
Suggest Medical Tests To Rule Out Tinnitus

How are you
I have had tinnitus in both ears for 3 years now. I have had allergies my whole life to wheat, dust,tobacco, oil or fried food, shampoo among other things.
When the ringing started i was working 3 different shift during the week, so i was sleeping very little (3 hours) and was getting really stressed out. And my diet was not good either. I had low borderline hdl (43) and borderline high ldl (134) back then. And some times i would wake up sweating in the morning, and I remember my calfs got swollen a few times back then.
All the ENT I went to, disregarded the cholesterol results and they told me i have allergies and they only prescribed me steroidal nasal sprays. They said my middle ear is fine, but they only looked into my ear from the outside.
My question is can the doctors know that there is no middle ear infection or eustachian tube blockage, by just looking from the outside,without xrays or MRI?
Thanks
XXXX
It is valid to mention that i started smoking hookah a month before the ringing started. And I remember i got my first ringing incident while smoking hookah and i had my earphones on while i was listening to some online lectures.
Doctors can know through the Otoscopic examination of the ear
Detailed Answer:
Hi Sir,
I have gone through your query; and for your kind information doctors can know through otoscopic examination of the ear about the status of the middle eat and Eustachian tube. They make few or all possibilities on the basis of the history or information that you provide. They confirm them by examination. Investigations are not needed in a lot of cases for true clinicians. Now coming to middle ear infections and ET blockage there are few ways the infection spread and his questions to you might have included the possibilities of that infection.
To rule out the cause of your tinnitus such as sensorineural hearing loss, Eustachian tube dysfunction you may go for the
1. Pure tone audiometry test and
2. Impedance audiometry.
These both test are absolutely necessary I the case of tinnitus instead the X Ray or MRI as described by you in your question.
Further management depends on the above mentioned test results.
Regards
Dr Hariom Sharma, MS, XXXXXXX

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