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When I speak it’s like talking in a tunnel…a hollow, base sound.
Pre Covid I began having large nasal discharge in the morning, as well as a constant need to cough up phlegm.around the same time I noticed that when I spoke, it was like talking in a tunnel. After visits with myENT and primary care doctor, I got relief from the heavy discharge. My primary concern at the beginning was the voice in my head. I finally was diagnosed with Eustachian tubes that were constantly open. I had catheters put in both Eustachian tubes and tubes inserted in the ear drums for drainage. After 16 months, it hasn’t worked. I still have the voice in my head…and my hearing has gotten worse. There was even a time when I could hear music in my head…almost like soothing music coming from a monks in a cathedral. HAs anyone had/have the voice in the head when speaking and not really knowing if you were loud or not? Help.
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@bobbyjo21
Sorry to hear you are experiencing this. PED can be very bothersome.
What types of things did your ENT and PCP provide to relieve you from the drainage?
Did they recommend any extra hydration and or allergy testing?
I’ve done nasal sprays, ear drops, allergy pills… tried to hydrate more and more. I’ve gone to an allergist and all they came up with so far is that I’m allergic to mold and cats. I haven’t been near a cat in decades.
Does anyone have the sound of their voice reverberate in their head when they speak?…and also hear the sound of your breath, especially when you keep your mouth closed?
I wonder if @julieo4 might have some thoughts on this.
Bobby, are your ears plugged?
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1 ReactionThere is a brief discussion on 'musical hear hallucinations' in the Mental Health Forum on MCC. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/auditory-hallucinations-and-musical-ear/
That discussion is addressing it from a mental health perspective.
However, 'musical ear' is a very common thing among people who have hearing loss. It's a mystery. In my case, I can hear a variety of music from past years when my hearing was much better than it is now. All those songs, many of which I can bring up at will are songs from 30+ years ago. It's actually quite pleasant until it becomes repetitive. In most cases, I can change the song by thinking of something else similar in tempo.
A few days ago the song "Hey Look Me Over" kept playing and playing. It's a positive song, but anything that gets repetitive is annoying. I didn't know what musical it was from, so looked it up online. It's from 'Wildcat' staring Lucille Ball. I have no recollection of that musical from the early 60s. However, it was sung by several other artists then. Looking at the lyrics amazed me as I remembered every word of that song perfectly.
The ear is an amazing gateway to the brain. Until the late 1980s most people who started losing hearing were told that nothing could be done to help them because the auditory nerve, which sends sound to the brain for interpretation was dead or dying. People were given no hope of hearing help back then.
The concept of cochlear implants was scoffed at by the ENT profession, except for a few researchers who dedicated themselves to their belief that it was the cochlea (inner ear) that was faulty in sending singles to the auditory nerve to send to the brain. Thankfully, a few test subjects agreed to be involved in experimental surgery. The main discovery was learning that the auditory nerve was not dead or dying, but the cochlea was. Today, cochlear implants are able to bypass the natural organ and stimulate that nerve for the brain. Pretty amazing stuff. Still no answers to that musical ear syndrome, but most people seem able to control it.
bobbyjo21, you say you have hearing loss. Do you use hearing instruments?
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3 ReactionsNo
Since I had the catheters removed from my Eustachian tubes , I don’t hear the music..,but the reverberation in my head is worse. When I speak I talk like I’m in a tunnel. People say that I sound like I have a cold…but I don’t. My nose is not stuffy, but I seem to want to cough up phlegm all the time, but can’t. My hearing is fine with my hearing aids, but not great without them. Any thoughts or suggestions?
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2 ReactionsI have hearing aids. Since I had the catheters removed from the Eustachian tubes, I don’t hear the music anymore.
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2 Reactions@bobbyjo21, sounds like there is some blockage. @upartist may have some thoughts for you regarding eustachian tubes.
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1 ReactionYes! That happens to me. At first I thought I was hearing this robotic staticy sound when I spoke because my hearing was coming back but then I realized that it was only when I spoke, not others. It only happens sometimes and when it does it makes me not want to speak at all. Trying to talk over the tinnitus and the reverberating or buzzing "in the shape of my words" ruins talking for me. Fortunately it doesn't happen all the time. I also experience hearing my own breath sometimes. I was referred for an Osia 2 implant after my SSHL which occurred 6 months ago but the specialist/surgeon said I wouldn't be happy with or get much relief from my symptoms with the Osia and that I should have a Cochlear Implant instead. Of course the Osia is covered by Medicare but the CI is not. So I've pretty much stalled in seeking treatment as I don't know what to do.
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