When I speak it’s like talking in a tunnel…a hollow, base sound.

Posted by bobbyjo21 @bobbyjo21, Jul 18, 2022

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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@bdurel

Yes! 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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Hello BobbyJo21. Colleen mentioned that I might have perspective on your ear issues. I am not sure that I do, but my right eustachian tube has been blocked most of my life from scarring and possibly an anatomical defect. I eventually found relief with continual tympanostomy tubes placed in the ear drum which maintained the pressure in the middle and inner ear. This pressure equalization prevents the crazy distortions of sound, pain, and infections. I have to manage the health of the ear with snug hats, double swimming plugs, salt intake, direction of sound, etc. The hole, eventually became permanent, but that is actually a good thing. Yes there is significant hearing loss, but louder sound is painful, so I have chosen to not have a hearing aid thus far. My hearing issue is conductive vs neurological so far, and a eustachian catheter was never on the table for me. Its pretty invasive. I truly empathize with your sound distortions!!! It can get to you for sure. I dont know if this was helpful at all, but my advice to you is keep an eye on your balance. Even intermittent sensations of "floating" is a red flag for potential falling . This would be something to act upon with your clinical team. Good luck!!! 🌺

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@upartist

Hello BobbyJo21. Colleen mentioned that I might have perspective on your ear issues. I am not sure that I do, but my right eustachian tube has been blocked most of my life from scarring and possibly an anatomical defect. I eventually found relief with continual tympanostomy tubes placed in the ear drum which maintained the pressure in the middle and inner ear. This pressure equalization prevents the crazy distortions of sound, pain, and infections. I have to manage the health of the ear with snug hats, double swimming plugs, salt intake, direction of sound, etc. The hole, eventually became permanent, but that is actually a good thing. Yes there is significant hearing loss, but louder sound is painful, so I have chosen to not have a hearing aid thus far. My hearing issue is conductive vs neurological so far, and a eustachian catheter was never on the table for me. Its pretty invasive. I truly empathize with your sound distortions!!! It can get to you for sure. I dont know if this was helpful at all, but my advice to you is keep an eye on your balance. Even intermittent sensations of "floating" is a red flag for potential falling . This would be something to act upon with your clinical team. Good luck!!! 🌺

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My catheters are out…I’m assuming the Eustachian tubes are wide open like they were before my operation…I’ll know for sure after my visit next week with my operating doctor.
The reverberation in my head is worse than it’s ever been. I’ve listened to various people so far… possibilities include see a neurologist, cochlear implants, and tubes in ear drums. I hope to have a clearer view by next week. Thanks for your insight and help.

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@bobbyjo21

My catheters are out…I’m assuming the Eustachian tubes are wide open like they were before my operation…I’ll know for sure after my visit next week with my operating doctor.
The reverberation in my head is worse than it’s ever been. I’ve listened to various people so far… possibilities include see a neurologist, cochlear implants, and tubes in ear drums. I hope to have a clearer view by next week. Thanks for your insight and help.

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Good morning BobbyJo21. I am thinking that it might be possible an inflammatory process following the eustachian tube therapy could be irritating the nerve endings in the inner ear. The reverberation may be temporary or treatable with an anti inflammatory approach. This might be a question to ask your clinicians. Good luck next week. I hope you find relief! 🌺

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@upartist

Good morning BobbyJo21. I am thinking that it might be possible an inflammatory process following the eustachian tube therapy could be irritating the nerve endings in the inner ear. The reverberation may be temporary or treatable with an anti inflammatory approach. This might be a question to ask your clinicians. Good luck next week. I hope you find relief! 🌺

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Thank you

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I hear my voice in my head while speaking - kind of like i'm speaking in a tunnel.
I've been to 4 ENT and nothing. Working w a ENT from Rush now who is only 1 of 2 docs in US that deals w ETD. Using vit c drops in nose from doc in Calif. as he rec.
but nothing yet. Can't get hearing aid w this going on and believe me i need one. Help !

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HI yes i have tinnitus hyperacusus eustachian tube disfunction and moderate hearing loss and yep I hear those monks chanting too; also Christmas carol the first line sung over and over again; men talking a mile a minute; man in background sounding like commentating on a race horse...... at first thought neighbour had music playing too. loudly but not home! I hear a pounding grinding noise most of day and night and go downstairs and listen to side of fridge to see if running, sometimes it is sometimes it isnt, it is all enough to drive one mad! Yes get the echo when I speak often, full mucous in sinuses from I think my dry eye and glaucoma drops... Monoprost says right on inser that it can cause sinusitis! From my enquiries nothing can be done to help me except Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to take my my mind off it all... some hopes, but trying it. One night I woke up to hear a beautiful voice of a woman singing a song from the 1950s with big band behind - so real it gave me the creeps but why these noises why these particular chants etc?? The brain is a mysterious thing! J.

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Valérie,, the brain is more complex than even specialists believe. I have the same song or series of notes playing over and over again. It’s called musical ear but doesn’t mean you are actually musical. Sometimes I can change the tune. Also have low level noises and high level noises of all types. Yes it’s enough to drive you nuts. It’s tinnitus, hyperacusis, and presbycusis all so debilitating.

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@willows

Valérie,, the brain is more complex than even specialists believe. I have the same song or series of notes playing over and over again. It’s called musical ear but doesn’t mean you are actually musical. Sometimes I can change the tune. Also have low level noises and high level noises of all types. Yes it’s enough to drive you nuts. It’s tinnitus, hyperacusis, and presbycusis all so debilitating.

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Valerie, sounds like you have blocked Eustachian tubes, usually a good anti biotic will clear it up
Go to a good NET specialist they can prescribe meds for you. I had one ear blocked so s
long a specialist had to take a small needle with a ball attached puncture my ear drum squeeze the ball & blow the mucus out & into my throat I was so relieved it felt oh so good after being blocked for 3 months!

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thanx @sound We have 2 ent's here .. one a waiting list of one or two years; and one I had when he took half thyroid out, waited a year for his call; that morning had back to back ocular migraines and tried to cancel his call but couldnt reach him; he phoned me and i explained about the migraines and getting memory loss after, he erupted into telling me about 18 patients waiting to see him, his son wanting him to see his friend, so busy with cases more urgent than mine and cancer; also told us of his wife's issues he yelled at me for 20 minutes and my husband could hear him. I wrote him a note apologizing if i had said something wrong; re phoned again, spoke to my husband first saying didnt want to put tubes in my ears as half the time get infected, then spoke to me; got my letter and said i had taught him a lesson and still did not ask me what was wrong. Honestly I think if I had recorded the calls I could have pursued but honestly have so many other issues I let it drop... now have no ENT and cannot travel out of town as have fecal incontinence... talk about 'the saying in never rains but it pours' so just put up with it. If a person has a laundry list of illnesses may as well move to a city where there are teaching hospitals and plenty of specialists. I do that thing where pinch my nose and blow and sometimes hear my ears pop but sometimes not and the right one is painful when I do it... but as not urgent have to live with it along with other things... this getting old is no picnic! Thanks for help

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@bobbyjo21

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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I have the exact same symptoms as you, although I have post nasal drip. When I try to pull phlegm through back of my nose nothing happens. The voice thing is the worse for me, I've been off work for over three months. My voice sounds distant and faded just like talking down a tunnel. But also if I'm in shops or basically outside with other people I can't hear my voice at all. Getting really scared at this point. Has yours improved at all ?

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