About Harriet Jacobster, Au.D. Expertise I can answer questions regarding non-medical treatment of hearing loss such as hearing aids and aural rehabilitation. I am also able to answer your questions regarding hearing testing, what types of tests are appropriate, what information a hearing test gives you and what it doesn't give you. As a classically trained musician, I can also answer issues dealing with hearing loss specific to musicians.
Experience I am a Board Certified Doctor of Audiology with over 25 years' of experience working with both children and adults. I have given lectures on Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids to several state chapters of national organizations for the deaf and hard of hearing. I also taught Speech Reading and Aural Rehabilitation both privately and for the Florida Deaf Service Center.
Organizations American Academy of Audiology
American Speech Language Hearing Association
Education/Credentials Au.D. Doctor of Audiology, Nova Southeastern University 2000
Question Im 26 years old and have tinnitus for about 4 years. I had an audiogram done 2 years ago with that read
Right ear
250- 25 db
500- 35 db
1000- 35 db
2000-40dB
4000-50dB
8000 35dB
Left Ear
250- 30 db
500- 40 db
1000- 45 db
2000-55dB
4000-50dB
8000 45dB
And one that was dne recently:
Right Ear
250- 35 db
500- 35 db
1000- 35 db
2000-40dB
4000-60dB
8000 50dB
Left Ear
250- 40 db
500- 40 db
1000- 50 db
2000-60dB
4000-60dB
8000 50dB
Now over the past 2 years, i havent gotten any infections, no exposure to loud music and basiclly took care of my ears.
My questions are:
1) what is the normal change in dB over a year?
2)what can casue the change in dB? (besides hearing loss)
3)what casues the change in dB between Left and right ears? I thought they usually decrease in the same amount.
4) what can casue a "cookie bite" pattern?
5)Should I be worried that im going to go deaf in when im 40?
thank you
Answer Hi Dan,
There is still a lot of information that is missing from your question. First, who did these two tests? Next, is your hearing loss completely neural or is there any conductive (middle ear) component? Thirdly, was any speech testing done, and, if so, what were the results? Also, was tympanometry and acoustic reflexes done to evaluate your middle ear? Now, without the answers to these questions, I will try to answer as best I can your questions. 1) There is no "normal" dB change per se. A 5-7 dB change is usually considerable within statistical probability. You have a 10 dB change in most frequencies, so that could be accounted for by inter-tester differences, calibration of equipment, your personal state of health at the time. 2) Next, I'm not sure what you mean by what can cause the change "besides hearing loss." Genetics can play a huge role in HL as well as general health - diabetes, blood pressure, autoimmune dysfunctions, etc. 3) Differences between ears can be caused by one ear being exposed to noise more than the other (e.g., telephone, gunfire, etc.) or a disease state, such as a tumor. That is why it is important to have more information that what you have given me. 4) You do not have exactly a cookie bite pattern - what you have is a noise notch at 4 kHz, at least in the later test. With the loss also at 2 kHz, it is possible you have something called otosclerosis. Again, without more complete information, I cannot give a better answer. But in general, cookie bite patterns are hereditary. 5) There is no way to know what will happen to any of us when we get older. Unfortunately, you can wake up tomorrow and be deaf, or your hearing loss may stop at this point. Again, it all depends on genetics and general health as well as environmental issues, i.e., noise. As I said, without more information, these are the best answers I can give you. I suggest that if you haven't already had one, you have a complete otoneurological workup that includes middle ear reflexes and decay, otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response audiometry and possibly MRI.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology
