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What Causes Fullness In The Ear And Muffled Hearing?

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Posted on Sat, 16 Sep 2017
Question: Ear fullness started in right ear when i awoke one morning and now, 3 weeks later i awoke again and the fullness and muffled feeling is now in my left ear. I did the tuning fork test at the doctors and he found a conductive loss in the right ear but nothing in the left. I also did a hearing test and the left ear had perfect hearing but the right had a conductive loss of about 20 db in some of the mid frequencies. I went back to the ENT yesterday before i woke up with the feeling in my left ear, and he told me my right ear had a hypermobile eardrum possibly from scarring which he saw on the ear drum and the scarring also blocked the sight of my eustachian tube. In my left he saw a bit of scarring but with a microscope he could see my eustachian tube unlike in my right ear. So how come, with my left ear seeming perfect maybe with a little bit of scarring, feel different and full all of a sudden? I dont know if the issues with my right ear are still there since im mainly noticing my left now. Could the scarring in my left have gotten worse somehow? I dont notice a bad hearing loss vut its quite annoying and feels the exact same as my right ear has felt although i dont feel any fullbess in my right ear anymore. What is going on? I do have some allergies which causes nasal stuffiness but an mri i had done recently showed no issues with eustachian tube funcition. Please help and hopefully the scarring hasnt gotten worst!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Priyanka Aggarwal (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Eustachian tube blockage

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcare magic and thanks for putting up the query
From the complaints it seems to be a eustachian tube blockage due to nasal pathology causing these symptoms. Eustachian tube blockage or dysfunction can't be assessed on MRI. An impedance audiometry should be done and a x-ray paranasal sinuses should be done.
The scarring might be due to this only. it is caused by recurrent middle ear infection.
Please tell me what medicines have u been taking so far and send me the reports and the audiometry report also so that I can suggest you better.
Takesteam inhalation and chew a gum that will also help decongest the tube and relieve the symptoms to some extent.
Any further questions are always welcome.
Take care
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Priyanka Aggarwal (2 days later)
Hi, I have already talked to you a few days ago about the audiology reports. You told me it could be Eustachian Tube blockage because the Tympanometry showed a high peak for my right ear meaning a hypermobile eardrum. My left ear is no longer being affected and my right is still the same... slight full feeling and hearing is muffled. When i say full feeling, its more like a feeling that I've lost hearing in that ear but I know it's conductive not sensorineural. I have a couple of questions though; could noise induced hearing loss be conductive instead of sensorineural? like can hearing loud music cause scarring of my eardrum and damage or dislocation of my middle ear bones? Also, if scarring was the case for my hearing loss, could it get worse over time if left unremoved/untreated? Thanks a ton. I've been using Dymista nasal steroid spray for 4 days now too, not sure if I am noticing slight improvements or not.

Oh and also... my hearing is still in the 'normal' range. However, I have a loss of around 20 db in a lower frequency (250hz) and also a 20db loss in a higher frequency (3000hz) which my ENT stated was conductive.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Priyanka Aggarwal (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Eustachian tube blockage

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome again with a query.
Noise induced hearing loss is a sensory neural loss. Eustachian tube blockage or drum abnormality like scarring can cause conductive hearing loss.
The eustachian tube blockage can be managed medically and if medical management doesn't work than surgical intervention is required like grommet insertion.
You should take oral decongestants as I prescribed you earlier.
The cause for scarring should be dealt with otherwise the loss can increase.
There can be other causes too like you said but there the symptoms are not fluctuating like in your case and are permanent.
You should get a x-ray paranasal sinuses done and send me the pictures.
take the medicines as prescribed. You will definitely be benefited.
Any further questions are always welcome.
Take care
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Priyanka Aggarwal (2 hours later)
So basically if It's not ETD the scarring would most likely be permanent and therefore my conductive loss can't be restored? My doctor did not recommend grommet insertion because it can be problematic. I know about eardrum repair surgery which involves removing the scar tissue and replacing it?... Not too sure but if that could restore everything it would be great.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Priyanka Aggarwal (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Conductive hearing loss

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Tympanoplasty or getting the drum repaired is an appropriate option but before that the ETD should be ruled out as it can affect the new drum too.

In case the loss had been more, one could opt for a hearing aid but it is not required in your case.
Grommet insertion is a very safe procedure and very well recommended in ETD.
You can consult your ENT SPECIALIST for that.
You are always welcome with any further questions.
Take care
Thanks and regards
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Priyanka Aggarwal

ENT Specialist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 1389 Questions

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What Causes Fullness In The Ear And Muffled Hearing?

Brief Answer: Eustachian tube blockage Detailed Answer: Hi Welcome to Healthcare magic and thanks for putting up the query From the complaints it seems to be a eustachian tube blockage due to nasal pathology causing these symptoms. Eustachian tube blockage or dysfunction can't be assessed on MRI. An impedance audiometry should be done and a x-ray paranasal sinuses should be done. The scarring might be due to this only. it is caused by recurrent middle ear infection. Please tell me what medicines have u been taking so far and send me the reports and the audiometry report also so that I can suggest you better. Takesteam inhalation and chew a gum that will also help decongest the tube and relieve the symptoms to some extent. Any further questions are always welcome. Take care Thanks and regards