Audiologist Appointment

This afternoon I had an appointment at a hearing loss clinic with an Audiologist. 

In early January I had sudden onset of tinnitus (ringing in the ear) in my left ear, along with some balance issues and episodes of vertigo. 

I saw my family doc who suspected Labyrinthitis, and prescribed methylprednisolone to stop the inflammation, but experienced some hearing loss in my left ear before I could start the medication. I was told that when the inflammation was taken care of, the symptoms it caused may last about a year, if they improve at all. 

The episodes of vertigo/dizziness and balance issues pretty quickly were reduced, and the tinnitus and hearing loss hasn't gotten worse since then, but there has also been no improvement. 

It's only been about four months, but I'm getting antsy. I mean, it's my hearing. Not to mention that I'm a musician, and I am also facing an eventual loss of my central vision, so ... you know... four months without any sign of improvement, I figured why not just book a hearing test? There's no harm in checking a baseline, and the cost is not expensive at all. 

The test was quick and painless. I sat in a room, listened to some words and repeated them, then listened to several series of beeps in one ear and then the other, clicking a button when I could hear each beep. Then she added a different contraption and listened to more beeps. Then she did a pressure & eardrum function test - which was mostly just more beeping. 

Here's what I learned: 

1. Apparently I have tiny little ear canals - she had to use the kids earbuds on me. Lol.

2. I do have mild-moderate hearing loss in my left ear, with the worst of it with lower-frequency sounds. 

3. The different contraption she used on me was something that helped bypass my middle ear and send the sound signals straight to the hearing organ. When she did that, my hearing in my left ear was very close to normal - only mild loss in the lower frequencies. 

4. The problem seems like it is potentially in my middle ear. 

5. It may or may not have been Labyrinthitis to begin with - though no one is sure yet. 

So she is referring me to an Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialist (ENT). It could take a year to get in, so she is also seeing me again in 6 months to monitor if there's any improvement or progression in my tinnitus or hearing loss. 

So now we wait... and once I see the ENT, he/she/they may do some scans to see if anything obvious is going on inside my ears. 

:)