Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 8/21/2008

Question
Hi Dr. Jacobster  

I am a 60 year old whose ears have been plugged for 15 years.  In my late teens I experienced excruciating pain in my ear that was on the pillow.  I would awake to the sounds of screeching and roaring in my ears.  I had to massage my ear in order to lift my head off the pillow. The pain stopped but the noises continued.  About 15 years ago my ears suddenly and permanently plugged.  I have been trying hearing aids, but the feeling of fullness is getting worse.  When I am in crowded locations, the pressure and noise make it almost impossible to hear anything.  I am trying to see an ENT again, what tests should I insist on?  Do you know of a hearing aid that might help me?  

Thanks in advance
Gloria

Answer
Hi Gloriapackman05,
Fifteen years is a long time to be suffering.  Have you had any testing or evaluation by an ENT?  What other symptoms do you experience?  Any dizziness at all? If you sneeze or yawn, do your ears open? Do you also have sinus problems?  There are several causes for plugged ears ranging from Eustachian tube dysfunction to cochlear hydrops to growths in the middle or inner ears or the nerve.  I would suggest at the very least a new hearing test with tympanometry and acoustic reflexes. The latter two tests evaluate your middle ear. Another test would be Otoacoustic emissions to determine the status of your cochlea.  Depending on the findings for these tests, and the information and history you give to the ENT, he may recommend ABR to evaluate the auditory nerve or imaging studies to assess the gross physiology of the entire system.  If you also experience dizziness, he may suggest Electrocochleography to assess the inner ear for hydrops.  Lastly, you might consider being evaluate for Temporal Mandibular Joint disease (TMJ) which could also cause a stuffy feeling and pain.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology