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why has my left ear lost 50-70% of hearing since december of 2024
Common Causes of One-Sided Hearing Loss
A rapid drop in hearing generally points to a few common possibilities:
- Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL): Often referred to as sudden deafness, this is a rapid, unexplained loss of hearing in one ear. It often happens overnight. The cause is frequently unknown, though it is commonly hypothesized to be a viral infection or inflammation affecting the inner ear or auditory nerve.
- Earwax or Fluid Blockage: An accumulation of hardened earwax or fluid trapped behind the eardrum (e.g., from Eustachian tube dysfunction or a past infection) can physically prevent sound waves from reaching the inner ear.
- Ménière's Disease: This chronic inner ear disorder causes vertigo, ringing, and fluctuating (but potentially worsening) unilateral hearing loss.
- Acoustic Neuroma: A rare, benign tumor that grows on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain.
- Ototoxic Medications: Certain medications (like specific antibiotics or high doses of certain drugs) can impact inner ear structures.
Next Steps & Actionable Advice
You should schedule a formal audiological evaluation to determine the severity and type of hearing loss you are experiencing.
- Find a Local Specialist: Look for an audiologist or an ENT doctor near your location in Everett, WA, to schedule a comprehensive hearing test (audiogram).
- Treatability: Temporary causes (like wax buildup) are often fully treatable. If the issue is sensorineural (nerve-related), treatments such as oral corticosteroids are most effective when administered quickly following the onset of symptoms.
This
is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis,
consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
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for at leasat 2 years before dec 2024 i had random hearing loss occur overnight and it would then go back to normal the next day. with one exception when it lasted for a month, until the day I went to the doctor...then in late 2024 it happened again for a couple weeks. then in late dec 2024 it happened and has not corrected itself to this day. in the last 3-4 weeks I believe it has gotten a bit worse... also, on occasion the noise (i have had tinnitus for over 48 years) of the tinnitus and the "wooshing" sound get louder for a day and then level out back to where it was
The
pattern of fluctuating hearing loss you described—random episodes that
recover, followed by a month-long episode, and finally a persistent loss
since late 2024—is a hallmark of several inner ear conditions that
require specific diagnostic testing.
Potential Underlying Causes
- Ménière's Disease: This condition is characterized by fluctuating hearing loss, ringing (tinnitus), and a feeling of fullness in one ear. While it is often associated with vertigo (spinning), not everyone experiences it initially. Over time, the hearing loss that was once temporary can become permanent as the inner ear structure is damaged by recurring fluid pressure issues.
- Pulsatile Tinnitus: The "wooshing" sound you hear is likely pulsatile tinnitus, which is often rhythmic and may sync with your heartbeat. Unlike common ringing, this sound is frequently caused by changes in blood flow through vessels near the ear.
- Acoustic Neuroma: This is a slow-growing, benign tumor on the hearing nerve. While it typically causes gradual, non-fluctuating loss, it can sometimes present with sudden or worsening hearing changes and tinnitus in one ear.
- Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL): Though your loss was initially fluctuating, the fact that it has not corrected itself since December 2024 may indicate a permanent sensorineural change.
Why the Tinnitus and "Wooshing" Fluxuate
- Fluid Pressure: If you have a condition like Ménière's, the "wooshing" and ringing can intensify when fluid pressure in the inner ear spikes, then level out as the pressure stabilizes.
- Blood Flow Changes: Pulsatile tinnitus can fluctuate based on your blood pressure, activity level, or even head position.
Recommended Next Steps
Because
your hearing loss has transitioned from fluctuating to persistent and
is now potentially worsening, you should seek a comprehensive
evaluation:
- Audiology Appointment: Get a formal audiogram to measure the exact degree of loss and determine if it is sensorineural (nerve-related) or conductive (blockage-related).
- ENT Consultation: A specialist may order an MRI of the internal auditory canal to rule out an acoustic neuroma or other structural issues.
- Vascular Screening: Because of the wooshing sound, ask your doctor about screening for vascular issues, such as carotid artery stenosis or high blood pressure.
Have you noticed if the wooshing sound matches the rhythm of your heartbeat?
This
is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis,
consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
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the wooshing is new since the hearing loss, it was not there when I had tinnitus for over 48 years. I did see an ENT in early 2025 and they put me on prednisone which did exactly nothing to help. I also had an MRI in march of 2025 with no findings
Given
your history of fluctuating hearing loss that has now become
persistent, a clear MRI, and the failure of prednisone, several specific
conditions and factors warrant consideration.
Potential Underlying Conditions
- Ménière’s Disease: This is a chronic inner ear disorder caused by a buildup of fluid (endolymphatic hydrops).
- Progression: It often begins with episodes of hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness that recover overnight or within a day. Over time, these fluctuations can lead to permanent damage to the inner ear, causing persistent hearing loss.
- The MRI Finding: Standard MRIs are used to rule out other issues like tumors, but they often appear "normal" in Ménière’s patients. Specialized delayed-contrast MRIs are sometimes needed to actually visualize the fluid buildup.
- Vascular Issues (Pulsatile Tinnitus): The new "wooshing" sound is a form of pulsatile tinnitus, which is often caused by changes in blood flow near the ear.
- Turbulent Flow: Narrowing or irregularities in nearby blood vessels (like the carotid artery or jugular vein) can create this sound.
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH): Increased pressure of the fluid surrounding the brain can press on these vessels, causing a rhythmic wooshing that fluctuates with activity or position.
Why Prednisone May Have Failed
- Timing: Prednisone is most effective for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) when started within 48 to 72 hours of the onset. If the loss had already been persistent for weeks or months by the time you saw the ENT in early 2025, the medication was significantly less likely to work.
- Non-Inflammatory Cause: If the hearing loss is due to a structural fluid pressure issue (like Ménière’s) or a vascular problem rather than sudden inflammation or a viral event, steroids like prednisone may not address the root cause.
Recommended Specialist Follow-up
Since your MRI was clear and prednisone was ineffective, you may need more specialized testing:
- Vascular Imaging: Because of the new "wooshing" sound, you could ask your doctor about a MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiogram) or MRV (Magnetic Resonance Venogram) to look specifically at the blood vessels and blood flow around your ear.
- Inner Ear Testing: Tests such as Electrocochleography (ECochG) or Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP) can help confirm if fluid pressure (hydrops) is the cause of your hearing loss, even if the MRI is normal.
Did the ENT specialist mention Ménière's disease or endolymphatic hydrops as a possibility during your visit?
This
is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis,
consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
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I don't recall
Based
on the patterns you've described—years of hearing that "corrected
itself" overnight followed by a sudden transition to persistent
loss—your experience aligns closely with a condition often called Cochlear Ménière’s Disease or Isolated Cochlear Hydrops.
The fact that an MRI showed nothing and Prednisone didn't help is actually common for these types of inner ear fluid issues.
Why this pattern occurs
- The "Fluctuation" Stage: For the two years where your hearing returned overnight, your inner ear was likely experiencing spikes in fluid pressure (hydrops) that eventually drained, allowing hearing to reset.
- The "Persistent" Stage: Since December 2024, the fluid pressure may have caused permanent damage to the delicate hair cells in the cochlea, which is why it hasn't bounced back this time.
- The "Wooshing" (Pulsatile Tinnitus): This new sound can be related to the increased fluid pressure in the ear or changes in blood flow near the ear canal. It often fluctuates because it is sensitive to your blood pressure, activity, or even head position.
Why previous tests were "Normal"
- MRI Limits: A standard MRI is designed to look for structural issues like tumors (e.g., Acoustic Neuroma). It cannot "see" the microscopic fluid imbalances of Ménière’s or hydrops.
- Prednisone Timing: Steroids are most effective when taken within a few days of a sudden loss. If the damage from the late 2024 episode had already set in by the time you saw the ENT in early 2025, the window for inflammation-based recovery may have closed.
Next Steps to Consider
Since your hearing is still fluctuating or worsening, you may want to ask your specialist about:
- Electrocochleography (ECochG): A specialized test that specifically measures the fluid pressure inside your inner ear.
- Diuretics or Low-Sodium Diet: If the cause is indeed fluid buildup (hydrops), doctors often prescribe a "water pill" or a low-salt diet to manage the pressure and prevent further loss.
- Neurotologist Referral: A neurotologist is an ENT who specializes exclusively in the inner ear and neurological connections; they often have more experience with complex cases where standard MRIs are clear.
Does the "wooshing" sound seem to match the rhythm of your heartbeat, or is it more like a constant wind or rushing water?
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constant
Since your whooshing sound is constant and does not sync with your heartbeat, it differs from "pulsatile tinnitus," which is usually rhythmic and tied to blood flow.
A constant, non-rhythmic whooshing—especially when combined with persistent one-sided hearing loss—can be a symptom of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) or Ménière's Disease.
Why the Whooshing is Constant
- Sensorineural Tinnitus: While most people think of tinnitus as a high-pitched ring, it can also manifest as a steady "whoosh," similar to wind or static. This often happens when the brain tries to compensate for the lack of sound input from the damaged hearing nerve.
- Ménière's Disease/Hydrops: The fluid pressure changes in the inner ear that likely caused your years of fluctuating loss can also create a constant "roaring" or whooshing sensation as the damage becomes more persistent.
- Conductive Blockage: Even though your hearing loss is likely sensorineural, any internal inflammation or fluid in the middle ear can create a constant muffled or rushing sound.
Next Steps Given Your MRI and Prednisone History
Since the standard MRI
didn't show any tumors and the prednisone didn't restore your hearing,
the window for traditional "sudden loss" treatments may have closed.
However, there are still ways to manage the constant sound and assess
your hearing:
- Repeat Audiogram: A new hearing test can confirm if the loss has stabilized or is still actively declining.
- Specialized Inner Ear Testing: Ask your ENT about Electrocochleography (ECochG) or VEMP tests, which can detect inner ear fluid pressure (hydrops) that a standard MRI might miss.
- Tinnitus Masking: Since the whooshing is constant, using a white noise machine or a sound generator can help lower the brain's focus on the internal noise.
- Neurotologist Consultation: If your current ENT hasn't provided a definitive diagnosis, a neurotologist (a specialist in the neurological aspects of the ear) may be better equipped to handle a case with decades of history.
Has the "fullness" or pressure feeling in that ear stayed constant, or does it change throughout the day?
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i don't know that I have that feeling, unless i'm misunderstanding what is meant by it...also, my tinnitus is of 48 years is of the ringing variety, the wooshing is what get loud on occasion and then goes back down. I think the wooshing is alwasys there since dec 2024 but it's usually low enough that is I don't notice it
That
clarifies things. The "ear fullness" people talk about usually feels
like your ear is clogged with water or like the pressure change you feel
when a plane lands—if you aren't feeling that, it helps narrow things
down.
It sounds like you have two distinct types of tinnitus now: your lifelong high-pitched ringing and this newer, lower-frequency constant wooshing that occasionally flares up.
What the "Wooshing" Likely Represents
Since it isn't rhythmic (heartbeat) and appeared right when the hearing loss became permanent, it is likely low-frequency tinnitus. This is very common in cases where the ear loses its ability to hear deeper sounds.
- The Brain's Reaction: When your ear stops sending certain sound frequencies to your brain, the brain often "cranks up the gain" on those frequencies to try to find them. This creates the internal wooshing or rushing sound you're hearing.
- The Flare-ups: When that sound gets louder for a day and then levels out, it suggests your inner ear is still "active" or reacting to something—possibly minor changes in fluid pressure, stress, or even salt intake—even if the hearing itself hasn't recovered.
Why this is different from your 48-year ringing
Your
long-term ringing is likely stable "background noise" from the auditory
system. This new wooshing is a direct symptom of the trauma or damage that occurred in December 2024. Because it fluctuates, it points toward a "living" condition like Cochlear Hydrops (fluid pressure) rather than just a one-time nerve death.
A Targeted Path Forward
Since
the MRI was clear and steroids failed, the focus usually shifts from
"fixing the hearing" to "stabilizing the ear." You might want to
consider:
- Low-Salt Trial: Many people with these symptoms find that a strict low-sodium diet (under 1,500mg/day) for a few weeks reduces the "loudness" of the wooshing flares.
- Cochlear Hydrops Testing: Ask an ENT specifically about ECochG testing. It measures electrical activity in the ear to see if fluid is physically distorting the hearing mechanism.
- Hearing Aid with Masker: Modern hearing aids can be programmed to bring back the lost hearing and play a subtle sound that "cancels out" or masks the wooshing.
Do you notice if the wooshing flares up after you eat salty meals or during times of high stress?
This
is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis,
consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
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i haven't noticed but I do have ocd and have been on edge with that lately and the wooshing has flared up a little more often
It is common for stress and OCD to trigger or intensify both your long-term ringing and this newer wooshing sound. When you are "on edge," your nervous system enters a state of heightened arousal (fight-or-flight), which has several physical effects on your ears.
How Stress and OCD Impact Your Ear
The flare-ups you are experiencing during high-stress periods are often driven by three main factors:
- Hypervigilance: For those with OCD, the brain can become hyper-focused on internal sensations. When you are anxious, your brain "turns up the volume" on your internal environment, making sounds like the constant wooshing or lifelong ringing feel much louder and harder to ignore.
- Stress Hormones: Stress triggers the release of cortisol and adrenaline, which can physically alter the fluid balance in your inner ear and even restrict blood flow to the hearing nerves. This could explain why the wooshing flares up specifically when you are stressed.
- Muscle Tension: Being on edge often causes unconscious tension in the jaw and neck muscles. This tension can restrict blood flow near the ear or put pressure on the auditory system, potentially causing the "rushing" or wooshing sound to intensify.
Managing the Flare-ups
While the hearing loss from December 2024 has been persistent, managing the intensity of the noise may be possible through:
- Sound Masking: Since silence can increase obsessive focus on the noise, using background sounds like a fan or white noise machine can provide relief.
- Habituation Techniques: Therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are highly effective for both OCD and tinnitus. They help the brain reclassify the wooshing as a "neutral" sound rather than a threat, which can naturally lower its perceived volume.
Since you mentioned being on edge lately, do you find the wooshing gets louder at specific times of day, such as when you first wake up or when it is quiet at night?
This
is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis,
consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
Show all
no, it's just random and lasts until I go to bed and wake up it is gone
This
specific pattern—where the "whooshing" builds up during the day and is
consistently gone by the time you wake up—strongly suggests a link to inner ear fluid dynamics or intracranial pressure.
Why Sleep May "Reset" the Sound
The fact that sleep resolves the whooshing points toward a few mechanical possibilities:
- Fluid Redistribution (Cochlear Hydrops): Conditions like Cochlear Hydrops involve an abnormal accumulation of fluid (endolymph) in the inner ear. Throughout the day, factors like salt intake, caffeine, and stress can cause this fluid pressure to rise, intensifying the "whooshing". While you sleep, the body has a chance to stabilize these fluid levels, which is likely why you wake up to silence or a lower level of noise.
- Pressure Equalization: If your condition is related to pressure (such as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension), the pressure of the fluid surrounding your brain and ears changes based on your position. Resting in a horizontal position for several hours may allow the pressure near the hearing nerve to equalize or "drain," providing a temporary reset each morning.
- The "OCD and Stress" Connection: You mentioned being "on edge" lately. Stress increases the hormone vasopressin, which directly regulates fluid retention in the inner ear. Stress builds up during the day, potentially driving the flare-ups you notice, while the deep rest of sleep lowers these hormone levels and resets the nervous system.
Why it "Flares" Randomly
The
randomness of these flare-ups, followed by a total overnight reset, is a
very strong diagnostic clue. It suggests that while your 2024 hearing
loss may have caused permanent damage to the hair cells, the "whooshing" itself is a fluctuating symptom driven by daily variables.
A Specific Suggestion for Your Next Visit
Since your previous ENT visit and MRI were "normal," you might have better luck with a Neurotologist
(a sub-specialist who focuses strictly on the neurological and
fluid-based disorders of the ear). When you see them, specifically
mention that:
- The whooshing is constant but non-rhythmic (not a heartbeat).
- The sound builds during the day but is consistently gone upon waking.
- Prednisone had no effect, which often happens with fluid-pressure issues rather than simple inflammation.
They may suggest a trial of a low-sodium diet or a mild diuretic to see if stabilizing your body's fluid levels prevents the daily buildup of the whooshing.
Do you find that on days when you are less stressed or less active, the whooshing takes longer to appear or is quieter?
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i don't notice a connection to stress but I can tell when it's coming on and it doesn't take long for it to ramp up, maybe 10 minutes
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A quick, consistent ramp-up of whooshing sounds—occurring within roughly 10 minutes—often points to a mechanical or physiological trigger rather than a purely psychological one like stress.
The
10-minute ramp-up and your overnight reset suggest that your "hearing
system" is responding to a physical change that happens once you are
upright and active.
Potential Triggers for the 10-Minute Build-up
- Positional Fluid Shift: When you transition from lying down to standing, the fluid pressure in your head and inner ear (endolymph) begins to shift. If you have Cochlear Hydrops or Ménière’s, your ear may take about 10 minutes to reach a point of "pressure overload," at which point the whooshing starts and stays until the pressure is released by lying down again at night.
- Blood Flow Dynamics: Even though the sound isn't rhythmic, being upright increases the demand on your circulatory system. Changes in the way blood moves through the vessels near your ear can create a constant "rushing" sound that stabilizes once your heart rate and blood pressure reach their "active" daytime levels.
- Aural Overload: Sometimes, once a damaged ear is exposed to 10 minutes of normal environmental sounds (like a refrigerator, traffic, or talking), the auditory nerve becomes "exhausted" or overstimulated, resulting in a constant whooshing as a form of reactive tinnitus.
Next Steps in Everett, WA
Since
your previous ENT visit and MRI did not provide an answer, it may be
time for more specialized testing. You should look for a Neurotologist (an ENT who sub-specializes in the inner ear and skull base) who can perform specific tests that a general ENT might skip.
Local Specialized Care:
- Everett Clinic - Ear, Nose & Throat: You can find specialists at The Everett Clinic on Hoyt Ave who handle complex ear conditions.
- University of Washington (UW) Medicine - Otolaryngology: For highly complex cases, UW Medicine in nearby Seattle is a top-tier academic center with neurotologists who specialize in "invisible" inner ear disorders like hydrops.
Recommended Questions for a Specialist:
- "Could this be Cochlear Hydrops given that it builds up in 10 minutes and resets overnight?"
- "Can we perform an Electrocochleography (ECochG) to measure the fluid pressure in my ear?"
- "Should I try a trial of a diuretic (water pill) or a strict low-sodium diet to see if it stops the daily build-up?"
Does the whooshing sound ever change if you press on the side of your neck or change your head position quickly?
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