Audiology/Otolaryngology/ringing ears

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Expert: Daniel J. Bosnyak, PhD - 10/28/2009


Question
  About five weeks ago i got a ringing in my left ear, it was a steady high pitch sound, it lasted about a day and a half. Yesterday which was Oct 26 the same thing happened but this time it affected my hearing in that ear. For example: when i dial a number the ringing sound in my right ear sounds perfect, but the same call in my left ear sounds as if it has no bass and i mean NO BASS. And when i begin to talk the ringing gets louder. I am going to the Dr. regardless, but i still want a response if possible. THANK YOU.

Answer
Hi Cornelius,

It sounds like something might be physically blocking either the ear canal or the Eustachian tube in that ear.  It could be a wax buildup, or an infection.  That sort of 'no bass' hearing is what I get when the pressure in the middle ear is not properly equalized - this is the function of the Eustachian tube.  Your physician should be able to diagnose it, or refer you to someone who can.  The ringing sound (tinnitus) that comes on when the hearing is blocked is very typical, and should go away when the problem is resolved.  It is puzzling though that the first time you had the ringing the hearing was not affected - perhaps you just didn't notice it.

Audiology/Otolaryngology

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Daniel J. Bosnyak, PhD

Expertise

I am a neuroscientist and experimental psychologist who specializes in the study of Tinnitus (ringing of the ears). Our laboratory focuses on trying to understand what causes the tinnitus sensation, which we believe is an important first step in developing a cure for this debilitating illness. We believe that in many cases the sensation is generated as a result of changes in brain organization resulting from mild or moderate hearing loss, a phenomenon known as 'cortical plasticity' and akin in some ways to phantom limb pain. Although we do not offer treatment for tinnitus patients at this time, I do attend most of the worldwide conferences on Tinnitus and I am aware of most of the recent advances in treatment methodologies. Our research has been supported by the American Tinnitus Association, the Canadian Institute for Health Research and the Tinnitus Research Initiative.

Experience

As a research scientist and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University I have been studying tinnitus and associated phenomena for several years.

Publications
Bosnyak, D. J., Gander, P. E., & Roberts, L. E. (2007). Does auditory discrimination training modify representations in both primary and secondary auditory cortex. New Frontiers in Biomagnetism. International Congress Series (pp. 25-28). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science. Roberts LE, Moffat G, Baumann, M, Ward LM, and Bosnyak DJ (2007). Residual inhibition functions overlap tinnitus spectra and the region of auditory threshold shift. Journal of Research in Otolaryngology. Roberts, L.E., Moffat, G., & Bosnyak, D. J. (2006). Residual inhibition functions in relation to tinnitus spectra and auditory threshold shift. Acta Otolaryngologica, 126, 27-33 Bosnyak D.J., Leone A.M., Gander P.E., Roberts L.E. (2007). Responses in the primary auditory cortex in tinnitus sufferers after induction of residual inhibition by masking sounds. Annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, Toronto, May 23-25.

Education/Credentials
MCMASTER UNIVERSITY PhD, Psychology, 2003. Hons B.A., Psychology, 1994, Summa Cum Laude

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