Since Friday I've been deaf in one ear (I'm Terrified it will be PERMANENT!)

[AnxiousNdepressed]

For the last few years I have worked at a job that requires me to work overnight. Since I sleep during the day, I have always palyed a cd of "white noise" (rainstorm and ocean sounds) to drown out all other noise while I sleep. I have always played it on my boom-box at the maximum volume.

Starting Friday, I started to notice a buzzing or humming sound in my ear. It has gotten worse and worse each day, and now I am almost completely deaf in my right ear. I looked it up online I read about NIHL (noise-induced hearing loss) and how it is irreversible if it is a result of gradually being exposed to loud noise for several hours a day over the course of a few years.

I am a WRECK! I cannot believe my own stupidity (to have the boom box so loud everyday for years)! I am living in fear that my hearing in my right ear will never return! I can't even enjoy normal things like watching TV because I just keep concentrating on how I can't hear it properly. I can't stop crying- do you think my hearing will return?

[sixpack]

the best thing for you to do is go to your GP.  Have the doc give an objective view and take it from there.

[AnxiousNdepressed]

Thank you for the reply six pack. I also read that sudden hearing loss in one ear is kind of common, and 50% of the time you will recover without any treatment. How long do you think I should wait to see if it clears up on it's own?

[sixpack]

Honestly, If I or any of my kids had a sudden loss of hearing, I'd just have the doc check it out.  It could be fluid in the ear or an ear infection that can be easily treated with anti-bs.

[AnxiousNdepressed]

Thank you sixpack. You have helped calm me down. I am going to call the doctor as soon as his office opens.

[marc]

I agree with sixpack. You could also go to an ENT physician.

[CoolCalmAndCollected]

I'm going to say that I would think total hearing loss in one ear would occur gradually, not suddenly, and I hope it is something as mundane as wax.  I've read that wax can be responsible for the buzzing sensation.   I have heard of people needing to have the wax taken out of their ear with water pressure, and a lot of wax can do a lot of temporary and reversible damage to hearing.

[johndeere216]

I am far from a doctor, but I think sixpack is right about this.  That doesn't seem like something to wait around with and see what happens.  If the doctor can't see you right away I would go to the ER.  Please let us know what you find out.

[CoolCalmAndCollected]

Let us know what happens after you see the doctor, OK?  I'm putting my money on wax.

[Jenfr8801]

My sister went to my nephews concert.  He plays base in a heavy metal band  .  She lost hearing in one of her ears for like a week.  She had ringing in her ears and all.  Doc said it will come back, that it just takes some time.  If you go to the doc, it'll probably ease your mind, but I'm pretty sure its gonna be fine.

[Jenfr8801]

I also meant to add that I've had really bad wax build up in my ear and lost hearing.  I had the doc flush it out....it was amazing how loud everything was after that...lol.

[AnxiousNdepressed]

Thank you to everyone who responded! 

I should have mentioned that yesterday, I tried Hydrogene peroxide in my ear 3 times and I removed all the wax- that is another reason I was so upset- I knew it was NOT wax!

I just came back from an ear nose & throat specialist and an audiologist. The ENT looked in my ear and right away he knew it was not wax. He said that it was very possible that it was nerve damage from playing the cd so loud while I slept everyday and that the audiologist could determine whether that was what happened. He sent me to the audiologist (who works in the same office.)

The audiologist did 3 tests on me. He said that the good news was that there was no nerve damage to my right ear and that the boom-box definately had nothing to do with my hearing loss. But he also said that there was a significant loss of hearing in my right ear and he wasn't sure why and he wasn't sure whether or not it would be permanent. (He said "probably not") He then sent me back to the ENT.

The ENT said that he suspected that since it was not nerve damage, and not an ear infection, he assumes that it's probably fluid in the inner ear (like behind the ear drum.) He wrote me 3 perscrptions and said that it should be better in 2 weeks. If it is better in 2 weeks, he told me not to come back. If it is not better in 2 weeks, he said that we'll have to do more tests.

So at least I feel a little better that whatever is wrong with my ear, it is not because of the boom-box.... I'm really hoping that these perscriptions will work and that it is not something more serious. Thanks again to everyone who responded... If it doesn't clear up, believe me, I will be on these boards worrying, lol.

[johndeere216]

Glad to hear you got relatively good news!