Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 8/15/2009

Question
Hi.
 I am a healthy 50 year old woman who unfortunately, has had a mild tinnitus in one ear for a few years now.I am positive I got it one day from being exposed to a blast of power tools(only a few seconds long)in a store a few years back.(They should not have allowed that while shoppers where inside.) It happened that my left ear was the one nearer to the blast and that is why the sound is in the one ear.Actually,my head shook so fast that I knew something happened but it wasn't until a year or so later I was working in a school and near the band playing daily that the tinnitus showed itself in that one ear and never left.
I am not at that job any longer thankfully.
My question is-
as I said the tinnitus is mild and persistent in that one ear-  is it possible for a person to also have another sound intermittently along with their regular tinnitus sound in the same ear?The other sound I hear is in that same ear is harder to describe but maybe a short, slight cranking sound.It last a few min at most and then goes away and does not happen daily.
To be honest the only hearing test I've had was at the regular internist when it first happened and that showed to be fine.If anything I personally know I have suffered just a very slight loss.So my question is really about that second occasional sound.
Any info would be appreciated.
Thankyou  

Answer
Hi Beth,
Yes, it is possible to have different types of sounds in your ear at the same time. Tinnitus can be caused by so many different things ranging from nerve damage to Eustachian tube dysfunction to rapid muscle contractions to a tumor. Any new sound in the ear needs to be fully investigated by an ENT and you must have a complete audiological evaluation by an audiologist.  This is the only way to determine the possible causes of these sounds and ultimate treatment options.

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