Sudden sensory neural hearing loss

[Gabi]

hi folks,
I'm completely new to this forum, so first of all: HI
I'm also still pretty new to freediving, although I'm a complete "ocean addict", though, these days more over the water than under.
I've been a professional surfer for the past 10 years and the ocean is my home, greatest teacher, life-force, and healer.
Before my surfing career, I've been a passionate scubadiver, however, in my pro-life as a surfer, there was no space (mainly due to the costs but also, because I have to admit I was a bit 'over it' with regards to all the equipment needed consequent restrictions in when I could do it...).
So anyway, last year I got intriduced to freediving, mainly for the 'science' of breathing and being able to stay under water for longer (when a big wave swallows me).
To cut the story shorter: 3 weeks ago, I went freediving with a group of people.
We were diving for a few hours and I went donw to 12m for the first time, only on one dive, the others were about 8, 9 metres. I never had pain in my ears but have to admit that equalization was at time a bot forced; plus I had some sinus issues in the morning but we went diving in the afternoon and then I felt pretty ok.
After that day diving, my right ear was blocked...
Since then I've seen the ENT specialist twice.
The status quo: after he looked into my ear and doing several hearing tests, he diagnosed me with a "sudden sensory neural loss of hearing", which most probably will be permanent.
The problem is in the inner ear (cochlea) and/or most probably a damage on the nerve that goes to the brain.
I also have a ringing tone 24/7.
I've been taking steroids for the past 10 days but today I'm taking th last tablet.
I'm on a "full rest programme" on land and in the water.
My conditions has improved over the course of taking steroids but yep, today I'm taking the last one.
I will only see the doctor again in one and a half weeks for another check how I'm going...
It's a true shocker to me and the thought of never fully hear again is scary...
Is there ANYONE out there, who knows about this conditions, has experienced it, has any advice and so forth????
I would be GREATLY APPRECIATIVE FOLKS !!!!
...I'm a bit lost
but DO wanna believe that the doctor has put me in a 'wrong box' that I don't belong in and that it's all a "freak thing" that will pass again...
Any advice, words would be hugely appreciated !!!
T H A N K Y O U
Gxx

 

[efattah]

Gabi,

I'm sorry to hear about the situation. For what it is worth, with more than 20 years experience in freediving, I have never heard anyone suffer sudden hearing loss (permanent) as you describe. For that reason alone I find the diagnosis unlikely. But I'm no doctor.

 

[Bill]

Hi Gabi. Don't know if it will help but I have three suggestions. Bill McIntyre (a member of DBlu) lost an ear while diving and maybe you can compare notes. A second opinion is always a good idea for something major. If you contact DAN they might be able to help.

 

[Rik]

Sudden sensory neural hearing loss is rare itself, and while diving can affect your hearing, it might be worthwhile to ask an diving physican for an second opinion. Like Bill suggested, DAN would be good to contact. As an alternative to both, you could consult an Hyperbaric (HBOT) physican.

 

[Simos]

I am no doctor or expert but your condition has improved as you say, so it might just take more time than usual? It sounds a bit odd it happened 3 weeks ago but you are only on steroids for the last 10 days but again I am no expert.

Also from the little I know the usual injury of the inner ear from diving is the round/oval window - did he explain why he thinks it's the nerve? If I am not wrong if it is the round window, it can be sealed with a procedure...

Definitely worth looking into it further with other doctors, I wouldn't accept anything as 'permanent' without a second and third opinion/diagnosis. Good luck!

 

[watts]

Hi Gaby I don't want to be a downer but here's what happened to me.
I had been diving for about 8 months and never had many issues equalizing.
I had had a cold a few weeks prior to diving but felt fine and not snotty at all.
I went diving in coldish water for Sydney at 17 or 18 c.
On about the 4th descent at about 8m with no prior pressure I had a sudden sharp pain in my left ear. I got to the surface and should of got out but Continued to dive. Equalizing felt ok on later dives but do remember some balance abnormalities. After getting out of the water I noticed my balance was off and I had a muffled fullness in the ear. Also bad tinitus.
The following day I saw a doctor who said he couldn't see anything. I asked for a referral for an ent who told me to get an MRI and get a hearing test. Waiting for the test I tried ear candles and saw another doctor who also couldn't see anything.
Finally I got the hearing test and straight away he asked if I had been shooting and I knew it wasn't good news. He said id lost the high pitched sounds in that ear and said it was irrepairable.
I started to get very depressed and worried that this new sport I had found and loved could do this and that I would be with this all my life.
It took time for the balance to come back and my brain to readjust to sound direction.
I have learnt how to deal with the tinnitus but the hearing never returned.
I hope this hasn't happened to you but I have been diving for nearly ten years now and I'm glad I didn't give it up.
Nat..

 

[Simos]

Finally I got the hearing test and straight away he asked if I had been shooting and I knew it wasn't good news.

What did he mean by 'shooting' Nat? Just curious as I have tinnitus and some loss of high pitch hearing too - had it for about 15 years now and never went to a DR about it as I learned to live with it and doesn't bother me that much.

 

[watts]

The smart ass hearing tester smugly looked at me asking if i had done any (gun) shooting. Loud sounds would have caused a similar hearing loss.
I was devastated and angry.
Since then i have had no real issues with equalizing.
I don't know why my eardrum didn't perforate. Maybe the cold water made it less flexible and my inner ear was weaker.
I compare diving sometimes to what i used to do (skateboarding for 12 years) and its a lot safer but i did nearly quit back then.
Hope things get better Gabi.
Nat...
Ps check out Erez over your way @ Apnea Australia..

 

[Gabi]

thanx 4 all ur replies folks, really appreciated!
would have another question for watts:
what was thw final diagnosis in ur case??
and are u saying that this happened several years ago and u're still diving?
are u fully deaf on one ear or partially or?
did u get medication back then?
mmmhhhh, will surely have more Qs for you but sending this off 1st of all
yes, will pass it on to erez, he's a good mate of mine!
thanx 4 ur replies already in advance
Gabi

 

[Simos]

The smart ass hearing tester smugly looked at me asking if i had done any (gun) shooting. Loud sounds would have caused a similar hearing loss.
I was devastated and angry.
Since then i have had no real issues with equalizing.
I don't know why my eardrum didn't perforate. Maybe the cold water made it less flexible and my inner ear was weaker.
I compare diving sometimes to what i used to do (skateboarding for 12 years) and its a lot safer but i did nearly quit back then.
Hope things get better Gabi.
Nat...
Ps check out Erez over your way @ Apnea Australia..

Thanks - was only asking because when mine happened I was doing 3 things that could have caused it: shooting (army), clubbing (definitely the most probable cause as I remember being deaf after) and gigging (electric guitar, loud amps etc). My ears were ringing badly after each one and 15 years after, they still do - but I was asking for trouble with all that ear abuse... Freediving hasn't caused more damage so far.

All the best Gabi hope it gets better soon!

 

[watts]

Hi Gabi this happened in 03 and I've been diving ever since. Because of this I've spent a lot of time working on eq and mouthfill timing and pressure needed to eq. After the hearing test I should of go back to the specialist but time had passed and I was quite down and didn't feel like spending heaps on specialists who couldn't do much now.
The tinnitus sucks but it you don't listen to it it goes away some.
The hearing loss is only high pitch in left ear.
I suppose what I and others can learn from this is to don't dive if you have been stuffed up at all ,Eq gently very often, and be wary of cold water.

 

[chipinga]

I have suffered something similar and have lost 70% of my hearing in my left ear. The biggest problem by far to my ears and it has completely stopped me diving in my tracks is after a few (2-3) dives, even shallow dives caused me significant nausea which can last for 24 hours or more. I can still equalise but the effects of the nausea is debilitating. A specialist has suggested that I may have damaged the fine hairs in the inner ear that gives one balance. It may resolve itself or may be permanant.

For now I can now only make spearguns rather than use them.

 

[OTGav]

Hey Gabi,

Erez spoke to me the other weekend about your ear - I've emailed him the response from an Audiologist friend of mine.

He has my email - happy for him to share it with you.

Thanks

Gav

 

[watts]

Starting to seem like an Ozzie thing.

 

[Fitz-Clarke]

Sensorineural hearing loss is not a diagnosis. It’s a description. It means you have damage to the inner ear structures, which include the cochlea and auditory nerve, as opposed to the conducting chain of bones. You have almost certainly injured your round window.

The middle ear space behind your eardrum that fails to equalize puts a negative pressure on one side of the round window. Then you do a forced Valsalva that transmits a surge of positive pressure through your cerebrospinal fluid and into the cochlea. The combined pressure gradient causes the round window at the end of the cochlea to blow outward and rupture. You get leakage of perilymphatic fluid out of the cochlea.

This is why you should never force a Valsalva while diving. These injuries tend to recover to a limited degree in the first few weeks, but it’s quite likely you will have an element of permanent hearing loss in that ear, and possibly some chronic tinnitus. The other problem is that you are now at risk for further damage and more leakage through a persistent fistula if you continue to dive. You need to see an ENT surgeon to see if any leaks warrant repair before you can return to diving.

 

[apneaboy]

I'd always seek a second or even third opinion in these cases and find a true expert in that field. The sooner the better.

 

[Haydn]

Same thing happened to me a few years ago. Shallow dives, no pain, but came out of the water 100% deaf in one ear. The 100% deafness remained for about one week, then gradually improved. After 10 more days, the improvement stopped. No further improvement ever since. When I went to be tested (after 2 weeks) , my hearing in that ear was diagnosed as hearing impaired and I cannot hear high tones. I now have a hearing aid. Funny thing though, I can hear the tinitus as easy as anything. I thought being a little bit deaf would be a quiet experience, its not, tinitus is loud.

 

[Simos]

Same thing happened to me a few years ago. Shallow dives, no pain, but came out of the water 100% deaf in one ear. The 100% deafness remained for about one week, then gradually improved. After 10 more days, the improvement stopped. No further improvement ever since. When I went to be tested (after 2 weeks) , my hearing in that ear was diagnosed as hearing impaired and I cannot hear high tones. I now have a hearing aid. Funny thing though, I can hear the tinitus as easy as anything. I thought being a little bit deaf would be a quiet experience, its not, tinitus is loud.

Did you use valsava out of curiosity? If round window rupture, I've read that it can be fixed - what the success rate is especially after all these years I don't know but might be worth trying. I know what you mean about tinitus....

 

[hteas]

Gabi,
I lost 100% of hearing in my left ear 1 1/2 years ago. Sudden and complete. I came out of the water after a normal dive and thought my left ear was plgged up with mucous. A couple of days later, because I still couldn't hear properly I saw my doc, who referred me to an ENT. The ENT had an MRI done to look for a possible tumor, and had a very complete audiology study done. Completely gone, probably the nerve from the inner ear.

The rest of the story is that in 1973 I had 2 problems with my ears. Both were diving, and both caused dizzyness and nausea. After recovery I had lost about 1/2 of the hearing in my left ear, and had the ringing. The docs at the time said it was a round window rupture, but an opinion from an ENT several years later was that it might have been damage to a membrane in my inner ear.
I still freedive, and have no problem, except that anyone who wants to talk to me needs to be on my right side, and of course, the ringing at several frequencies and a lack of being able to hear in a noisy room.
To my way of thinking, I got a lot more years out of that damaged ear. While regretable, I'd rather be a half deaf diver than a landlubber.

 

[Haydn]

Same as me. In a noisy room, I have to be looking at the person talking to me, to be able to hear them properly. Even if watching the TV, I cannot hear properly if other people are talking in the same room.

The difference is this: I havent dived since. Maybe 6 years, and I have a real hard time about that. But I am staying very wet.