Auditive nerve surgery ?

Pépé le Pilot

Pépé le Pilot

Well-Known Member
Doc, I've suffered a serious barotrauma incident while scuba diving 1 1/2 years ago. 9hrs of hyperbaric chamber, to make short, I've regained my 1st class and am happily flying, however I have kept a tinnitus and a hearing deficiency in the left hear, that kicks in at 4khz. Basically, my hearing drops right there, I'm at -50db on the "bad" ear at 3khz to about -10db at 4khz, which is also the frequency of my tinnitus, and basically nothing above 4khz. I'm 38 but my right ear is really sharp.
I have done MRI and headscan. All checks out ok, ear drum is fine, cochlea, vasalva maneuver is perfect.
I know that the nerve has taken a hit, what are the possibilities of a reconstructive surgery ? I know the tinnitus won't go and I live fine with it, I would however like to regain some high freqs on the left ear... Thanks !
 
I think you are looking for a fix that isn't there/ I have hearing loss like you except in both ears and have learned to ignore the tinnitus.

If you look hard enough, someone will 'sell" you a "cure" ---- kind of like buying the Brooklyn Bridge.
 
We deal with very severe tinnitus at the Midwest Ear Institute in KC. We are a regional non-profit ear clinic affiliated with a large hospital system in KC. We are known internationally, mostly for our cochlear implant program, and have taken part in every FDA clinical trial having to do with cochlear implants since 1980. There is a device and therapy program called Neuromonics that we have used extensively in different studies and tests. Many people that finally get referred to us have tinnitus so bad that they are suicidal (Obviously worse than Pepe le Pilot currently, but this is for future reference). The VA hospital in KC sends us patients for treatment with this and we have seen good results. In fact, the audiologist switched from being an implant audiologist to tinnitus specialization (which is weird, most audiologists HATE tinnitus) because her husband came back from Iraq with severe tinnitus after being close to an IED - she got passionate about this and now that's all she does. The founder of the clinic is the past President of the Academy of Neuro-Otology - I say this for the sake of seperating this from "snake oil" types of treatments. I think one of the issues with lots of this, and with Neuromonics, is that many clinics will use it (for revenue) with people whose tinnitus is not severe enough or they don't follow the program (perhaps a for-profit clinic can't spend the time - it is time intensive). Anyway Doc, if you want to speak to the audiologist (AuD from Vanderbilt runs our tinnitus and vestibular program) I would be happy to arrange a call - it can be a good treatment.
 
I am a Neuromonics device user/patient and I can tell you this device saved my life. I've had tinnitus my entire life, but back in 2008, for no apparent reason, my tinnitus became much louder, so loud that I could hear it even in the noisiest of environments. I couldn't concentrate, and I was spiraling into a deep depression.

I went to an ENT and was told to look into Neuromonics. I found an audiologist who also suffers from tinnitus and she got her PhD while studying under the research team that came up with Neuromonics. She is dedicated to helping tinnitus sufferers. She was the first person who could explain to me exactly how the body reacts to tinnitus, and how how the noise is in your brain/auditory nerve, not your ear. She also told me to go home and to try other ways of coping with the noise before trying Neuromonics. I made it another 2 weeks before I was back. I received the device and coupled with counseling from my audiologist, I was able to get my life back.

It works. If you follow the protocol and use the device as directed, it really really works. If anyone wants more info feel free to let me know.

By the way when I say device, it looks like a any MP3 player with ear buds. Simple and easy to use.
 
Interesting, however my tinnitus doesn't really bother me, it goes up when I'm very stressed but other than that I can only hear it in a very quiet environment. Right now I'm within ICAO requirements right now, but I'm afraid that I might drop below someday.
 
Pépé le Pilot said:
Interesting, however my tinnitus doesn't really bother me, it goes up when I'm very stressed but other than that I can only hear it in a very quiet environment. Right now I'm within ICAO requirements right now, but I'm afraid that I might drop below someday.
Click to expand...

Your tinnitus is fine now - and that is an awesome thing. IF it gets worse, there is a treatment available. That's why I posted - it isn't so much for you now, but perhaps in the future, and for people that were like Flying Turkey.

Turk - glad it worked for you.
 
What is the average cost for someone not insured in the US ? I doubt my HMO would give me a cent for this, and they are not distributed in Colombia. I would say that for now tinnitus represents 10% of my concern. The hearing loss is bothering me a lot more, even though it's not evolving, in a good or a bad way....
 
Pépé le Pilot said:
Interesting, however my tinnitus doesn't really bother me, it goes up when I'm very stressed but other than that I can only hear it in a very quiet environment. Right now I'm within ICAO requirements right now, but I'm afraid that I might drop below someday.
Click to expand...
Is there a measurement for tinnitus? Or just a hearing test that you may fail due to it? I gots me some tinnitus, it sucks. Too many rock concerts, high end audio, and years flying Be18's.
 
Pépé le Pilot said:
What is the average cost for someone not insured in the US ? I doubt my HMO would give me a cent for this, and they are not distributed in Colombia. I would say that for now tinnitus represents 10% of my concern. The hearing loss is bothering me a lot more, even though it's not evolving, in a good or a bad way....
Click to expand...

I haven't a clue about your specific insurance or coverages so I hesitate to even speculate. I do know that the American Veterans Administration will pay for Neuromonics for cases of young men and women that have been damaged and they will refer them to us for treatment if the condition warrants (Or Vanderbilt in TN, or other regional clinics where the VA has hospitals). While I do not know of the insurance coverages you have specifically, I do know that Columbia has some excellent ear clinics. If you give me a day or so I will track down ear clinics in Columbia that are exceptional so you will have a choice - seems as if Cali has a good one as well as Bogata. Give me a couple days to check it out - I have contacts with a biotech that measures and works with ear clinics all over the world and keep measures on them (a form of due diligence) - all I know is that they were impressed with Columbia in comparison with other clinics throughout Latin America. Give me a couple days and I'll get you the info.
 
Itchy said:
Is there a measurement for tinnitus? Or just a hearing test that you may fail due to it? I gots me some tinnitus, it sucks. Too many rock concerts, high end audio, and years flying Be18's.
Click to expand...

I would speak to an audiologist. Again, the Neuromonics device is for severe tinnitus but it wouldn't hurt to speak to an audiologist - particularly if you can find one that specializes. Not sure where you live so I can't check and see if there is a legitimate clinic near you (University affiliation or an independent that does a lot of research, etc). Let me know where you're at and I can see if there's a clinic close.
 
Itchy said:
Is there a measurement for tinnitus? Or just a hearing test that you may fail due to it? I gots me some tinnitus, it sucks. Too many rock concerts, high end audio, and years flying Be18's.
Click to expand...

Itchy, FAR pat 67.105 states 4 frequency with limits across the human ear hearing range : 500hz, 1000hz, 2000hz and 3000hz. For all these freqs, there are limits (with a poor and better ear discrimination). I know that AME's in the US are pretty relax about these tests, however in Europe, Asia, South America, you get the full hearing test thing, and I was chocked to see how bad my hearing deficiency is. Now I'm still within FAA standards (Colombia goes with the FAA standards), but the doctor told me that the rest of my flying career would involve some super quiet headsets and hearing protection around the aircraft (APU's are very bad, along with starting engines).
You can get a hearing test just to see where your hearing is at right now. I am also an audiophile, but since my accident I don't enjoy it as much.
Waco I really appreciate your efforts, please let me know and will reciprocate the favor by letting you know how stuff evolves.
 
Pépé le Pilot said:
Itchy, FAR pat 67.105 states 4 frequency with limits across the human ear hearing range : 500hz, 1000hz, 2000hz and 3000hz. For all these freqs, there are limits (with a poor and better ear discrimination). I know that AME's in the US are pretty relax about these tests, however in Europe, Asia, South America, you get the full hearing test thing, and I was chocked to see how bad my hearing deficiency is. Now I'm still within FAA standards (Colombia goes with the FAA standards), but the doctor told me that the rest of my flying career would involve some super quiet headsets and hearing protection around the aircraft (APU's are very bad, along with starting engines).
You can get a hearing test just to see where your hearing is at right now. I am also an audiophile, but since my accident I don't enjoy it as much.
Waco I really appreciate your efforts, please let me know and will reciprocate the favor by letting you know how stuff evolves.
Click to expand...

That would be a huge help to me as I'm in charge of trying to create a worldwide database of ear clinics in general and cochlear implant clinics in specific to aid people who travel internationally that may have a problem with a device or their hearing in general. First-hand feedback on patient care would be huge - I'll get on finding out some stuff for you Monday. Thanks a lot.
 
You can count on me for a full feedback. Right now my tinnitus rings at 4khz and a relatively low level. I'm seated at my computer, no music, window opened, very quiet Bogota neighborhood and I can hear the tinnitus at a level that's maybe 10% higher than the background sound, left hear only.
 
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