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Took Antibiotic For Middle Ear Infection. Have Ringing Ear. How To Stop This?
Question: I've suffered tinnitus in my right ear for 5 weeks now. My eardrum was inflamed and I was diagnosed with a middle ear infection. I took antibiotics which cleared up the inflammation last week. However, the ringing persists and a campus health doctor sees that my eardrum is retracted with some unidentifiable (at least to him) material on it. What could this be? Will the ringing ever stop?
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Get an Impedance Audiometry (Tympanometry) and a Pure Tone Audiogram (PTA) done. You may upload the reports here.
2. If the Tinnitus has developed due to middle ear infection, it should reduce or subside after the middle ear has healed. A Conductive Hearing Loss (CHL) due to changes in middle ear pressures or presence of fluid in the middle ear will be picked up by the Tympanogram.
3. If the Tinnitus is due to any Senori-Neural Hearing Loss (SNHL) then it may persist in spite of treatment. Decreased hearing also makes one more aware of tinnitus. Get a PTA (Pure Tone Audiogram) done. If you have a hearing loss, amplification may help mask the tinnitus.
4. If the material on the retracted eardrum is chalky white, then it is probably Tympanosclerosis. You may upload an oto-endoscopic image of your ear drums, if possible or get an ENT Specialist to examine it This will also help in ruling out any perforation or atelectasis (collapse) of the ear drum.
5. Hence the cause of the Tinnitus will indicate whether it will disappear or not.
6. Common tinnitus therapy includes ginkgo biloba, multivitamins and antioxidants. Trans-tympanic steroids and Caroverine (Tinnex) are effective in some patients. HBOT (Hyper Baric Oxygen Therapy) is another option. In middle ear problems, anti-allergic medication, decongestants, mucolytics and steam inhalation may help.
I must emphasize that in a vast majority of cases, the exact cause of Tinnitus remains unknown. Tinnitus cannot be cured, though it may disappear on its's own or be controlled by treatment.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Thank you for your query.
1. Get an Impedance Audiometry (Tympanometry) and a Pure Tone Audiogram (PTA) done. You may upload the reports here.
2. If the Tinnitus has developed due to middle ear infection, it should reduce or subside after the middle ear has healed. A Conductive Hearing Loss (CHL) due to changes in middle ear pressures or presence of fluid in the middle ear will be picked up by the Tympanogram.
3. If the Tinnitus is due to any Senori-Neural Hearing Loss (SNHL) then it may persist in spite of treatment. Decreased hearing also makes one more aware of tinnitus. Get a PTA (Pure Tone Audiogram) done. If you have a hearing loss, amplification may help mask the tinnitus.
4. If the material on the retracted eardrum is chalky white, then it is probably Tympanosclerosis. You may upload an oto-endoscopic image of your ear drums, if possible or get an ENT Specialist to examine it This will also help in ruling out any perforation or atelectasis (collapse) of the ear drum.
5. Hence the cause of the Tinnitus will indicate whether it will disappear or not.
6. Common tinnitus therapy includes ginkgo biloba, multivitamins and antioxidants. Trans-tympanic steroids and Caroverine (Tinnex) are effective in some patients. HBOT (Hyper Baric Oxygen Therapy) is another option. In middle ear problems, anti-allergic medication, decongestants, mucolytics and steam inhalation may help.
I must emphasize that in a vast majority of cases, the exact cause of Tinnitus remains unknown. Tinnitus cannot be cured, though it may disappear on its's own or be controlled by treatment.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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