ear problems

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Eckart

Senior Member
so I went diving last weekend and I damaged my ear somewhat... here are the symptoms that I have:
ringing
I would say a 30% loss of hearing, mostly high pitched sounds
a little crackle

is this a burst ear drum? it's not painfull at all , it has a weird "heavy" feeling...and I was wondering if any of you had had these symptoms and if the hearing comes back?
I have given it a week to recover but it hasn't so I'm going to see a doc on thursday.

any advice?
 
C

Capespearo

Senior Member
I know a few older divers who can barely hear at all from the multiple ear infections and damage etc.

Get to the doc as soon as you can.Not to be the bearer of bad news (and yours may be different) but a mate of mine had your exact symptoms and he has permanently lost around 50% hearing in his one ear.Try see an ENT,and specifically a diver specialist (there is one in town and another in Durbanville,I'll try get you details)

Strangely he battles to hear certain tones,mainly womans voices,which to most would be an advantage :blah
 
J

jb2

Sealiner
I would advise two things

Get to the Doc as soon as possible and learn to lip read.

You don't say whether you had any difficulty equalising on the dive and whether you forced the equalisation process.

Since I am sufficiently dumb as mud to have done this a few times I know what you are talking about.

What I think happens is that you have a blockage and that force it up into the middle ear where it works havoc on the delicate little goodies. You will also find that all the stress on your eardrum will make it less sensitive and a poorly calibrated piece of equipment.

I have reached the stage where I avoid noisy restaurants since I can't distinguish different sounds very well. I just can't hear what the person at the other end of the table is saying.

As to Capespearos suggestion re hearing certain tones. You will find that there is a big difference between hearing and listening!

After 10 years of marriage my hearing may be poor but I listen well!
 
P

ph03n1xkny

Member
I had something similar happen to me a few months ago, I suffered from a middle ear barotrauma from not equalising properly and diving with a bit of Sinusitis....The advice you received above is the best, go to a ENT or doctor that dives as soon as you can...

Good luck and let us know how things pan out for you
 
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Eckart

Senior Member
apparently some water behind the eardrum... still haven't recovered my hearing but it should come with time.... Planning a shallow dive this weekend... but going to keep it real easy... if it feels funny I'm just going to give it a break for a while....
have you guys heard of water behind the eardrum?
 
O

Ocean Logic

New member
Hi Eckart

I am on the run so have not been able to read all the details. My advice:

The ringing and Tinnitus could indicate damage or trauma to the inner ear. Be very careful to dive at this point if you still have that squidgy feeling in your ear.

I am not sure which ENT you went to but beware and be warned : Not all ENT's are born equal!!!

I went to three different ENT's once for the same problem and each one of them gave me a completely different diagnosis. In the end the problem cleared up with time, about 2 weeks, despite 2 of them telling me my hearing would be lost in right ear for life.

The two ent's I have had very good results with are a Dr Croukamp (not sure of spelling) in claremont area, and Doctor Wynand Louw in Blaauwberg Medi clinic.

The symptoms you have described sound like possible inner ear trouble, in which case you want to be very sure before diving past the problem.
 
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Eckart

Senior Member
thanks for all the advice! great when you can share some knowledge! my hearing is slowly getting better but i still have the humming/buzzing and a little crackle every now and then.... thankfully all this ruff water has kept me out of action for a while but i'm heading up to Goerge for a week and I'm hoping to go scratching for some good fish!
 
W

white pointer

Senior Member
Hey Eckart

I am glad to hear your ears are doing better.
When are you going up to George, I am going to be in Swellendam for the weekend and i dont mind travelling a little to do some spearfishing that side of the coast so do you have any ideas let me know and maybe i will join you

Keelan
 
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Eckart

Senior Member
Planning to go up on the 10 and be there till the 18 of july.... really hoping for some good diving! getting desperate for some good conditions!
 
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