As some of you know, it is thought that migraines are the main source of my balance problems, although it isn't 100% certain, and lately I have been having all kinds of problems with the only ear I have left. For about 4 months now I have been having ringing in the ear that occurs multiple times a day. Frequently this ringing is followed by balance/vertigo problems. I also have irritation and pain in the ear and can frequently tell when it might start ringing. I thought it must have been caused by getting off of Ampitrypoline (sp?) to try a different med because that is about the time the ringing started. But now I have been back on the Ampitrypoline but the ringing has not subsided.

In addition to these problems, I have also been having trouble with sounds. I've read about the various kinds of inner ear disorders and a lot of them list sensitivity to loud sounds. I think they called it Tulio's phenomenon. But migraines list this as well as a trigger. So I was wondering if there were any differences between them. Is sound sensitivity in migraines occurring because the inner ear is not receiving adequate blood flow or is it just something in the CNS that makes it cause migraines to trigger?

My problem is that lately it has been more than just the loud sounds that are bothering me. Things as soft as people talking and the watching tv at a level where I can understand what people are saying can be irritating at certain times. More interestingly, certain low quality sounds seem to cause me tons of problems. Talking on the telephone and listening to headphones are big culprits. But I've also had problems with listening to mp3's in the car, and low quality recordings on the computer without headphones can really irritate my ears and cause balance problems. Certain sound files seem to be worse than others because they cause problems whenever I listen to them. So I am just wondering what could cause this to happen. I am very apprehensive about talking on the phone because it can make me feel bad for the rest of the day :( Does anybody else have any of these kinds of problems?

Cory

Hi Cory,

I really, really wish I could be of more help. Like you I have a possible migraine diagnosis, don't know for sure. I do know that when whatever is at its worst is happening to me, this can include periods of increased tinnitus, facial pain, headache, dizziness etc... I can become either hyperacustic, (sensitive to sound) or alternatively feel like I have lost some hearing and have to strain to hear. There are times when I am listening to the television at twice the volume I usually would. As far as I remember though, sound itself has never as such induced dizziness in me. I also have a vague memory of, as you say, something called Tulio's phenomenon, although can't remember much about it, other than there is a syndrome where sound induces dizziness. Wish I could help you more.

I know you recently wrote a post where you said you'd have a really hard time getting specialists even to diagnose or treat MAV. So I am reluctant to say the obvious which is that if you found the right specialist, someone really hot in the balance field, they might well have the answers to this. I presume you are in The States. Many people are on the board, although maybe you aren't? I only ask as if I lived there I would be really, really temped to travel to one of the big, big names in the fieldm at one of the big balance centres. The ones who write all the articles, the likes of Timothy C Hain etc... Or the man that Subs saw, can't remember his name, think it's Shepherd. I'm afraid I'm not up on how insurance works there, or if this is possible. I am a bit at the end of my tether lately with my latest relapse, although they are very nice in the neurotology department I go to, (which is one of the only ones in the country) (UK) I hated the neurologist I saw. He prescribed the drugs but he wasn't exactly what you would call the friendly type, which is going to make things difficult if this drug I am on doesn't work. So I sympathise with the whole unsympathetic docs angle. I am treated on the NHS here which makes a choice of doctors very limited.

Sorry I can't be of more help on that one, wish I could. I know that Adam knows a lot about MAV, you could try directing a question directly to him and he might be able to shed more light on whether this is a phenomenon common to migraine.

best,