ANA Discussion Forum

General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: lholl36233 on October 13, 2009, 05:09:39 pm

Title: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: lholl36233 on October 13, 2009, 05:09:39 pm

Has anyone ever told you if you have tinnitus, you have hearing loss?  The radiation oncologist I just saw told me that.  He was the first one.  Of course, tinnitus and hearing loss don't equal a tumor but it makes sense. 

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: Richey on October 13, 2009, 07:00:42 pm

I'm 62 and I had a chance a few years ago to review my medical records from when I was in the Air Force and I was interested to know that I complained about tinnitus way back there in my 20's and I never had any significant hearing loss until the AN came into my life. So, I don't know the correct medical answer but I do know you can have tinnitus and still have very good hearing. I have it now in my good ear and my hearing loss in it is very small. Of course my deaf ear has tinnitus that is magnified by not having any useful hearing to help mask the ringing.

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: Jim Scott on October 14, 2009, 02:13:15 pm

Laura ~

I don't like to disagree with a medical doctor but to the best of my admittedly limited knowledge, having tinnitus doesn't inevitably lead to hearing loss.  Although some hearing loss is probably quite common in tinnitus sufferers, thus the good doctor's blanket statement that "if you have tinnitus, you have hearing loss".   

Jim

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: Mickey on October 14, 2009, 03:51:37 pm

I had tinnitus in both ears for years!  My hearing is good in both ears. My AN side has a little more ring to it with a little less hearing. Mickey

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: lholl36233 on October 14, 2009, 04:48:33 pm

The doctor probably meant there is some degree of hearing loss if you have tinnitus.  Hearing can still be good but not perfect.  I have no tinnitus in my 100% right ear.  He was the first person to say that to me so I thought it was interesting. ;D

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: leapyrtwins on October 14, 2009, 08:50:03 pm

I'm puzzled by this comment.  I know lots of people who have tinnitus and perfect hearing.

Jan

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: lholl36233 on October 15, 2009, 04:36:53 pm

I don't know much but I do know that briefly, after a round of prednisone, I had perfect hearing and tinnitus but of course, it didn't last.  I also recall thinking my hearing was perfect when it was actually down 30%.

Who knows but I'm not inclined to disagree with the chief of radiation oncology at MGH???

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: ppearl214 on October 15, 2009, 05:45:21 pm

Quote from: leapyrtwins on October 14, 2009, 08:50:03 pm

I'm puzzled by this comment.  I know lots of people who have tinnitus and perfect hearing.

Jan

Jan, in agreement with you.  My grandmother had brutal tinnitus and never had an AN.  My mother had tinnitus from a rupture eardrum, yet, no AN.  Mom had no hearing loss, even with her tinnitus.

I'll dispute any doctor as long as I have promient backup documentation. Heck, I dispute with my docs all the time... sometimes they are right.. and sometimes they are not.  Dr's are not "gawds", only human and they err as well.

Phyl

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: leapyrtwins on October 15, 2009, 07:58:59 pm

Quote from: ppearl214 on October 15, 2009, 05:45:21 pm

Dr's are not "gawds", only human and they err as well.

Absolutely!  Docs are people, too  ;D

Title: Re: Tinnitus equals hearing loss
Post by: lholl36233 on October 16, 2009, 05:38:32 pm

I spoke to my friend whose hearing is almost gone in one ear.  She does not have tinnitus.

The doctor was wrong.  There goes that theory...