I am curious about this as well because for a while now I also have had echos in my head when I talk. I also hear the echos when I push my teeth together and hum so I thought it was my teeth, but apparently their fine.

Sometimes when I talk, it feels like there something lose in my head that's just kind of reverberating with the sound. It's not painful in any way, it just feels like when something lose reverberates. Is that what yours is like?

JustShoot,
I am hoping you find that this is temporary, and some kind of a solution. Please keep us updated.
And Ashley, I would certainly like to understand this echoey thing that you and JustShoot and I have. I'm constantly amazed by how little the medical establishment knows or understands about this.

:)

Ashley, do you hear the echo when other people talk, or only when you talk?

My husband and I went out to breakfast this morning. I couldn't make out anything that was being said around me. It was all a jumble of noise. I couldn't even make out much of what my husband said, even though he was only a few feet from me. If I plug my right ear and try to hear with only my left ear, I can't understand anything that is being said.

I will let you all know what the ENT says after my visit tomorrow.

I presume by "pain killers' you mean opiates of some form--vicodin, oc's, etc. My advice is to try to get off them. There is a growing body of evidence linking them to hearing loss. Just ask Rush Limbaugh.

Good luck!

steveDad, I don't take a true opiate. I take Tramadol, which I beileve some form of synthetic opiate, although not truly an opiate.. I don't like taking them (6 a day), but the quality of my life would really suck if I didn't knock this pain down a notch or two every day.

The research indicates only 15 % of people who end up with hearing loss know what caused it. I sure don't. The sad thing is that I don't have symptoms sitting here in my quiet sewing room. As soon as a toilet flushes, a phone rings, a television is turned on, my hubby talks to me, etc., my ears slam shut and the roar starts. I'm so hopeful they will have some answers tomorrow.

audiologist: I have severe hearing loss in my left ear -- 82% loss in high tone ranges and 100% loss in low tone ranges

ENT: Nothing "mechanical" wrong with my ears. They don't know what causes sudden hearing loss. Only two tools in their toolbox: Prednisone for 14 days; if that doesn't work, an injection directly into the ear drum. Sometimes the hearing returns, sometimes it doesn't.

She ordered blood work and an MRI. I will see her again in 2 weeks.

Hi JustShoot

I'm so very sorry to hear this. I'm hoping the Prednisone works and this reverses quickly.

My thoughts and prayers have and will continue to be with you.


Luv and Hugs
SummerJ

Thank you, Summer. I need all the prayers I can get.

Hi,
I'm really sorry to hear this. You have exactly what I was diagnosed with in March. I suspected as much when you described your symptoms. I received the same treatment: 2 weeks of Prednisone and 3 ear drum shots. I did get back a small amount of hearing. Whether this would have happened anyway or was due to the treatment is unknown but I think the Pred helped.
You will need to be very patient. I know that sounds like crappy advice - and it is coming from a very impatient person. But I found that time was my ally. As the months have passed, my tinnitus lessened and the hyperacusis is nearly gone. Even the echo effect has toned down. At first, I couldn't even talk on the phone because of the echo and now it's no problem at all.
About a third of people GET THEIR HEARING BACK or at least a good portion of it and you may be one of them.
This is a tough fight, there's no doubt about it. Don't give up or feel like your life is over or irrevocably changed or ruined. It will improve.
Keep us updated.
Wishing you all the best.

Thank you for the words of encouragement, Katsinger. I am hopeful that I am one of the lucky ones who gets hearing back.

I can't imagine having the shots. The thought terrifies me. How painful was it? Be honest. I don't know if I can do the shots.

I want to thank all of you for your comments. The more information I get, the better I feel.

The ear injections (intratympanic) are unpleasant but any pain is short-lived. There are actually two quick jabs, then you feel the solution kind of flowing in - yucky. I experienced a few seconds of vertigo (you're lying down). Then you lie still for about 15 minutes. My first time, I had an earache right after the treatment. I took acetaminiphen (Tylenol) and it went away after about a half hour. For the second and third treatments, I took the acetaminiphen before I left the house and did not experience much discomfort. I recommend this.
The injections are more creepy than actually painful. I focused on breathing and imagery to distract myself and this helped a lot.
The whole hearing loss thing is traumatic. It turns your life upside down but have faith that you will get through it and improve. Hang in there! You sound like a smart and resilient person.
:)