Suggest Treatment For Tinnitus

Posted on Thu, 16 Oct 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 Answered on

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : During a dental appt, I was injected with epi and experienced immediate hearing loss and fuzziness. It resolved, but the next day, I had ear pressure, hearing loss & tinnitus and saw my PCP (diagnosed with blocked eustachian tube). Treatment with Afrin, Ocean Spray & Nasalcrom with decongestants & antihistamines. Tinnitus remains, but can hear out of the ear again! Now (one week later), I have headaches worsening when bent over or sneezing, radiating from back to front, pressure behind one eye and now ear pain (throbbing). Also am shaky and feel generally ill and tired. No fever. It's 3am and I woke up with pain. Feel better sitting up.

Answered by Dr. Sumit Bhatti (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Ear examination, PTA, I/A

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query.

1. Get an ear examination done. PTA (Pure Tone Audiometry ) and I/A (Impedance Audiometry/Tympanometry) must be done in order to assess the hearing levels and the source of the tinnitus.

2. Keeping the history of this Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) in mind, I would recommend that your physician prescribe vasodilators (such a pentoxifyline), antivirals (such as acyclovir), low molecular weight dextran (lomodex) and high dose steroids (after ruling out any ear infection).

3. A lot depends on the findings of these tests. Hence upload the results for further treatment advice.

If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar