Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 12/4/2008

Question
I have been having vibrations or fluttering in my right ear.  It has gotten progressively worse within the past 2 months.  I get them when I hear any type of sound.  It used to be occasionally, now I get them 24/7.
I went to an ENT and he said I had some loose hairs on my ear drum, so he cleaned the wax from my ears and took the hairs out. The vibrations seem like they are worse.  I am seeing an Audiologist next week to check for hearing loss.  I am also feeling extremely dizzy and my eyes are painful as well.
What do you think this could be?

Answer
Hi Jane,
This sensation can be caused by a few things.  First, the fluttering/vibrations may be caused by a spasm in one of the middle ear muscles.  This spasm is known as myoclonus.  Your audiologist should be able to test for that.  If this is the case, treatment usually starts with muscle relaxants.  Another cause may be an open Eustachian tube.  This tube, which runs from the middle ear to the nose, maintains normal pressure within the middle ear.  It regularly opens and closes to maintain this pressure.  In certain cases, such as after an extreme weight loss, this tube remains open and doesn't close properly. Sometimes your own voice will also sound distorted.  Your audiologist should also be able to test for this.  The usual treatment for patulous (open) Eustachian Tube depends on the cause and may require surgery.  A third cause may be a thinning of the bone between the balance portion of the inner ear and the skull.  This condition is known as Superior Canal Dehiscence.  This can also cause dizziness.  There is a very specialized test for this known as Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP).  Your audiologist may not be able to do this test as it requires special equipment.  But it is worth mentioning.  Again, the treatment for this depends on the extent of the bone deterioration.  Once you are evaluated by your audiologist, you should return to your ENT and discuss these possibilities.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology