1. < Hearing Loss

SSNHL with Sound Distortion / Crackling - Why??

Posted by Tom Zed @tommyzed, Jun 10, 2020

Hi. I was hoping someone could help me with some information. I was hit with SSNHL on March 20th, 2020. I lost my upper frequencies (6k+) in my left ear. After a round of steroids and some time, my 6k has mostly returned, but not much else.

Beyond the hearing loss, I also have Tinnitus (which lately has disappeared from time to time!) and some weird distortion thing. I understand everything except the distortion. My doctors don't seem to quite understand what I'm talking about or they dismiss it as something that my "brain will adapt to eventually". Online I haven't been able to find much... so I figured I would try here.

So, what happens is that certain sounds will become distorted in my left ear. Almost as if they are coming through water or being distorted by a digital filter. The sounds are "cracked". It's almost always when there is a *background* noise - street noise, water running, music and then someone else is talking or making a sound. Then, the sounds become cracked/distorted/digitized. It varies from being slightly annoying to making it hard to understand the situation.

It doesn't seem to matter if there's "bounce-back" from walls or the volume of the noise. For example, talking to someone on speaker phone outside will almost always sound distorted, but inside they sound fine.

Has anyone else experienced this and understood what's going on?

Very many thanks in advance!

best and stay safe,
tom

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

jcech344 | @jcech344 | Nov 6, 2022

I have developed a sudden change in my hearing and your description (tuner between 2 radio stations) is exactly what it sounds like. I can hear someone talking but can't make out the words clearly due to the distortion. Their (and my) speech sounds like it has been filtered through an electronic device to distort it. I already wear hearing aids and have profound hearing loss above 1000Hz.

This is different and happened progressively over the past month or so. At first, I thought it was just a sinus infection or cold as I have had a lot of mucus, esp in the morning. But my sinuses have been pretty much clear for the past week. Planning to see an ENT this week to have this checked out, but based on the posts, I gather this may not likely be effective in identifying what has happened or provide an effective therapeutic.

Taking Motrin has made a small temporary improvement. I also take a Zn tablet and Vit D3 in the morning. Have noticed the problem is most noticeable in the evening. Linkage or just the effects of wearing HA all day? Virus effect?

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Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Nov 7, 2022
In reply to @jcech344 "I have developed a sudden change in my hearing and your description (tuner between 2 radio..." + (show)
@jcech344

I have developed a sudden change in my hearing and your description (tuner between 2 radio stations) is exactly what it sounds like. I can hear someone talking but can't make out the words clearly due to the distortion. Their (and my) speech sounds like it has been filtered through an electronic device to distort it. I already wear hearing aids and have profound hearing loss above 1000Hz.

This is different and happened progressively over the past month or so. At first, I thought it was just a sinus infection or cold as I have had a lot of mucus, esp in the morning. But my sinuses have been pretty much clear for the past week. Planning to see an ENT this week to have this checked out, but based on the posts, I gather this may not likely be effective in identifying what has happened or provide an effective therapeutic.

Taking Motrin has made a small temporary improvement. I also take a Zn tablet and Vit D3 in the morning. Have noticed the problem is most noticeable in the evening. Linkage or just the effects of wearing HA all day? Virus effect?

Jump to this post

This type of issue is so complex, and it seems that everyone experiences it differently. Tinnitus covers a lot of bases, but that has many variables and affects people differently.

Please let us know what you learn from your ENT.

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mvpaq | @mvpaq | May 9 1:30pm

This happened when water was running today — I heard static in the bad ear while the water was on. Have you learned if this gives any clue as to the cause of the hearing loss? Could it be the ear nerves/cells trying to reactivate?

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distortedhearing | @distortedhearing | May 18 7:10pm
In reply to @bgbg "The exactly same thing happened to me in Jan/2019. It wasn't my first episode (as I..." + (show)
@bgbg

The exactly same thing happened to me in Jan/2019. It wasn't my first episode (as I like to refer to them). The first happened in 2015. And like so many people have experienced, ENTs' ignorance of this condition is appalling. Some information (if you can find it when you need it most) indicates there is a window of opportunity to treat the SSNHL (within 3 or so days?), but when doctors are dismissive of the this frightening situation, we are at a disadvantage right off the block. After my first episode, in 2015, I was seen by an ENT who did prescribe a series of steroids. I recovered maybe 70% of my hearing. I considered hearing aides but I was just on the edge of needing them. But in 2019, the loss was horrible: Tinnitus in the absence of sound. And like you, there was a loud electronic screeching type of noise that distorted any sound. Lots of pressure. I know now that it was my left ear most affected. But it seemed like it was both because the deafness was so profound.... or so it seemed at the time. I was treated by low does steroids by my GP. An ENT prescribed a stronger steroid a few days later. And a few days after that, an oto-neurologist had an MRI ran (no physical explanations) and then cut the left ear drum and put a steroid behind it. I have lost about 60% of my hearing and have been wearing hearing aids for about a year. It's not natural hearing, but it helps. But, for me and I hope it will not be the same for you, the remaining distortion of sound in my left ear is the condition that makes understanding speech most difficult. The extreme pressure and tinnitus (lessened by wearing the hearing aids) and the electronic screeching were not permanent, but the sound distortion (to a lesser degree as when it first happened) is still a problem. I will watch the posts for your updates. I wish you well. If you learn of something that helps you, please share it.

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My own voice sounds distorted eversince an ear infection in 2020. I'll get intermittent screech noises that last the fraction of a second. So many Drs don't care ... my problem was caused from a Dr. Not giving me an antibiotic in time... and now other doctors act like it's no big deal. I literally went from happy to feeling no joy... if my voice sounds like a broken speaker how can I enjoy a conversation... when I speak it makes me cringe and feel delated, depressed, and hopeless... I would never off my self but I don't enjoy ANYTHING ANYMORE! 🙁 I have a normal audiogram but tinnitus and a distorted voice... tinnitus I can ignore tinnitus but when my voice sounds distorted I CANNOT get used to this.

I want this problem to go away SO BAD! I was a happy person before this happened and now this condition makes it so I don't want to speak. I hear my normal voice simultaneously with: a very quick & high pitched screech, or my voice sounds fuzzy, crackley and only to my ears. This problem has literally taken all joy away from my life and all 7 ENTs act like: "hmmm I'm note sure what to tell you" ME: I'm not happy anymore and this makes me not want to speak Dr. I'm sorry about that I wish you luck. EVERY DR. IS NOT HELPING ME! I cried on the phone begging for help! NOBODY CARES! ONE ENT TOLD HIS NURSE HE DOESNT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH FOR MY PROBLEM (HE GRADUATED FROM AN IVY LEAGUE COLLEGE & STILL IS A HORRIBLE DR. I went to Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic and they were both NO HELP!!!!

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xan13 | @xan13 | Sep 5 1:56am

Sorry that I'm not any help but yes I know exactly what your talking about. I've suffered for years.
1 thing, I'm beginning too think it may have more to do with spiritual "warfare?". I been lied to so much from medical community that I keep an open mind

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