Labrynthitis

[ilovemarkb]

My partner woke up deaf in 2005 with dizziness!. To cut a long story short he was diagnosed with labrynthitis and sadly his hearing never returned...just an annoying wasp like noise. He,s just had a bit of a cry (unlike him) because he thinks he.s loosing his hearing in the other ear. Does anyone know the likleyhood of going deaf in the other ear. I've tried to convince him its probably just earwax and to go to the docs?

[yogasun]

Gosh, my OH had labrynthitis but didn't lose hearing. Horrid complaint. Sqad is the man to answer this as he was an ENT surgeon, hopefully he will be back soon as his waiting room is rapidly filling...:0)

[gingejbee]

I was diagnosed with Menieres Disease several years ago (severe vertigo- with vomiting, deafness and tinnitus), but originally my GP thought it was labrynthitis and only further investigations in hospital confirmed Menieres. So, I think he should ask to be referred to an ENT specialist.

[gingejbee]

... oh, and it's only in one ear - other is perfect! At the moment.

[ilovemarkb]

apparently he had bacterial labrythitis (which is the worst). He does have some hearing loss in the "good ear" which was also discovered in 2005. He cant here high pitches or distinguish were noise is coming from.

[Sqad]

Bacterial labyrinthitis is always secondary to a long standing middle ear infection with constant discharge and from the story that you have told, your partner had an acute sensorineural loss which needed to be treated as an ENT emergency for him to have had any chance of his hearing being retained.

Now the upshot is, that his hearing in the good ear is at a premium and should be treated with "kid gloves"

He has the same chance of losing his hearing, for whatever reason, as anyone else.

See you GP as it may well just be wax.

[ilovemarkb]

thanks sqad and everyone else for your replies. he has an appointment for tommorow morning

[ilovemarkb]

incidently he hadnt been poorly at all in 2005...no earaches, high temp etc so was really surprised with the diagnosis from the consultant even he seemed slightly unconvinced but couldn't find any other causes and said it may have been labrynthitisis and if his hearing hadnt returned within 2 years then it wouldnt return at all.

[Sqad]

Ilove...........there are few ear emergencies in ENT, but sudden deafness with dizziness is one and needs immediate investigation.

If it is viral.....then large doses of steroids are required to reverse the deafness and if it is vascular (blood clot)then intravenous blood vessel dilators are the only hope for return of deafness.

[ilovemarkb]

thanks sqad!! Top Doc xx