by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A lady wrote,
I have been reading your site and samples of your book on tinnitus and I think you are the person to ask.
I recently fell ill with a sinus cold and a sore throat. The cold went away after about a week. Two to three days after this, I woke up panicked because my right ear felt full, blocked, and was ringing. I went to my doctor a few days later and he found that my right ear was totally blocked with wax to the extent that he could not see my eardrum with the scope. He removed the wax by flushing it out and this seemed to help with the fullness feeling (though it is difficult to tell because my ear still does not feel right).
Since then the ringing has subsided a bit, but has not gone away. I used a Neti pot when I had my sinus trouble during my cold, and I noticed that I blew my nose so hard that some fluid made it into the right ear Eustachian tube. I also read your information concerning ototoxic effects and am worried that it might have been this also (though it is only in one ear, and I do not know if that is common with ototoxicity).
My questions are, “Is it possible that the wax was truly causing the ringing and blocked feeling all along? Is it normal for the ringing to continue for a week after having my ears cleaned? Is it likely that this ringing will go away? Is there any way to distinguish the true cause of the problem as the Neti pot vs. ear wax impaction?”
I very much appreciate the work that you do.
Anything that blocks your hearing to any degree can result in tinnitus. This means the sinus cold you had could have gotten “gunk” in your middle ear or Eustachian tube—causing some conductive hearing loss and associated tinnitus.
The wax blocking your ear canal also caused some degree of conductive hearing loss and resulting tinnitus.
Getting the wax out was a step in the right direction, but you may still have “gunk” in your middle ear or Eustachian tube that is giving you the blocked feeling and some tinnitus.
Also, something you didn’t mention—your cold virus may have gotten into your inner ear and caused some sensorineural hearing loss there, again resulting in more tinnitus.
So you have three possibilities for the blocked feeling and for your tinnitus. All three may have happened at the same time too—it’s not necessarily just one or the other.
Ototoxic drugs can affect only one ear—although this doesn’t seem logical. Some doctors actually say if it doesn’t affect both ears, it’s not from an ototoxic drug—but they are wrong when they say this. Drugs can affect either ear, or both at the same time.
Now, to answer your questions.
If wax was the sole cause of the blocked feeling in your ears and thus the tinnitus, then it should have gone away immediately or at least in a day or two.
If “gunk” in your middle ear/Eustachian tube was the cause, then it can take up to three months for it to drain away (depending how bad it is), so the blocked feeling and resulting tinnitus may take that long to go away.
If the cold virus attacked your inner ear causing sensorineural hearing loss (the blocked feeling you have) and resulting tinnitus, it may have caused temporary, or more likely, permanent hearing loss. Typically, the blocked feeling fades away in time as your brain gets used to the new normal—but the tinnitus and hearing loss remains. If this is the case, then you should learn how to successfully habituate to your tinnitus so it won’t bother you even though it is still be there. The secret is not to focus on your tinnitus. Rather, focus on the loves of your life and let your tinnitus fade into the background. (I’ve had tinnitus for more than 60 years—my ears are ringing away as I write this—but I don’t let it bother me.)
You will find a wealth of information on tinnitus in my book, When Your Ears Ring—Cope with Your Tinnitus—Here’s How.
I didn’t realize it was possible for a cold virus to injure your inner ear and cause hearing loss. My dad has had hearing loss over the years. He gets really bad colds nearly every year. Is it possible that these colds are making his hearing even worse? Also, I think he has tinnitus, does that get worse with colds, as well?
Hi Virginia:
You betcha. Any virus that gets in your inner ear can cause ear damage including hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperacusis and all sorts of balance problems.
Colds can clog up your middle ears and give you temporary hearing loss. This is a conductive loss. However, you can have many colds without the virus getting into your inner ear and causing permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Any hearing loss typically results in tinnitus also.
If your dad’s hearing improves between colds, then it was likely a conductive loss. Typically, if a virus gets into your inner ear, you get a sudden, massive hearing loss and at the same time it may cause various balance problems.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil. I have a very similar story to the opening poster…I had a terrible head cold and completely plugged ears with earwax (for an extended period of time….years) I had my ears flushed and the ringing didn’t go away. I hear some high frequency sounds abnormally….they almost resonate with the ringing in my right ear and are unbearable to hear. Could I have developed hyperacusis from having my ears plugged for so long with earwax? The tinnitus comes and goes…sometimes I don’t hear it at all and it’s gotten quieter over the last month. Had my hearing tested and it tested normal….I’m worrying that this is not going away since it’s a month since I got treated for this. I still get green stuff coming out when I blow my nose though.
Hi Erik:
It’s possible that you have some degree of hyperacusis. The good news is your tinnitus–it seems to slowly be getting better. It’s always a good sign when it comes and goes, because hopefully in goes and stays away for longer and longer periods. And also gets softer in the process.
Don’t be impatient. Tinnitus and hyperacusis typically don’t go away fast. Think in terms of a year or two, not just 1 month. Ignore your tinnitus and hyperacusis as much as you can and focus instead on the loves of your life. If you worry about them, they won’t go away. It’s when you treat them as totally unimportant background sounds that you give your limbic system permission to let them fade into the background. So that is what you want to practice.
Cordially,
Neil
Dear Doctor Bauman,
I am concerned because, for the past year (last June to December) I developed a bad habit of sticking my fingers in my ears and digging, often causing bleeding and resulting in bacterial ear infections. My ear doctor gave me Ciproflaxcin (oral pill). The infection did not clear up, so I requested the pill two other times. I later realized that I needed drops, because the infection was also outside of my ear canal, causing scabs and crusting.
The drops cleared up the cuts and scabs, but since then, I was getting non stop ear infections. I kept going to either urgent care or my ENT. Sometimes, I was diagnosed with an ear infection, other times, I received an ear irrigation because I have narrow ear canals, and have been told that I get wax buildup more than other people. I also have a birth defect, where I have no hearing in my right ear.
Since last year (maybe longer), I’ve noticed my ears ring, and sometimes, my hearing has started to ring and then a brief period (like 15 seconds of no hearing). I also notice sensitivity to sounds sometimes, or uncomfortable at bed time. I’ve experienced dizziness. I’m also a very anxious person and worry about everything, and I’m always looking things up on the internet regarding my health. Because I have no hearing in my right ear, my biggest fear is that im going to go deaf in my good ear.
I went to my ENT last week, she cleaned my ears. She said I had a lot of wax, but explained my ear anatomy was good. The next day, i noticed the ringing and brief hearing loss (15 seconds). Before the cleaning, i also had discomfort under my ear when I laid on my side, or noticed pain like I had an ear infection. When the ENT put pressure under my ear I was fine. I’m just such a nervous Nelly and need an explanation. I have severe allergies, I’ve been told by previous ENTs . The last time I flew on a plane, I had a cold, and now notice that when I swallow, I hear sounds, and sometimes at night, I hear pulse like noises. Please help!!
Hi B:
You haven’t asked any questions so I don’t know what you specifically want my help with.
Cordially,
Neil