Hearing loss after cold/flu

[djmarsat]

I've recently had a bad cold and now can't hear. Both ears feel like they're full of water.

I can't get an appointment with the nurse for couple of weeks.

This happens several times a year and and makes life difficult at work.

Would a hearing aid help me in these situations? How much do they cost?

[chris]

Have you had your ears syringed recently? It could simply be a build up of wax.

[dozydawn]

I wouldnt imagine this is anything serious as I often have the same problem. Colds can contribute to blockages in the sinus and these can cause problems in the ears too. I second having your ears syringed - this is something I do before every holiday I go on as I experience problems when flying.

Good luck.

[Digital Hearing Care]

Hi djmarsat, it sounds to me like your eustachian tubes might be blocked. They are the thin tubes from the back of the throat to the middle ear. When this happens the middle ear is blocked off and the oxygen in the middle ear is gradually depleted causing an imbalance in pressure either side of the eardrum. This causes the eardrum to stiffen and become less effective, in turn leading to a dull sensation of hearing. It's a bit like when you go on holiday and your hearing goes dull as the airplane rises in the sky, you swallow or yawn, this opens the eustachian tubes and air pressure equalises either side of the eardrum, your ears 'pop'.
If the tubes are full of mucous due to the cold they will take some shifting, why not try to decongest with the old head in a towel over a bowl of boiling water, maybe a bit of menthol or something to loosen the mucous in your tubes, it might just work.
Shame you have to wait so long to see the nurse....
I wouldn't recommend hearing aids in this instance.

[jjanderton]

I've recently had a bad cold and now can't hear. Both ears feel like they're full of water.

I can't get an appointment with the nurse for couple of weeks.

This happens several times a year and and makes life difficult at work.

Would a hearing aid help me in these situations? How much do they cost?

Hi there...

Doctors also really don't know the cause of sudden hearing loss sometimes they think that it may involve autoimmune disease and/or a viral infection.