Hello,

I have some kind of ear condition that I'm seeking answers for. I have to constantly sniff throughout the day to equalize the pressure in my ears. The left ear seems too "open" for lack of a better word and when I sniff it corrects the pressure temporarily. The condition also causes an echo of my voice in the left ear when I am talking which is pretty annoying. Also, there seems to be a hearing deficit in the left ear. I saw an ENT a year ago who diagnosed me with a deviated septum and performed a septoplasty on me. The conditioned did not seem to improve whatsoever. If anybody has any idea what the condition might be and what kind of specialist to see I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.

Hello,

I have some kind of ear condition that I'm seeking answers for. I have to constantly sniff throughout the day to equalize the pressure in my ears. The left ear seems too "open" for lack of a better word and when I sniff it corrects the pressure temporarily. The condition also causes an echo of my voice in the left ear when I am talking which is pretty annoying. Also, there seems to be a hearing deficit in the left ear. I saw an ENT a year ago who diagnosed me with a deviated septum and performed a septoplasty on me. The conditioned did not seem to improve whatsoever. If anybody has any idea what the condition might be and what kind of specialist to see I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.
Hi There,
I was curious to know if you ever found out what was the problem and if it has gone away? I am experiencing the same thing you did but to make it worst I already have severe misxed hearing loss in my right ear (deaf). Please please get back to me to help guide me find some help with this issue.

Hello,

I have the same problem and have for the last 25 years. I have had tubes and it corrected the situation temporarily. Have you any answers to help?

Is there anyone who offered any advice that works?

So far no one could figure out what I have. I still have hearing loss in my right ear that they also can't figure out why. I had a CT scan and an MRI. ANd they ruled out tumors, nerve damage and inner ear damage.

Ive had the same problems for years now, and its very irritating.When I sneeze or yawn both of my ears pop.Everything is really loud, and I will have to hold my nose and suck in at the same time to pop them back, except they are never equal sounding.I hear everything differently every time I pop them.I can't stand it when I can only pop back one ear and the other stays poped where everything sounds super loud.I have no idea how to fix the problem, but I know how I caused it.When I sneezed and held my nose at the same time to stop the sneeze as it was happening.Thats how I did it.ever since then I pop them contantly.When you find out a remedy pleeeeaaaase let me know.Thanks.

Ooohhh, that could make sense! I always hold my sneezes! Maybe one day I held a strong one too much and it created this problem? My husband always tells me to stop holding them, so I must do it a lot.Thanks

Ooohhh, that could make sense! I always hold my sneezes! Maybe one day I held a strong one to much and it created this problem? My husband always tells me to stop holding them, so I must do it alot.Thanksyour more than welcome.Good luck and if you find a way to correct this problem please let me know.Thanks.

There are at least two common conditions which can cause your symptoms. Eustachian tube dysfunction(ETD) and patulous eustachian tube(PET). ETD causes fullness, pressure sensation, clicking and popping, and problems with barometric pressure changes. PET causes autophony (hearing your own voice) and can be augmentin by sniffing, etc. Only a thourough ENT evaluation can sort this out. PET is not that common and a lot of ENTs have never seen it. Good luck

For over three years I have heard my own voice as though I was in an echo chamber and when I breath it sounds like Darth Vadar. I have been to an ENT doctor and a few other specialists I even had an MRI. My PCP hos no idear what to do.

Last week I contracted an infection in my sinus and throat. My throat was painful, head ached, I was running a low fever and my nose was running; my voice was a wisper and/or sounded like Howling Wolf when I tried to talk.

But, here's the thing, my ears have cleared fro the first time in three years. I could finally hear myself normally. The ear problem disappeared for four or five days.

Today, the sixth day of my illness, I am able to hear myself speak in a normal voice in a normal way. BUT... the Darth Vadar condition seems to be returning intermittently.

Everyone has a clever diagnosis but no one offers any relief from this isidiously annoying echo which I hereby name the 'Vadar Syndrome'.

I currently have vadar syndrome and I found it its due to my allergies. The sinus infection in my nose spread to my ears, my left ear has an echo and my right ear aches I have sinus fluid in my middle ear and I'm sure its causing the echo. My advice is to take anything that will relieve allergy sinus dripping or an antibiotic for sinus infections or a decongestant. Sudafed works so will allerx pack or zpack which are prescription drugs. Just go to the doctor they'll give you something for your sinus condition. Also get tested for allergies. I am four times the normal high allergic to almost everything. Allergy shots are one answer but if they offer you something more natural and earthy id take it rather than the shots.

I have the same thing! My mother works for an ENT and has yet to figure out what it is. It's the most annoying thing and often times leads to a headache by the end of the day. I've been suffering with it for 6 years, and I'm only 23. If anyone has any tips on how to fix this it would be amazing so I don't have to spend the rest of my life listening to myself breath!

I have rad that decongestants are not the answer, if anything you need to block yourself up a bit. I have also read that this problem occurs in pregnancy. Mine started at 6months pregnant, although I did get of a flight around the same tine it started with popped ears and sneezed violently holding my nose and it really hurt. I'm not sure which started it but I've had the baby now and it's still here. I'm a teacher and it really affects my ability to do my job, as well as making everyday life miserable. People often ask me why I am talking loudly but I can't tell how loud I am, I feel like darth vadar too! I have found that while I have been on maternity, lying down on that side helps but obviously we can't all lie down all day! Anyone got any other answers? My accupuncturist has tried his best but it has made no difference.

I have rad that decongestants are not the answer, if anything you need to block yourself up a bit. I have also read that this problem occurs in pregnancy. Mine started at 6months pregnant, although I did get of a flight around the same tine it started with popped ears and sneezed violently holding my nose and it really hurt. I'm not sure which started it but I've had the baby now and it's still here. I'm a teacher and it really affects my ability to do my job, as well as making everyday life miserable. People often ask me why I am talking loudly but I can't tell how loud I am, I feel like darth vadar too! I have found that while I have been on maternity, lying down on that side helps but obviously we can't all lie down all day! Anyone got any other answers? My accupuncturist has tried his best but it has made no difference.

I woke up Saturday with fullness in my right ear, Echo, and everything seems super loud. I can not pop my right ear and when I cover my left ear my right ear seems too be partially deaf.. Please help anyone.

You all are definitely talking about PET... Patulous Eustachian Tube. If the echo goes away when you hold your head upside down that's a sure sign. I don't think it's as rare as people think. There aren't too many treatments available. The first thing to try are drops called Patulend that you can order online. They help build up the tissue so the tube will close normally again.

I worked in food service for many years so I also hold in my sneezes. I have had the same problem with the echo in my ears of my own voice while speaking but for me it comes and goes. It seems to be more present when I am experiencing higher stress levels or when I am feeling under the weather. Sometimes blowing my nose will "un-pop" my ears and other times there is nothing that helps... I would love to find out what this is and how to stop it.

Am so sory for you ,myears echo al the time any noise any wear the radio TV cars going by any thing with noise sends echo in my ears its very anoying I've been to earing aid clinic I av a earing aid but it picks noise up can any one help brenda .

Yesterday I experienced the same type echo you have described for the first time. It is extremely annoying; especially when watching TV.. Certain sounds (mostly higher voices or high-pitched tones) echo almost as if I'm trying to listen to the same program on two separate TVs but they are milliseconds off each other. Very annoying. I was hoping it was just some water left in my ear from the shower, but it sounds like it may be more... By the way, when you contracted the sinus infection, were you put on an antibiotic?

Recently I'm also having similar symptoms to all of you, one of my friend who had this problem told me that her dr gave her medicine and she's been taking it for almost 2 years now, she also said her Dr advised that she should reduce her salt intake and drink more water. So for the past few days I try to reduce the salt intake and drink MORE/alot of water and it seems help! :) hope it won't come back that echo in my ears and the Dart Vador's breathing :P

I don't know if I have the same problem but ever since I was a kid one of my ears would plug up and everything sounded funny like I was under water.been to al kinds of doctors.turns out all it is is water behind the ear drum.the symptoms were not always the same.my ear would echo,hurt.sound like I was under water,extreme pressure, make strange noises that other people could hear,it would come and go. The only thing I foumd that works is a netti pot this cleans your sinuses it works every time you can get it at any pharnacy don't know if this helped but good luck

I am so relieved (but still saddened) that I am not alone in this matter. The constant sniffing and plugging my nose to regulate my hearing from all the echoes temporarily drives me insane and ends up giving me migraine like headaches from the constant pressure. I am going to research ETD and PET more to figure something out.

I have the same thing and my ENT said it is a new condition that a lot of doctors haven't heard about yet. I know you commented in 2008 but if you are still looking for answers he is one. It's called superior canal dehiscence. The ENT will do some tests and a CT scan to diagnose it.

Hi jaenia I am suffering from the very same problem I would be very grateful to hear from any one that can help me thanks matt

I've had problems with an echo in the ear for the past year, but found noise seemed to be amplified. It was like hearing underwater with a full feeling in the ear. Whe I went and saw the ENT this turned out to be a perminantly open eustacian tube that doesn't shut off properly, a condition known as Patulous Eustachian Tube. My doctor misdiagnosed the opposite and gave a nasal spray that does absolutely nothing for it. They gave me some meds to congest the back of the eustacian tube and it kind of works.

For more info visit: http://www.jacksonearclinic.com/pages/piTubes.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulous_Eustachian_tube#Treatment

Hi, I joined this forum because this is the only site where I found similarities to what I experience.
Some months ago, I started feeling my left ear was full and I heard strange sounds. Then I suffered intermittent tinnitus. Sometimes I heard an echo and some sounds like the TV echoed in high pitch. Sometimes my voice sounded like D. Vadar, too. And some sounds were even too loud to bear.And sometimes I felt a hollow feeling or like the sound of wind or a roar too. Then all disappeared and the tinnitus remained.
I had a non-contrast mri, an electronistagmography and an audiogram and they came normal. But when the ent did a fork test it's not normal, it detected SNHL.
So I guess there must be a problem with the ear that comes and goes? I wonder if anyone feels more or less the same strange thing? I had not been able to get an accurate diagnosis yet, but I see that seems to be a common experience...

Have the same thing for a couple of years. I've been investigating. There are tubes that can be placed forever in your ears (http://www.earsurgery.org/site/pages/conditions/serous-otitis-media.php).please don't give up.let me know if you try to do more search.

Thank you for posting this. I have experienced these symptoms five years ago and they ceased after a few days. My GP was unhelpful that time, it just resolved alone. This time it has started with feeling eery headache creeping up. I had a head/neck massage, which helped a bit for two days, but two days later I felt pressure in both ears, scull tenderness behind the right ear (sore to touch 8/10) with some swelling and echo to continuous deep sounds particularly. I feel exhausted and just feel it needs to pop away as it feel like pressure. I tried sudafed for sinuses, no help. Neurophen did not help much either. I might go and see another GP tomorrow. I do hope it goes away like it did once before.

I have a similar issue. I had a sudden hearing loss in my right ear that doctors can't figure out why (calling it audipathic hearing loss). I've done some other tests and ruled out tumors, nerve damage and inner ear damage. This condition also causes an echo of my voice or any sound in the right ear. The tinnitus is constant and gets louder sometimes. The hearing aid didn't help with the echo or tinnitus. But I've read about tinnitus masking therapy which ill try soon. There are also other ways to mask tinnitus. CDs with broad band white noise or natural masking sounds are available. Sound pillows with small speakers embedded in the pillows are offered by several manufacturers. Tinnitus masker: The devices are similar to hearing aids except that they do not amplify sound; they produce a sound which masks tinnitus. The Tinnitus Instrument: The devices are a combination of a hearing aid and a tinnitus masker in the same instrument. They are prescribed for those people with hearing loss who do not have significant relief with a hearing aid alone.


Recently, maskers have been developed that can be individually tuned to match the tinnitus frequency.

Hi Jeania.I am just going thro this page today. Did your echoing ears permanently resolve? Did you also try to ask your ENT specialist or GP why sinus and throat infections *** hoarseness of voice seemed to solve the echoing problem? I'll really love to have a scientific explanation to this. Can anyone help?

Hi All,

My has fully resolved. I assume it was some sort of temporary inflammation or ENT system. Best wishes to all.

Mine, too, stopped on its own after about 2 weeks (I did not see a doctor). It took about 8 - 10 days before I noticed a change in which the echo seemed to gradually lessen. By the end of the two weeks, it just disappeared, almost without my realizing it... The only thing I could think of that could have caused mine was getting some water in my ear after showering (although that just didn't seem logical to me to create an echo sound)... Good luck to all who are experiencing this same thing and hope your symptoms,too, go away on their own.

Olayi2,

I went to a plethora or specialists and took an assortment tests and absorbed a vast variety of medications over the past few years. The problem persists but gets better at times. I have grown used to it.

Jaenia

I have had this for over twenty tears in my left ear only. It occurs almost daily, all day, during hot weather. It never used to "plug" in winter months, but has begun to the last couple of years. I have noticed that changes in atmospheric pressure either cause it or relieve it. During a summer rain storm, as the pressure is low, it never plugs. When the storm passes and the heat returns, it plugs again. I went to an ENT, no luck. I tried acupuncture, no luck. I tried a Chiropractor, no luck, but I have tremors in my extremities now. I had no idea that my ear could touch my shoulder until these treatments. Thanks Doc. Placing an ice pack behind my left ear for about 30 minutes will usually stop it for several hours. Lying down flat almost always stops it, until I get up. Eating ice cream or drinking milk shakes will temporarily stop it, but now I have blood sugar issues. Bending over and touching the floor or bending over while sitting will always stop it, but it returns minutes or seconds later after returning to vertical. The only time the 'plugging" never occurs is when I have a cold. It almost makes having a cold enjoyable. I just read the post about PET and the drops called Patulend. I'm ordering some. I'll try anything, this condition has about driven me nuts. Thanks for all the information.

Try to do tympanometry and audiometry, from history the condition my be due to eustachian tube disfunction and/or allergic rhinitis, and if the condition proved to be otitis media with effusion in one ear c.t. nasopharynx is a must to exclude nasopharyngeal pathology.

Try to do tympanometry and audiometry, from history the condition my be due to eustachian tube disfunction and/or allergic rhinitis, and if the condition proved to be otitis media with effusion in one ear c.t. nasopharynx is a must to exclude nasopharyngeal pathology.

Dear mhamrosh,
Are you suggesting surgery?

Can you explain that in English?

Jaenia

I've had this same condition for over 7 years. It first started in my right ear, then moved to my left. It then started affecting both ears so the specialist who I saw the first time recommended I have grommets inserted into my ears. This appeared to give me around about 7 months of it not happening - bliss!
The issue came back gradually until its now got to the point it was at before I had the grommets inserted. I am seeing my local Dr on Thursday to see if the grommets have fallen out, and to see what can be done, as I hate living with it.

After a plethora of tests and medications I gave up on seeing doctors about whatever it is. They did try cutting openings in my ear drums to relieve pressure or something (I suppose that was the preliminary to the grommets you mentioned) but it wasn't much help and we let them heal up.

It's still annoying at times but I have has some success just trying to ignore it. I'm still not clear on what causes the problem. Only that the pressure in there is never quite equalized. I suppose as genetic mutations go I can consider myself lucky to have one that is in no way debilitating.

This causes me a lot of problems. Its very distracting and I am getting very depressed about it. I spend more time laying down than I do standing / sitting upright. I had to lay down on my lunch break to clear it, and I can now feel the pressure building up again.

My Specialist prescribed me a Nasal Spray Suspension which obviously was never going to work. I feel my specialist thinks I have ETD, rather than PET. I will stop using the spray.

I had my adenoids removed when I was young (pre 10 years of age) and have suffered the condition since the age of 13. It used to only happen when I got hot. Now it just does it when it wants. My right ear would only be affected when I got hot but again now it just happens at will.

It used to be a case of eventually during the day it would sort itself, but now that doesn't appear to be the case.

Just to add to this, I take a daily diuretic. Diuretics are sometimes linked to PET. I am seeing my dr tomorrow and will be armed with all of this information. I doubt they will be able to do anything with it or about the condition, but at least they'll have the information. Perhaps they will be able to switch me to a none diuretic medication.

Look up "Eustachian Tube Dysfunction".

I have the same problem I'm so scared I saw on line that it could be a turom in my ear

I have had this problem for twenty plus years. I recently had an MRI of my head for a different issue but there were no tumors. I hope this lessens your fears.

I was feeling cold today, shivering and yawning away and later developed into this "ear stuck" syndrome. Following what many others have already pointed out, this is the way our body reacts to temperature change?