Audiology/Otolaryngology/pitch shift/hearing loss

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Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 5/14/2009


Question
I have suffered unilateral hearing loss for the past 5 years.   My doctor could
not find a diagnosis.  I suffer a weird effect when listening to music on  
headphones.  If i remove the phones from just my good ear, I can still hear a
little in the 'bad' ear but the pitch shifts by almost exactly a semitone.  I now
find that if I poke just below the bad ear, I can hear a sort of glugging noise,
the sort you get when you get out of a swimming pool if you have water in
your ear.  What is my problem?

Answer
Hi David,
You don't really have a "problem."  First, you are hearing your music through bone-conduction.  But because of the hearing loss in the bad ear, you are perceiving it differently that from your good ear.

Next, I need to ask why you are "poking" your ear?  You are most likely just compressing a blood vessel and that is the sound you are hearing.

Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology

Audiology/Otolaryngology

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Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D.

Expertise

I am a Board Certified Doctor of Audiology with 25 years of experience. I can answer questions regarding hearing loss, both general and specific, dizziness and vertigo, auditory processing disorders, hearing aids, aural rehabilitation as well as specialized audiologic testing, i.e., Auditory Brainstem Response, VideoNystagmography, Otoacoutic Emissions. I have worked with both pediatric and adult populations. Because of my extensive musical background, I am able to respond to questions regarding the special needs of musicians.

Experience

I have been an audiologist for over 25 years with a specialty in electrophysiology of the auditory and vestibular systems and pediatric evaluations. I currently work in my private consulting practice providing services to nursing homes and schools. My Doctoral research was on specialized techniques in Auditory Brainstem Responses.

Organizations
American Academy of Audiology, - American Speech Language Hearing Association, - Hearing Loss Association of America

Education/Credentials
Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology), Nova Southeastern University, 2000. Board Certified Doctor of Audiology (American Board of Audiology) Certificate in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

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