Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 1/14/2009

Question
40 year old male excellent hearing, no trauma or sudden loud noises, no history of ear infections, no alcohol or drugs. I'm not on any medications fulltime except acid reflux(on and off) 3 Sinus infections over the last 3 months currently have a sinus infection.  Used a Neti Pot for the first time last thursday night, then friday am and friday p.m. right before I went to bed.  After using the neti, I cleared my ears and noticed (as usual when sick )it sounded as if I had fluid in ears.  Two-three hours later I awoke with pressure in my ear, and some pain itfelt as though my ear was stopped up.  Tried to sleep and finally got up and tried my childrens numbing drops and then a couple of drops of peroxide.  Slept through the night and woke to have similiar pressure with mild pain, ear sounds were muted but different than when your sick and congested.  I went to a doctors office that was opened on saturday.  He said I had a bad ear infection in the ear along with the sinus infection.  He gave me antibotics to clear up the sinus infection and ear infection(since I've had 3 back to back) he gave me xr1000mg Aug twice day for 5 days and 1 for the next five plus Nohist (ant/decon).  Tuesday today went to my ent, he pressure tested my ears, did a hearing test and checked out my ears. He said my ear didn't appear to have an infection but could have gotten better since Saturday.  My right ear has always seemed to be my better(dominant) ear, today Tuesday left ear tested above normal for my age, and right ear tested low end of normal for my age.  I can notice a definate hearing loss compared to last Friday plus I now have ringing. He gave a a pack of steriods and told me 50/50 chance that my hearing will be back to normal again.  Still have sinus infection working on clearing that up, xray's negative, cat scan for sinus next Monday. He took me off of the antihist/decon. He put me on 20 mg prednisone 4 today, 4 tommorrow,4 third day,2,2,1,and last day 1. I have a history over last 20 years of sinus infections but never hearing or ear problems. I work in an office and I'm not around loud noises.  The ringing and hearing loss sounds similiar to a gunshot(been 20 years) or operating a leaf blower without earplugs(did that once) Father and grandfather had some ear ringing and hearing loss.  

What else should I do??  Could the salin have gotten in my eust tube and done damage ???   Is there any other treatment that I should try immediately??  Do you agree with the 50/50.  Has to many days elapsed to try any other treatment. Any home remedies that might aid the healing.

Answer
Hi Michael,
I'm not quite sure there is much more that you can do. It is always possible that the fluid from the Neti pot may have found it's way into your ear, but I do not think it would have caused an infection.  It is more likely that the sinus infection is what spread to your middle ear. There is also a link between acid reflux and middle ear problems.  If there is no longer an infection, continuing with antibiotics will do no good.  And, steroids usually must be administered almost immediately as well for them to be effective.  It does sound as if you have a poorly functioning Eustachian tube at this time. There is a device that may help with ETD; it's called the EarPopper http://www.earpopper.com/earpopper/index.htm  I recommend that you consult your ENT about this before you try it as he would know better if it is appropriate for your particular case.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology