How I Reversed My Fluctuating Low-Frequency Hearing Loss. Raising awareness!
Hi, I am posting this for people who experience fluctuating low and mid-frequency hearing loss, or who have been diagnosed with (or suspect) cochlear hydrops.
In the spring of 2024, I experienced a drop in hearing in my left ear, losing a bit of my low-end (bass) hearing. The doctor misdiagnosed it as ETD (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction), but now I highly doubt that. With a bit of Flonase treatment and some immunomodulators, my low-frequency hearing in the left ear somehow recovered over time.
In the spring of 2025, I suffered a very severe drop in my right ear, again in the low and mid-frequencies (up to 1Khz, but this time the losses were highly severe. I lost up to 65dB in some frequencies, and a ton of other symptoms emerged, such as glossopharyngeal neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, occipital pain, and all sorts of other issues. I felt like something was growing inside, pressing on everything. Both my doctor and I suspected a tumor. A 3-Tesla MRI ruled out this diagnosis. The doctor then told me it was SSHL (Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss) and that I should get a hearing aid. However, I somehow ruled out this diagnosis because my hearing would fluctuate at times. I had good days and bad days. I noticed that stress was a factor that worsened things, as was standing up (orthostatic position).
A fortunate accident, however, made me realize what the trigger was. One day, my back was hurting incredibly bad! I took several tramadol pills, reaching dosages that are highly unrecommended for human consumption. When they kicked in, my hearing suddenly dropped again in my left ear. That’s when I knew! It's from the Tramadol! It frustrated me that the doctor had dismissed this theory (or rather the doctors, as I went to two of them). Both of them disconnected the link between the hearing loss in my left ear and the one in my right ear! I didn't! I realized there was a common cause, whatever that might be. Keep in mind that during this entire time, I was constantly taking betahistine and vinpocetine. Another trigger that worsened this issue was smoking. And I mean that kind of smoking, not nicotine.
Once I made the connection between the hearing loss and Tramadol plus smoking, I decided never to touch either of them again. Never! Within two weeks, my hearing was already improving, but there were some stubborn sub-bass frequencies that wouldn't open up no matter what I did (I am referring to frequencies that are not measured on a standard audiogram, but which I could test at home as a former music producer). I mean frequencies like 40 Hz and 63 Hz—standard audiograms only go down to 125Hz and 250Hz (as I noticed is common in the USA). After two weeks, however, even those super-bass frequencies recovered.
Day by day, I feel slight pops in my ear and the exact opposite effect of when I lost my hearing. Meaning, while before I felt like something was growing in there like a tumor (most likely the pressure of my endolymph in the inner ear), now I feel as if something is "drying up," shrinking, and no longer pressing on my nerves. Last night, I listened to music the way I used to for the very first time. My audiogram values are now better in some frequencies than they were even before I lost the hearing in my right ear.
I am posting this because I want to draw your attention to the fact that if you happen to have a vice or use certain substances, they can lead to hearing disorders like the ones I had. Along with the hearing loss, I also had diplacusis dysharmonica, as well as tinnitus—both central tinnitus (in my head, like a buzz or a jet flying in the sky) and in the affected ear. I went through many sleepless nights and ended up a psychiatric patient due to insomnia. Now I feel better nervously, and I see I am no longer as depressed. Sleep helped immensely.
My doctor prescribed a combination of Coaxil, Zolpidem, and an antipsychotic called Seroquel. I felt the biggest improvements in my sleep from Seroquel. I didn't take Seroquel constantly, but rather from time to time, whenever Zolpidem would only give me 2–3 hours of sleep before waking up. I can safely say that the Seroquel treatment, in my case, helped improve my hearing.
Other things I changed in my life besides quitting tramadol and smoking: I no longer eat salt, I am more mindful of stress and try to avoid such situations as much as possible, I sleep more (induced by medication), and I try to reduce carbohydrates and sweets in general (though it's hard). Other adjuvants and supplements I took during this entire time: B-vitamin complex, NAC, L-Arginine, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E, Selenium, etc. I am just listing these supplements; I don't know how much they helped, but they probably protected my inner ear from the damage caused by inflammation.
In conclusion, my cochlear hydrops was caused by toxicity. It seems my body cannot tolerate certain substances, and I will keep this in mind. I wish you all good health, and may you be spared from other problems.