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I have been to hearing doctors over the years. The last time for vertigo. That was fixed. While there, I was tested for hearing loss. They said I have "cookie bite" hearing loss. Maybe genetic. But, I disagree. I have trouble hearing certain people due to their voices. Usually mid-tone if I am saying that correctly. No trouble with high or low sounds. It's the mid-range that is hard to hear at times. I have had constant pressure in my ears for the past 30 yrs. I am 64. Sometimes they hurt like they do today. I usually feel like I am wearing ear muffs. The pressure hurts, sometimes not much, sometimes more. The reason I don't agree with the last one saying cookie bite loss is because: when I drive to a higher elevation - maybe 1,200' elevation above sea level instead of our usual 600', my ears, one or both, will pop and I can hear beautifully with no ear pressure for maybe a minute or 2 and then the pressure is back in my ears. When it happens, I realize how loud the radio is and can't get over the difference. Also, sometimes when sitting and watching TV, one of my ears will pop and I again realize how loud the TV volume is. Due to this, I don't believe my hearing problem is due to Cookie Bite loss. I think it's my allergies that I have always had since a child. My sinuses are always driving me crazy and post nasal drip. I use Mucinex to help. It seems to take care of my all too often dry cough. I have told each ear specialist what I have just told you, but no one seems to listen. I once asked if ear tubes would help and was told no. Is there no hope for me of getting rid of the constant pressure in my ears so they are not sore from the pressure and so that I can hear better? Sure would love to have this solved before I die not knowing why and what was wrong! And it's no fun asking customers to repeat what they have said when they speak too softly. The ear pressure is more than usual today since the weather has abruptly changed since yesterday. Change of weather also gives me a headache in my sinuses. I hope this all makes sense to you. Any answers? thank you in advance!

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I have the muffled hearing often. Fluid in my ears when ever I have a cold. Dr prescribed Prednisone it worked for me. Good luck
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Freqflyer, I know what you mean. Noises next to me, I can't hear anything. My worst allergies are due to cigarettes and perfumes! Then spores like from Christmas trees when brought into the house. Haven't had a real tree since early 90's. Other tree pollens also, but ragweed doesn't seem to bother me.
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Thanks. I'll try the blowing, but not the water in ears. Hate water in my ears! One ear just popped with pinching nose. Better than nothing! See how long it lasts. Released some pressure. More would be nice. Thanks.
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OMG! It feels so great when your ears pop and you get to hear loud and clear! Here is my 2 cents. On a plane trip my ears were really bad so I asked a very sage looking stewardess what the heck she does and she said the oldest and best thing that works is to pinch your nose tightly and blow hard like your blowing your nose but don't let any air get through your nostrils until your ears pop. Also in the shower I take the handheld and turn it on the strongest pulse and turn up the hot water and blast it in each ear for just a few moments then grab th blow dryer and turn my head to the side and bend over to blow the water out of my ears! Sounds crazy but it works and hasn't made my hearing any worse in years. The stewardess didn't have any negative effects after years of doing the nose pinch thing. I sound nuts but see what works for you!
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Birdie62, I know what you are going through... anytime I am driving, I have to open the back windows just a tad to help with the flow of air through the car so it doesn't feel like I just driven into a tunnel.

My ear problem is ringing in the ears, have had it all my life. But I have noticed that when I wake up in the morning my hearing is a lot better... but by evening the volume on the TV keeps going up so I can hear. I can make my ear click by putting pressure inside my mouth... weird.

At home I always keep a couple of windows opened so there is always air flow as for myself I believe if the air conditioning and furnace are putting more air into a room, the air needs to go somewhere. Sometimes houses are too air tight.

Allergies here, too. Some days are good, other days I can tell something is going on like a change in barometric pressure, then I feel like I am in a fog... or if there is too much mold outside it can kick start my allergies.

I have issues with hearing if there is a continuous background noise, like if I am standing next to a microwave oven which is on... don't talk to me because I won't hear everything you are saying :P
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Thanks for answer. No polyps that we know. I never get sinus or ear infections. Just too much pressure since they don't seem to equalize the pressure on both sides of the ear drums. When the pressure pops once in a while, like once every couple of weeks, I have no pressure all of a sudden and then hear fantastically for 30 sec. to a minute and then its right back again to too much pressure. If only it would stay clear!
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Have you ever been checked for sinus polyps? I have some of the same problems, and if you have polyps in your sinuses, it will not allow your tubes to drain properly and you can end up with ear aches and ear infections as well as sinus infections. I get those. I had one sinus surgery to get rid of the polyps back in 1996 and that took care of the problem for quite awhile, but they're back now.
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I'm thinking allergies also. Maybe dairy, maybe gluten? Been told its allergies. Not easy to cut out all of either from diet long enough to check out.
Not a good idea to force air into ear canals. Could force bacteria into the tubes. Not a good idea.
Thanks for suggestions. Will check them out.
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Also look up "Otovent" on Amazon. Never heard of it, but it sounds kind of interesting! It was referenced here, which made me research it:

emedicine.medscape/article/858777-treatment#a1131
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Here are some suggestions as well. It looks like there's a surgery you can have, but given that you've been to three docs and none of them believe your problem is that "bad" you may have trouble finding a doc who would consider surgery. Do you eat dairy products? If so, you might try cutting them out for a few weeks to see if that makes a difference.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001064.htm
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Try breathing in, hold your nose and breathe out through your nose. It forces air out of you eustashion tubes. That always pops my ears.
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Will check answers again. Have been to 3 ENTs over the years. Allergist said to "live with it" cause it wasn't that bad he thought. It feels so great when it occasionally pops and I hear with no pressure. But, only lasts a minute or so. So, can't be genetic and permanent. I take Loratadine. Mucinex - extra
strength. Wish something would help. Thanks for comments.
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Birdie, cookie bite hearing loss is the inability to hear mid-range sounds. Did you look up ear pressure on Web md? Some good suggestions are there. Also, do you take meds for your allergies? Been to an allergist or an ENT about your sinuses?
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No wax at all. Pharmacist is the one who told me to use Micinex. It helps as far as sinuses and throat. Will check diuretics and see what he says. Why do ear specialists not understand my problem. They usually tell me to live with it. Not happy about that answer. I want to hear without pressure in ears.
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Have your ears checked for wax buildup. Try a diuretic for those times your sinuses are full of fluid, talk to the pharmacist about products over-the-counter that will help.
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