Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 7/20/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, for the past half year my left ear has been making this "rumbling" sound whenever I bend down to pick something up. My left lymph node is sometimes swollen and painful, and so is my left ear canal at times. Sometimes when driving, my lymph node area hurts. Sometimes I get separate dizziness. My lymph node area and the area under my left ear feels "full" sometimes. I suspect it may be either myoclonus or tensor tempani or something else even? Thanks for the help in advance!

ANSWER: Hi Michelle,
With a swollen lymph node that has been present for so long, you need to consult a physician ASAP. This is a sign of an immune dysfunction and needs to be investigated thoroughly by a physician.  This may account for your ear symptoms as well, which really do not sound like myoclonus.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Dr. Jacobster,
I appreciate your answer immensely. There are some things that I would like to clarify with you;
It isn't my lymph nodes that are swollen, but the area directly under my left ear and above the lymph node area is somewhat swollen sometimes - and sometimes it hurts when I press down on that area.
Actually, at first, most of left face was swollen, starting and especially from the lymph nodes - I went to my family doctor and he gave my some antibiotics, and from there my lymph nodes have not been swollen, instead, my left ear started having rumbling noises whenever I bend down to pick things up, and an echoing sound when I rap my hand on the left side of my head, and the pain in the area under my left ear, as mentioned.
For the left-ear-rumbling problem, I have already gone to an audiologist, who only gave me a hearing test - I have also gone to a head and neck specialist, who used a scope to check my ear canal, with no problems. My physician, or family doctor, used an instrument to check the area behind my eardrum, saying that there was no water or pressure.
    Again, I appreciate your help in this matter,
         Michelle

Answer
Hi Michelle,
The area you describe seems to be the mastoid area which can swell if there is an infection.  

At this point, I would suggest that, if your symptoms have not be relieved, that you either ask your current ENT to do an imaging study of the mastoid or seek the advice of another ENT.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology