Audio engineer with SSHL *** Mid diagnosis. Learning. Searching

Just a follow up to complete this story....

I had an MRI last Friday and ENT follow up today. The MRI was "negative and unremarkable" according to the notes. My second audiogram showed some improvement in both ears between 150Hz and 7000Hz, but the right ear is still deaf at 8kHZ and above... I only know about the above high frequency deafness thanks to my own testing, and experience living with this change. The world sounds different on that side.

My ENT dismissed me. He was pleased with my improvement. Added another round of low dose steroids as a shot in the dark to see if additional improvement would be found, but I have no follow-ups and was given a final report similar to the following... "You are 42 and maybe do have some high frequency hearing loss, but there's nothing we can do for that. From my vantage point, you have great hearing relative to many people. Your audiogram looks fantastic. Be glad you didn't lose more in the critical range." He understood my relationship to hearing and work... and suggested I could work around it using my good ear and the remaining function in my right. Technically he is correct, but I have no official diagnosis beyond "Age and NIHL or SSHL"

I am going to another ENT for a second opinion, but only as a formality. I am thankful my loss was not worse, thankful for a clean MRI, and will learn to live with the constant tinnitus and hyperacusis. I'm also thankful to learn about the clinical trials for FX322, and hope that one day science will help me restore the loss in my most valued sense...
*** tried to post a link... Google FX322 for more information ***

Hearing for me is like taste for a chef, sight for a painter, muscles for an athlete, etc. It's a crushing and educational experience. I hope to use this as motivation to help other people who suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus. While sound therapy is an unusual tool, I believe that my skills in this arena may be helpful in developing palliative treatments for those who struggle... with tinnitus especially. Maybe one day I can find a way to be useful in that regard. Beyond treatment developments, it's the only positive thing I can offer from this experience.

Just a follow up to complete this story....

I had an MRI last Friday and ENT follow up today. The MRI was "negative and unremarkable" according to the notes. My second audiogram showed some improvement in both ears between 150Hz and 7000Hz, but the right ear is still deaf at 8kHZ and above... I only know about the above high frequency deafness thanks to my own testing, and experience living with this change. The world sounds different on that side.

My ENT dismissed me. He was pleased with my improvement. Added another round of low dose steroids as a shot in the dark to see if additional improvement would be found, but I have no follow-ups and was given a final report similar to the following... "You are 42 and maybe do have some high frequency hearing loss, but there's nothing we can do for that. From my vantage point, you have great hearing relative to many people. Your audiogram looks fantastic. Be glad you didn't lose more in the critical range." He understood my relationship to hearing and work... and suggested I could work around it using my good ear and the remaining function in my right. Technically he is correct, but I have no official diagnosis beyond "Age and NIHL or SSHL"

I am going to another ENT for a second opinion, but only as a formality. I am thankful my loss was not worse, thankful for a clean MRI, and will learn to live with the constant tinnitus and hyperacusis. I'm also thankful to learn about the clinical trials for FX322, and hope that one day science will help me restore the loss in my most valued sense...
*** tried to post a link... Google FX322 for more information ***

Hearing for me is like taste for a chef, sight for a painter, muscles for an athlete, etc. It's a crushing and educational experience. I hope to use this as motivation to help other people who suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus. While sound therapy is an unusual tool, I believe that my skills in this arena may be helpful in developing palliative treatments for those who struggle... with tinnitus especially. Maybe one day I can find a way to be useful in that regard. Beyond treatment developments, it's the only positive thing I can offer from this experience.

Just a follow up to complete this story....

I had an MRI last Friday and ENT follow up today. The MRI was "negative and unremarkable" according to the notes. My second audiogram showed some improvement in both ears between 150Hz and 7000Hz, but the right ear is still deaf at 8kHZ and above... I only know about the above high frequency deafness thanks to my own testing, and experience living with this change. The world sounds different on that side.

My ENT dismissed me. He was pleased with my improvement. Added another round of low dose steroids as a shot in the dark to see if additional improvement would be found, but I have no follow-ups and was given a final report similar to the following... "You are 42 and maybe do have some high frequency hearing loss, but there's nothing we can do for that. From my vantage point, you have great hearing relative to many people. Your audiogram looks fantastic. Be glad you didn't lose more in the critical range." He understood my relationship to hearing and work... and suggested I could work around it using my good ear and the remaining function in my right. Technically he is correct, but I have no official diagnosis beyond "Age and NIHL or SSHL"

I am going to another ENT for a second opinion, but only as a formality. I am thankful my loss was not worse, thankful for a clean MRI, and will learn to live with the constant tinnitus and hyperacusis. I'm also thankful to learn about the clinical trials for FX322, and hope that one day science will help me restore the loss in my most valued sense...
*** tried to post a link... Google FX322 for more information ***

Hearing for me is like taste for a chef, sight for a painter, muscles for an athlete, etc. It's a crushing and educational experience. I hope to use this as motivation to help other people who suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus. While sound therapy is an unusual tool, I believe that my skills in this arena may be helpful in developing palliative treatments for those who struggle... with tinnitus especially. Maybe one day I can find a way to be useful in that regard. Beyond treatment developments, it's the only positive thing I can offer from this experience.

@audioman I noticed that you wished to post a URL to a google search with your message. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post are not spam, so allow me to post it here.

- Search results for FX322 https://www.google.com/search?q=fx+322&oq=FX&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j69i59j35i39j69i65l2j69i61j69i60l2.2062j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Last interesting addition...

Obviously my industry is chiefly concerned with hearing. Luckily several LEGENDARY audio engineers had a very deep and detailed conversation about hearing, working with hearing loss, and understanding hearing from the perspective of "audio workers"

PureMix Mentors | Andrew Talks to Awesome People Hearing Health Panel Discussion

Hi, I'm 35 year old male with no preexisting conditions. I play the guitar and have done a lot of stereotypical things guitarists do, like playing unreasonably loud.

I had a smaller room I was cranking a 50w Marshall in, and typically I was fine with the foam ear plugs I was using, never noticed any issues at all. Then I tried some ear plugs that were supposed to protect the ears, but not filter out as many frequencies so you hear the amp better. It seemed normal while I was playing.

After about 1 hour of playing I pulled my plugs out and noticed my ears felt really full and inflamed, and they were very sensitive to loud noises now. Typically I'd listen to music in my car stereo at around 20, now I'd have to turn it down to 11 or 12 to listen comfortably. This went on for 4 or 5 months before it finally seemed to resolve itself and hearing was normal again. I could tell my ears were still more vulnerable than before, but I was pretty close to 100%.

About a year or so after I thought this was over, I had another incident helping a friend setup a guitar rig, and he hit a chord on a loud amp that damaged my left ear. I've lost a large amount of the bass frequencies I used to have in that ear, and if I hear anything above a certain volume my ear starts ringing (happens above 85db). In general, my left ear feels more "open and hollow" where my right ear does not.

If I even speak above a certain volume, my ear starts ringing. Another odd thing, if I take my voice and force to the right direction so only my right ear hears most of what I'm saying, it sounds normal. If I do this with my left ear, my voice sounds "hollow" and ofc my ear rings. Also both my ears are now prone to getting that full and inflamed feeling if I listen to music at even moderate levels. It goes away quickly after I stop listening, but still this is happening at 85db which is not sustainable.

My ENT said there's nothing he can do, and it will resolve itself. After a year+, it hasn't resolved itself at all. I was hoping maybe someone could point me in the right direction of the right kind of specialist who may be able to help. Thanks.

Is audioman's description on what he believes he's hearing best for an ENT...or someone higher up, like a neruotologist?

Hi, I'm 35 year old male with no preexisting conditions. I play the guitar and have done a lot of stereotypical things guitarists do, like playing unreasonably loud.

I had a smaller room I was cranking a 50w Marshall in, and typically I was fine with the foam ear plugs I was using, never noticed any issues at all. Then I tried some ear plugs that were supposed to protect the ears, but not filter out as many frequencies so you hear the amp better. It seemed normal while I was playing.

After about 1 hour of playing I pulled my plugs out and noticed my ears felt really full and inflamed, and they were very sensitive to loud noises now. Typically I'd listen to music in my car stereo at around 20, now I'd have to turn it down to 11 or 12 to listen comfortably. This went on for 4 or 5 months before it finally seemed to resolve itself and hearing was normal again. I could tell my ears were still more vulnerable than before, but I was pretty close to 100%.

About a year or so after I thought this was over, I had another incident helping a friend setup a guitar rig, and he hit a chord on a loud amp that damaged my left ear. I've lost a large amount of the bass frequencies I used to have in that ear, and if I hear anything above a certain volume my ear starts ringing (happens above 85db). In general, my left ear feels more "open and hollow" where my right ear does not.

If I even speak above a certain volume, my ear starts ringing. Another odd thing, if I take my voice and force to the right direction so only my right ear hears most of what I'm saying, it sounds normal. If I do this with my left ear, my voice sounds "hollow" and ofc my ear rings. Also both my ears are now prone to getting that full and inflamed feeling if I listen to music at even moderate levels. It goes away quickly after I stop listening, but still this is happening at 85db which is not sustainable.

My ENT said there's nothing he can do, and it will resolve itself. After a year+, it hasn't resolved itself at all. I was hoping maybe someone could point me in the right direction of the right kind of specialist who may be able to help. Thanks.