Diminished hearing after ear tube procedure in adult

[steven65msp]

I had tympanostomy / ventilation / PE tubes put in both ears today and I now have significantly reduced hearing.  Is this a short term effect of the procedure, or will my hearing be like this until the tubes are removed?  Human speech now sounds muffled and background noises seem excessively loud.  I have to turn the TV volume up a good bit to hear it clearly.  I’d rather have the congested feeling than the diminished hearing.

The tubes are to treat eustation tube dysfunction that was causing a sensation of chronic ear congestion – always having to “pop” or clear my ears.  My left eardrum was significantly retracted.  There was no fluid in my ears, no infection, and my hearing tested normal for my age (43).  I had tubes in my ears twice as a child because of recurring infections.

There is a great deal of information online about ear tubes for children, but almost nothing about what adults experience when they get ear tubes.

[sheais]

I know this is an old post, but hopefully you will respond and let me know what happened with you? I am having the exact same problem and it's making me crazy. I can't get any help from doctors or nurses, and I know what you mean about nothing being on the internet! Please post how long (and if) the clogged sensation cleared up! Thanks!

Amber

[susie197702]

Mine has not cleared yet after 31 days

[melvetil]

Had one ear tube put in left ear two days ago. Left ear still muffled. But sounds are so amplified out of my right ear. Its very unnerving! Has anyone else experienced this?

[danniah]

This is an old post, but did the symptoms clear up? I am dealing with something similar. I had tubes put in three days ago. My right ear is full of fluid that isn't draining and there is pressure and sometimes the sound of my heartbeat. Makes me crazy. Plus my own voice sounds like it used to when I'd submerge my ears in the bathtub. so far it's miserable.

[Jo290510]

Hi,

I have just had a grommet put in my right ear and have the exact same problems as above. I would be gratful if somebody could let me know whn this congested/muffled hearing will stop........

[susie197702]

mine never got better,it's been a year with ear tubes,Dr.does not know why this happen,the only thing that kept me very going mad is hearing aids!

[danniah]

It's been over two weeks for me and it's beginning to get better

[Pip709]

I had tubes put in on Jan 25, 2010 and have the feeling described by many (diminished hearing, muffled sounds, feel like I am underwater).  My ENT says diminished hearing from tubes is extremely rare, and he is shocked at the hearing test results - I am having a second (nerve hearing) test done today - the doctor is concerned the hearing loss is permanent.  
I too wold really like to hear if this condition has cleared up over time for anyone -  am worried that even if they take the tubes out this is how it will be - OMG it is a terrible feeling and so much worse than the constant feeling of pressure that I had before.

[fentonchristine]

What happened after the tube removal? Did your sx improve or worse?

[susie197702]

I wish people on here would write back to let us know if things got better or worse after the tubes were removed. Like you, I need a answer too.

[susie197702]

I am having my ear tubes removed on the 7 of Sept. I will let everyone know how it went,I hope I will be able to hear better after the tubes  are removed,I do hope I did not wait to long to have this done!

[melvetil]

Susie how did this go? I had an ear tube put in 2 days ago in my left. It is muffled but I no longer hear my voice or heartbeat in my era. However, the sound in my right ear is amplified. It is almost unbearable. Did this happen to you?

[Pip709]

Opps, I meant to say I had tubes put in in January 2011 -
Thanks

[tashaburton32]

I just had the tubes put in today, and the intial cuts to the ear drum didn't hurt but when they placed the tubes my ear I have the imediate clogging and muffled hearing how long did this last for you. I made them take them out right away as I had a severe panic attack. After taking them out it still is muffled it echos and I feel like I am under water I can't hear people talking across the room, they have to come up to me. I kept asking him what to expect and he couldn't tell me. All I want to know is will my hearing return to what I am used to hearing and how long it will take, can I do anything to stop the pressure and stuffy feeling in my head. I felt it when he pushed the tube in the left ear, it felt like he came thru my check. Please help as I have sever panic issues, please tell me what to think.

[DavidJC67]

This is an old post but just wondered if your symptons went away. I started with an ear infection and now my have that clogged up feeling in my ears. the ENT say I have issue with my ETD and negative pressure. He said ear tubes may be needed.  Please let me know how your turned out. Thanks.

[DavidJC67]

This is an old post but just wondered if your symptons went away. I started with an ear infection and now my have that clogged up feeling in my ears. the ENT say I have issue with my ETD and negative pressure. He said ear tubes may be needed.  Please let me know if  your symptons got better Thanks

[susie197702]

Ear tubes did not help!

[naenae1972]

How are feeling now? Just had tubes put in 3 days ago and I feel awful the same as you.Not sure if I should have my ent take them out or what to do

[ajitninan9]

Tasha,
    i am having the same exact problem and want to take out the tubes can you tell me if it healed and how long it took.  I am desperate please respond.
    Thanks
        

[susie197702]

I wish someone would answer these question people have,I am facing the same as you,should I or shouldn't I have the tubes removed??

[ajitninan9]

Tasha,
    i am having the same exact problem and want to take out the tubes can you tell me if it healed and how long it took.  I am desperate please respond.
    Thanks

[susie197702]

I want mine out also,but no ones seems to respond here. Has been one month for me.

[susie197702]

Anybody out there??

[alicein1derland]

I know this is old but any updates? Just had tubes placed 2 days ago... Feel like I'm under water. Please help!

[alasklover]

I had an ear tube inserted in Aug. 2013, as my eardrum was very retracted & always felt stuffy,  When I flew it was very very painful, therefore, I had a tube put in.  Since that time, my ear also feels "stuffy".  I've done okay however for about 4 weeks, (it really helped with pain upon flying), it still feels stuffy however.  But almost 4 weeks later, I noticed this pulsating, swooshing noise, especially when I lay down at night & I cannot sleep because of it.. Please tell me this will go away, also ???

[madster07]

I was wondering if it ever went away.  I have have ETD for two years now and had a tube put in about 7 months ago and it has not helped.  In fact made it worse and I have had blood come out of my ear three times, last night it happened again after about two weeks of constantly feeling plugged up.  All of a sudden when I was lying on my side in bed last night I felt fluid coming out of my ear which also took away some of the feeling of plugged up ness, but when I saw it was blood again, I wasn't very happy.  It is Veteran's Day Weekend and my ENT or Family doc won't be in until Tuesday.  This happened last night, Friday.  But I started using the antibiotic drops she prescribed last time this happened and those make it feel plugged up again!  This is really a vicious circle and I have read many threads like this by frustrated people with this ET problem.  There seems to be no solid solution!  I've been to 3 ENTS and still cannot get rid of this problem. I think the tube is what is causing the infections which cause a small amount of blood to come out of my ear when they occur.  I am going to talk to my doctor about taking it out because it really hasn't helped to make the ear any better!  I am so fed up with this problem!  Are you doing any better?  i have experienced a whoosing sound in my ear before also, but usually when I was up and walking around, not laying down.  Please let me know if you find out any new information and I will do the same.  There has to be a cure for this!

[JessePink27]

Hi I know this discussion closed about a year ago but I just had an ear tube put in my left ear only yesterday and I'm having the hearing loss and muffled sensation that others have described. I immediately called the office this morning and they said it happens to about a third of patients who get ear tubes, which wasn't made clear before I had the procedure. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my hearing goes back to normal once the tube is out!

[melvetil]

The same thing just happened to me with my left. But the hearing has been amplified in my Right ear. Did you have this experience? What happened with yours?

[worldpeace1]

Hi, i just had a tube placed in right ear yesterday and am not liking how it is feeling and i have some hearing loss in that ear.. How are you feeling now and do you know if this is normal?

[mahomsy93]

Hey guys,

I got an ear tube yesterday and currently feel like my left ear is stuffed and my hearing is not only muffled but also much, much lower. I can't hear nearly as well as I did before the surgery. I notice a lot of people stop posting when their condition improves so I'll try and follow up when I get some changes.

JessePink27 and worldpeace1, any improvement yet?

Michael

[Clhappy]

After reading several post I am worried about these tubes that were put in my ears a couple of months ago.The ENT put them in one at a time about 2 weeks apart. I have hearing loss and background noise is very loud. Sometimes I can't tell where a sound is coming from and I have trouble determining what someone is saying. On my last visit the doctor said my ears looked dry and said I needed to see a neurologist. He did extensive testing just to prove I do not have a neurological problem so don't go down that road. I am so glad to have found this web site, I just hope and pray for an answer because it is really affecting my quality of life.

[susie197702]

Same here!

[Bill_A]

I have had the same problems that others report: having had tubes inserted to allow drainage of fluid behind the ear drum. Without the tubes sound reception in that ear becomes quite muffled. I have had the surgery done a number of times on the same ear, as the tubes work their way out and fluid builds up again causing loss of hearing. While the tubes are working their way out I have also experienced itching, pain, and recurrent hearing loss. I am currently scheduled for surgery in Nov to reinsert a tube, as currently none is present. The surgery will be done this time under general anesthesia, as I don't want to re-experience the discomfort of having it done in the Dr's office under local topical anesthesia.

[babyjneng]

Hi. I had done myringotomy last night to drain the fluid out of my left ear. The doctor removed the tube after an hour bec he said there is no more fluid. This morning when i woke up i feel like my left ear is clogged with nothing on it.i cant tell if its deft or what. But i feel it needs to pop or something.
Im taking antibiotic drops for my ears.
My left ear doenst really feels normal and i dont know if it will come back once its healed. Im kinda regretting doing this procedure. :(

[susie197702]

I regret it,to late now,I will have them removed soon

[wonka31]

I had an ear tube put in yesterday in my right ear only. I had the myringotomy with no tube done about 5 weeks ago. I had the same symptoms others are describing...the change in hearing, a muffled sound, change in certain sounds like when you are driving and all you hear is the sound of the tires. I had some itching as well. My doctor said it would take 5 - 7 days for the ear drum to close and heal. He said I might have some issues for the first couple of days with my hearing. It took a week, but the problems with my hearing went away. When he made the incision in my ear drum, I had instant relief of the pressure in my ear, which was great. When my ear drum healed, the pressure came back, along with the pain, etc. So it was decided to put a tube in.  Had the tube put in yesterday and the same exact symptoms as before (change in hearing, etc.). My doctor said this is completely normal and I should be back to normal in about a week. He said that since the ear was dysfunctional, my brain was compensating to try and hear better out of that ear. Now that the issue has been taken care of, it takes time for the brain to stop compensating for the restored hearing, anywhere from a couple of days up to a couple of weeks. I hope this helps everyone.

[susie197702]

it's been one month for me and still have a hard time with hearing people. I had fluid behind both ears, but I feel I am behind  a rock and a hard place in knowing what to do! no pressure at the point when ear tubes were put in,I want them taken out.

[Mglobal]

I have a similar situation right now and had tubes removed last week since they made my ears feels worse.  As soon as they put the tubes in I felt more clogged as if I am under water.  I see this was a few years ago for you.  Did you ever get relief from your symptoms.  I'm  not sure what way to go? What kind of Dr. to go to next.  Any help you can provide me would be greatly appreciated. It is very hard to function like this and can't enjoy anything about life at all right now.  Thank you.

[dsmm]

I just had a tube put in one ear 4 days ago because my head/ears always feel clogged like when you have a bad cold and difficult for me to clear my left ear so doc said Eustachian tube not doing what it's supposed to.   Also have a kinda tinnitus thing going on which occurred one day last year (tubes won't help that).  Anyway, I am experiencing the head under water feeling with an echo sound when I talk.  Called the ENT Weds cause I was starting to freak out thinking this is now permanent!!!! Oh NO.  He said not to worry, that it would not stay that way forever.  Earlier on in these posts someone said after a couple of weeks, it cleared up.  Trying to hold on to see if it all clears up for me before having him remove.   Definitely will not get a tube in my other ear if this situation doesn't remedy itself.

[susie197702]

It did not get better for me,has now been 9 months since I had the tubes,will have then removed  next month.

[susie197702]

I did decide to have my ear tubes removed! My left ear tubes is clod up now and on ear drops to help it clear,hope it does.