I can't hear out of my left ear...

[WickeDKlowN]

It's not the first time it's happened, it's happened 2 or 3 times before and I usually just wait a few days and it goes away but it's a real PITA. I think once I went swimming and it went away, but while it may be warmer here than alot of places, it's still a little too chilly to go swimming.

Anyway, yesterday morning, I was cleaning my ears out with Q-Tips and peroxide. I guess I compacted some wax or something in there and now it feels blocked and I can't really hear out if it. I could kind of hear yeaterday, but when I woke up this morning, it was totally blocked.

I have been having some slight allergie/sinus problems latley so I guess it could be soem kind of infection.

Anyone have any ides as to what I could do to fix it?

[teufelhunden]

E/N/T doctor is the first place I'd head..

[atm743]

sounds like an really bad ear infection

good and see the doctor he may say somthing eals but he will still treat it

somtimes that happens if theres alot of clorien in the water and people reacet different to it or you jest cought a cold

[xmetal2001]

Can you fully not hear out of it, or does it just sound like you have water in it constantly?

[shatter_storm]

Happens a lot with certain people. Your ears just can't clear out wax fast enough, and it builds up and blocks off your hearing. Go to your doctor, they'll flush your ears out (really trippy feeling the first time, you get mad dizzy) and you'll probably be fine. Might have picked up an ear infection as well.

Don't use q-tips to clean your ears though, they only make the problem worse. You end up pushing wax up against the eardrum and sealing it off - standard lecture from any doctor or nurse is to never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear (aka nothing).

now, IANAD (I-am-not-a-doctor), but I've been there. damn near exact same situation.

[shatter_storm]

Oh yeah, if you really hate doctors and avoid them at all costs, go out and buy an ear wax removal kit, available at drugstores and probably walmart. Costs $10 and is pretty simple to use.
Hop in the shower - Use warm water if you take cold showers. Put like 10 drops of the solution provided in the kit in your ear, tilt your head sideways, ear up, and stand there for a minute or three. You'll hear popping and crackling noises and your ear will get all tingly. Once the noise dies down, tilt your head the other way, fill up the bulb syringe with warm water, and flush your ear out.
Almost works as well as a visit to the doctor/nurse, and is a whole lot cheaper (unless insurance covers everything during a visit)

[tony3]

If you have decent insurance just go to the doctor.

[Adrenaline_Junkie]

Thats the same problem i have right now. I thought it would just go away with time but ive been like this for three weeks. For some reason i dont think its just happening as a normal thing as a few other kids at my school and other places where i live all have the same problem. I to have had some sinus problems and thought it may be an ear infection but my ears no longer hurt and ive cleaned all the wax i possibly could out of my ear. Im kinda stumped and its getting really old not being able to hear what people are saying when they are on my left. Anyway, if anyone knows how to fix the prob it would be greatly appreciated.

[WickeDKlowN]

Can you fully not hear out of it, or does it just sound like you have water in it constantly?

I can hear out of it somewhat. It just sounds/feels like somethings blocking it.

I hate doctors so I'll probobly try one of those earwax removal things if it dosn't go away in a day or 2.

[Glickman]

hehe i know what it is.

sinus problems and colds wreak havok on being able to equalize. every 3 feet deep, you really should pinch your nose closed, and blow through it, youll hear a squeezing noise, thats fine, its just your ear balancing out the pressure, another way is to just swollow, which works with some, i personally like using that technique.

these are sort of common for divers, infact, my dad has one now.

definitly dont put anything in there, and i wouldnt try to equalize now using the nose technique, but feel free to try the following (its what i use):

decongestants
draping a towel over your head over a sink with steam
gum chewing



id say you probably have mild inner ear barotrauma, just a mild trauma to the ear due to pressure on the ear. the symptoms are usually nausea and hearing loss.


but definitly contact your doctor, its possible that you can do permadent damage