Hearing loss after diving: help needed/anything else that can be done?

[scubaguy532]

I came across inner ear DCS which I did not even realize was a thing:

Inner ear decompression sickness - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I wonder if that could possibly be what I have since it says it is usually only one side only.

 

[Minion_Diver]

Did you have any sinus issues prior or after diving? I had some issues equalizing on a dive this year after dealing with some sinus issues. Came up and both ears were very muffled. It corrected itself within a day or so, but that is something to think about as well.

 

[tursiops]

I came across inner ear DCS which I did not even realize was a thing:

Inner ear decompression sickness - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I wonder if that could possibly be what I have since it says it is usually only one side only.

It may just be a coincidence that the hearing loss occurred while you were diving. I lost hearing in my right ear while just walking down the street. See Sensorineural hearing loss - Wikipedia at the end for Sudden SNHL.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Hi everyone, I have been lurking on these forums for a while but this is my first time posting. About 10 days ago I went on 2 boat dives. The first dive I descended to about 80 ft and felt slight pressure as I was on my way down. Not wanting to force anything, I took my time and was eventually able to equalize to the bottom. Immediately after the first dive I noticed fullness and muffled hearing in my right ear. I brushed it off as water trapped in my ear from the hood I was wearing. The second dive was uneventful with no issues equalizing.

A few days later I still had almost *complete* hearing loss in my right ear along with ringing/tinnitus. I called DAN and they assured me it is most likely middle ear barotrauma and will resolve itself with time. I then saw my ENT who gave me a different diagnosis: no fluid trapped in my middle ear as a sign of barotrauma, but instead sensorineural hearing loss as a result of nerve damage in the inner ear. This was not what I was expecting to hear, especially as the pressure I felt on the first descent was not significant enough to concern me. It also surprised me because I never had any dizziness or vertigo which are both listed as main symptoms of trauma to the inner ear/cochlea. Looking back, however, I probably did not equalize early and often enough on that first descent.

Nevertheless, he prescribed me a full dose of oral steroids which I am currently taking and advised that if the hearing does not come back, I should not dive again to avoid risking hearing loss in my other ear. This was obviously a total gut punch to hear and I'm trying not to get depressed about it.

I am seeing another ENT/neurotologist on Friday who is well versed in diving knowledge. I am not sure he will tell me anything different but I am praying there is a path forward both in terms of restoring my hearing in my right ear and being able to dive again. I have read some reports of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a solution to this issue (Sudden hearing loss causes scare for diver) as well as another poster who experienced a similar issue and got their hearing back after the steroids (Question - Full ear/hearing loss but can equalize fine?). The ENT I saw said that oxygen therapy is a type of fringe medicine used mainly for DCS and would not help in my case.

Has anyone else experienced/heard of complete hearing loss in one ear after diving and know any other possible solutions? From what I have seen/read it is very rare to have a complete loss of hearing, rather than partial hearing loss associated with barotrauma. The thought of never diving again is one that I could barely fathom to imagine and I'm praying there will be a positive outcome to this situation. Thanks.

Hello @scubaguy532 ,

Inner ear DCS is on the differential for this as you and others have pointed out already. It's also possible that you suffered from inner ear barotrauma, and the two are notoriously difficult to differentiate. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in this setting is possible but would be a pretty big coincidence and, given the information you've provided, is probably lower on the differential than the first two.

The ENT with a diving background is a good idea. Ten days out may be too late to treat DCS or IEBT but it would not hurt to be seen by a physician trained in diving and hyperbaric medicine ASAP. If you DM me your exact location I can point you to the closest one.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[2TH DIVR]

12 years ago had an diving incident where I was left with total hearing loss in my right ear.
Was advised by Dr. to give up diving because of the risk of it happening to the left ear.
That wasn't going to happen.
I used to shoot to the bottom with no equalization problems, but something happened that day.
I'm more aware of my equalizing and take my time some 1000 dives later.

Hope you have DAN insurance they covered all my medical expenses not covered by my
BCBS. If I live to be 100 and pay my DAN at the highest coverage I will still be ahead with what they paid.

 

[scubaguy532]

12 years ago had an diving incident where I was left with total hearing loss in my right ear.
Was advised by Dr. to give up diving because of the risk of it happening to the left ear.
That wasn't going to happen.
I used to shoot to the bottom with no equalization problems, but something happened that day.
I'm more aware of my equalizing and take my time some 1000 dives later.

Hope you have DAN insurance they covered all my medical expenses not covered by my
BCBS. If I live to be 100 and pay my DAN at the highest coverage I will still be ahead with what they paid.

Hi, this sounds almost identical to what happened to me. And my doctor advised the same about quitting diving. Were you ever able to get any of your hearing back? And did you find out what the cause was that led to the hearing loss?

 

[2TH DIVR]

It happened on a Sat. dive, hit the bottom at 28' and was hit with vertigo.
Thought I had ruptured the ear drum.
Saw Dr. Mon.
Come to find out the window of my cochlea had ruptured.
Was told that if I knew what had happened and had immediated surgery they might have been able to save some hearing.
2 days after was too late.
Did have surgery to repair the cochlea and 2 months later was diving.
Total loss of hearing and the worst case of tinnitus in the right ear.

Good luck

 

[DiveHewi]

Hey scubaguy - I like the advice to see a dive/sports medical specialist for what you describe. I had an experience a number of years ago where I collapsed both my eustachian tubes, in Honduras. I lost probably 90% of my hearing for about 2 weeks. Things dried out eventually and I've had no issues since then. Can't say that's what you have but I'm wishing you the same favorable outcome!

 

[scubaguy532]

It happened on a Sat. dive, hit the bottom at 28' and was hit with vertigo.
Thought I had ruptured the ear drum.
Saw Dr. Mon.
Come to find out the window of my cochlea had ruptured.
Was told that if I knew what had happened and had immediated surgery they might have been able to save some hearing.
2 days after was too late.
Did have surgery to repair the cochlea and 2 months later was diving.
Total loss of hearing and the worst case of tinnitus in the right ear.

Good luck

Wow thanks. That sounds like exactly what I am experiencing minus the vertigo. My Dr on my last visit suggested it could be my cochlea as well. I have been on high dose oral steroids for 10 days and go back to the Dr on Monday to see what the next course of action is. I'm hoping it's not too late but if it's similar to your issue it might be.

 

[DiveHewi]

Keep us posted on your progress!