Any doctors in the house? sons hearing damaged?

[98elise]

My son went to a party about 5 weeks ago, and a mate thought it would be funny to let of a party popper next to his ear. He had bad ringing in his ear for a few days. Its subsided but 5 weeks later he can still hear it in a quiet room.

Is it worth taking him to the doctor, or is there nothing that can be done?

[davepoth]

98elise said:

My son went to a party about 5 weeks ago, and a mate thought it would be funny to let of a party popper next to his ear. He had bad ringing in his ear for a few days. Its subsided but 5 weeks later he can still hear it in a quiet room.

Is it worth taking him to the doctor, or is there nothing that can be done?

I messed my ears up from playing in a band for a while; luckily I only notice it when I'm concentrating on it, if it's a very quiet room or if I'm tired. Earplugs go in at gigs these days, and I tend to be very wary of loud places.

If he's lucky it will fade a bit more but I would guess if it's not gone completely by now then it's not likely to. Probably a good idea to go and see a doctor anyway, as I'm not sure if having ringing ears makes it more likely to get ringing ears in future.

[tyrone1973]

He may have a haemotympanum - a small bleed behind ear drum.
Would be best to attend local ENT department - they will perform audiometry.
However there may be no treatment required.
In this age group still worth checking out.

[98elise]

davepoth said:

98elise said:

My son went to a party about 5 weeks ago, and a mate thought it would be funny to let of a party popper next to his ear. He had bad ringing in his ear for a few days. Its subsided but 5 weeks later he can still hear it in a quiet room.

Is it worth taking him to the doctor, or is there nothing that can be done?

I messed my ears up from playing in a band for a while; luckily I only notice it when I'm concentrating on it, if it's a very quiet room or if I'm tired. Earplugs go in at gigs these days, and I tend to be very wary of loud places.

If he's lucky it will fade a bit more but I would guess if it's not gone completely by now then it's not likely to. Probably a good idea to go and see a doctor anyway, as I'm not sure if having ringing ears makes it more likely to get ringing ears in future.

Thats my concern. He's 16 and an idiot "mate" may have damaged his hearing. Its enough that he keeps mentioning that he can still hear it.

If there is no treatment then i don't want to waste a doctors time.

[HughS47]

I'll ask one of the ENT doctors at work and see what they suggest.

[Pothole]

Tinnitus is truly hideous. Worth getting checked out, but if it is tinnitus, there's no cure.

[98elise]

HughS47 said:

I'll ask one of the ENT doctors at work and see what they suggest.

Thanks, its only things are quiet, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

[HughS47]

Chatted to ENT in the mess today - he recommended getting the GP to have a look in the ear. If the only symptom is tinnitus, given the cause, it should resolve spontaneously over the next 1-2 months. If there is damage to the tympanic membrane or any evidence of hearing loss, or your GP isn't happy, then they would suggest speaking to ENT locally to arrange an outpatient review.

[98elise]

HughS47 said:

Chatted to ENT in the mess today - he recommended getting the GP to have a look in the ear. If the only symptom is tinnitus, given the cause, it should resolve spontaneously over the next 1-2 months. If there is damage to the tympanic membrane or any evidence of hearing loss, or your GP isn't happy, then they would suggest speaking to ENT locally to arrange an outpatient review.

Many thanks, its reassuring to know that it can take that amount of time to heal.

We'll get an appointment with our GP

[jackh707]

Pothole said:

Tinnitus is truly hideous. Worth getting checked out, but if it is tinnitus, there's no cure.

Not true. There's more than one cause of ringing in the ears. Some are reversible, some go away on their own some don't.

Send him to the GP, they are good at looking in ears and will refer you on if needed.