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Hearing Loss & Valsalva Maneuver: Looking for Information

Posted by chasmayhear @chasmayhear, Jun 10, 2020

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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gcritchley | @gcritchley | Aug 16, 2023
In reply to @user_ch783e933 "I just spoke to my otologist. He said in my case it was caused by the..." + (show)
@user_ch783e933

I just spoke to my otologist. He said in my case it was caused by the valsalva maneuver, overdoing it, although my tubes are compromised already they never caused any of this. He said no imaging will really determine the exact problem and doesn't think it necessary. He also said making a small hole in the eardrum to release any fluid that might exist can be done as well as placing tubes BUT: he told me this condition will CLEAR UP ON ITS OWN in time. I'd rather do that than make incisions and have tubes, etc. I'd rather wait. I'm seeing him next week. I know you asked for an update, this is it, no imaging, etc., so far anyway.

Jump to this post

Thanks for this! Good news then, that it will clear up on its own. So you have stopped doing valsalva entirely now correct?

REPLY
1 reply
gcritchley | @gcritchley | Aug 16, 2023
In reply to @user_ch783e933 "I just spoke to my otologist. He said in my case it was caused by the..." + (show)
@user_ch783e933

I just spoke to my otologist. He said in my case it was caused by the valsalva maneuver, overdoing it, although my tubes are compromised already they never caused any of this. He said no imaging will really determine the exact problem and doesn't think it necessary. He also said making a small hole in the eardrum to release any fluid that might exist can be done as well as placing tubes BUT: he told me this condition will CLEAR UP ON ITS OWN in time. I'd rather do that than make incisions and have tubes, etc. I'd rather wait. I'm seeing him next week. I know you asked for an update, this is it, no imaging, etc., so far anyway.

Jump to this post

Also please report back after your visit next week!

REPLY
user_ch783e933 | @user_ch783e933 | Aug 16, 2023
In reply to @gcritchley "Thanks for this! Good news then, that it will clear up on its own. So you..." + (show)
@gcritchley

Thanks for this! Good news then, that it will clear up on its own. So you have stopped doing valsalva entirely now correct?

Jump to this post

Yes my otologist told me at the visit I had with him on 7/25 when I first presented with these symptoms never to do that again. Meanwhile, it's hard to know what's happening. I seem to have some improvement in hearing in the left ear. I noticed last night that the upper registers aren't as obvious as in the right ear but that could be the reduction in hearing. The hissing isn't as bad but then tinnitus never bothered me and I know it does go away after a while, it's rarely permanent. I don't really know what's going on here. I found this online: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the internal auditory canal (IAC). I'm going to ask him if I need it or if it will help, insurance might not pay for it but so far it's never denied any testing. I'll report back after my visit next Tuesday.

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Rick T137 | @rickt137 | Jan 28 6:36am

This is very interesting! I have had ETD on my right side since 2019. Along with it is Tinnitus that usually only happens on the right ear. But if I do the Valsalva or Toynbee maneuvers then I get ringing in both ears. The part of this that interests me is that when I do either of the maneuvers, then I temporarily restore my high frequency hearing on the right side. But it usually only lasts a few minutes and then the hearing dulls again.

I've been doing these maneuvers too frequently lately, and now the Tinnitus is really loud (especially in my right ear) and my ear actually hurts. Obviously I'm damaging something so will just leave it for now.

The biggest challenge I have is searching for information on this situation. When I use Google or any other search engine, I get hundreds of articles about how to treat ETD or what it is - but this is the only thread I've found that discusses the dangers of doing these maneuvers.

Does anyone have any suggestions on search terms that could help me narrow it down?

I've been to an ENT but he is close to retirement and I feel like he's just going through the motions. I have had an MRI done and nothing unusual was identified (ie: masses or bleeding) so as far as the health care professionals are concerned, I am fine. Just a little hearing loss and some tinnitus. If this doesn't get better, I may ask for a referral to a different (younger?) ENT.

I'd love to know the best way to live with this condition. The tinnitus gets very loud and does trigger my anxiety sometimes - although over the last 2 years or so I've been much better at coping with it. Performing the maneuvers sometimes brings me short term peace, but then the ringing and the pain come back - usually a bit worse than before.

Thank you!

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