnitus discussions to make it easier for others to find.
I've not heard of a tinnitus that could be heard by others but it is conceivable. Tinnitus originates in the brain so I suppose that there could be brain matter that could act as a speaker diaphragm??? And if someone could hear that without a stethoscope, they would probably be driven to insanity. The signal would be weak. I sometimes wish I had super hearing but it's probably a blessing to have what I do have.
Spectroid must be an Android app since I cannot find it for my iPhone. I do see Spectrum but it is actually called Audio Spectrum Analyzer dB RTA and has good reviews. When you put your thumb over the microphone, it's probably picking up your heart rate. Nice that a smartphone has so many uses!
Tony in Michigan
@imallears Interesting fact about Eustachian tube shrinkage. I'll keep that thought in mind.
Tony in Michigan
on question of what you might be hearing:
Infrasound_%20The%20Noise%20You%20Feel%20-%20Audio%20Visual%20Bend%20BlogAudio%20Visual%20Bend%20Blog.html
Here is an abstract and apparently a spectrum analyzer measurement of the sound produce by some tinnitus.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/604822I would try to find an app from the Apple Store.
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1 Reaction@awilst Interesting article. One quote from the article wants me to believe that perhaps this could be used to treat some hearing losses: "It was found that the prevalence of LFN-complaints increases with age. This supports the conclusion that long-lasting exposure to low-frequency noise, inaudible for years to the exposed persons, may in the long-term result in alteration of the cochlea..."
Tony in Michigan