Shakerag

Hello everyone, I've got a bit of a tale to tell and a plea for help.

About 7 months ago my partner suddenly had a strange vision problem
develop within days and we couldn't figure out what was wrong. Several
ophthalmologists and a neuro-opthomologist later, they couldn't tell us
wrong. A month of this went by when it cleared up only to be replaced
with a mysterious hearing problem.

It developed initially over a week. Sounds were muted and fuzzy, but she
could still listen to music. After another month, musical tones became
distorted and she could no longer stand to listen to music. The TV was
much harder to understand and she could barely make out the sound of her
voice. Most of the time she describes her own voice as sounding like its
coming from far away and that it is distorted. Sometimes it just sounds like a
loud mish-mosh.

There are physical problems, too. Her ears constantly pop whenever she
swallows or opens her mouth wide enough. There's definitely TMJ
involved, but that can't be the only thing. She also has frequent
headaches, from whatever source.

We've been to two different ENTs, two neurologists (who are now, in my
opinion some of the rudest people on Earth), a neuro-otologist, a
chiropractor and a physical therapist that specializes in cranial work.
The first ENT brushed it off as noise-induced; the second one didn't have
a clue. The neurologists thought she was making it up and the neuro-
otologist didn't have a clue either, but at least has humored us by
requesting an MRI and maybe a spinal tap eventually. The chiropractor
has helped the most in getting the popping in her jaw reduced, but not
eliminated. The physical therapist hasn't had any profound effect
either.

Audiograms have been weird, too. She's had three since this started (no
reference from before, unfortunately). The first one had a drop at 3K to
25dB on the left and another drop to 30dB at 2K in the right ear. The
second audiogram was similar and the third didn't have any readings below
(above?) 20dB. On the third audiogram it was noted that OAEs failed at
2K, 6K and 8K on the right ear only. On all three audiograms word
recognition was 100% in the right and 96% in the left. An initial MRI
from an emergency room visit came up with nothing, but we're waiting on
the results of a second one (this one was done with contrast dye). Blood
work hasn't shown a thing other than a slight potassium deficiency, which
has since been improved.

The confusing part about this all to me is that why can she hear other
people talking more clearly than the sound of her own voice? That makes
me want to think there's some conductivity problem arising from TMJ from
getting her wisdom teeth (4!) out last summer. But then why haven't the
chiropractor and cranial physical therapist done any good?

This has driven the both of us crazy and has devastated her. She's a
hardcore audiophile who loves to sing and play the keyboard and she's
been torn away from that for 7 months now. If anyone out there can offer
any sort of advice or information, it would be very seriously
appreciated.

Thank you,
Michael