topic Re: MRI and hearing loss in Community Chat

MRI and hearing loss

Patriot3 — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:19:31 GMT

I had an MRI yesterday for my neck and I now have partial hearing in one of my ears. Has anyone else had this experience? I called the MRI dept and spoke to the supervisor and of course he said, gee, no one ever told me this before and suggested I talk to my family Dr. They aren't open yet for me to call. I would appreciate anyone's experience w/this.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

jo555 — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 23:52:21 GMT

Hi,

I was wondering what happened with your hearing loss. I had an MRI of the cervical spine and MRI of the brain yesterday as well. I felt like I could not hear well and by the end of the day, I noticed that the hearing in my left ear was deminished. I did some research and there is info that MRI can cause damage to the ears. So, I went to my ENT today and he did confirm that I have aucoustic trauma from the MRI!! I am so upset. Can you tell me how you feel now or if you were given any meds, etc. I was not given meds, just told that it may be permanent. I did wear plugs for the cervical MRI and I did wear the ear muffs for the brain MRI. Thanks!

Re: MRI and hearing loss

sfnative — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 05:06:15 GMT

This happened to me after an MRI of the same region. I've had MRIs of my cervical spine and brain previously, so am familiar with the noise level. The noise level in this particular unit was horrendous and I told the tech so when it was done. I could not wait for the study to end!

I noticed a marked decrease in hearing in my left ear immediately. Why not my right ear as well, I don't know. My internist referred me to an ENT whose audiologist tested my hearing and sure enough I have a marked deficit in my left ear that wasn't there before I had that darn MRI,based on a previous hearing test 4 years ago. I am furious!

The only thing I can do is NOT have an MRI at that facility ever again, as the microscopic nerve ends that were destroyed will never grow back. The damage is permanent.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

Justice4all — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 05:14:24 GMT

Thank you for the warnings. As music is preeminently important to me, I need to research this.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

Montana — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 06:03:45 GMT

Thank you all for this information. I have never had an MRI but I will make sure my ears are protected if I ever need one.

This article talks about MRI hearing loss:

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crira/2013/510258/

Title: Sensorineural Hearing Loss after Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Re: MRI and hearing loss

CaliKat — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 10:37:51 GMT

This is very scary information!

I have had hearing loss in my left ear for many years. I wasn't really even aware of it for a long time. My family kept complaining that I listened to music and the television too loud, but I still didn't connect the dots until I started having trouble understanding every word people were speaking. I had a hearing test and sure enough, I have a definite decrease in my hearing.

I had a brain MRI many, many years ago, and an MRI of my back several years later, but I don't know if those could have been the cause. My ENT doctor believes that typical age related hearing loss usually affects both ears, and since my hearing loss is only in my left ear, he has no explanation.

The thought of losing my hearing in my other ear terrifies me. After reading this, I don't know if I would ever have another MRI again.

Thank you for posting about this very important subject.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

CaliKat — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 10:38:50 GMT

double post.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

shoptilyadropagain — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 14:10:31 GMT

I had an MRI about three years ago. I didn't suffer any hearing loss but I could definitely see how it might happen.

I had never had one before and had no idea what to expect other than I knew I couldn't move and it could possibly be claustrophobic. I wish the technicians would have explained the process because for the first few minutes I thought I was in a war zone or the machine had fried and was blowing up. It was scary.

I hope your hearing loss is only temporary.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

jubilant — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:29:57 GMT

I have had numerous MRI's due to a small brain tumor. I started getting them in 2005. The last few years they have "upped it" to every 5 yrs. because there has been no significant growth. I do have my 5 yr. coming up in 2016. The only after effect I have ever had is blurred vision for 10-15 minutes afterwards. I am glad you mentioned the hearing loss problem so I can wear earplugs the next time!

Re: MRI and hearing loss

sfnative — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:54:29 GMT

After having stated what I did yesterday about my post-MRI hearing loss, I'd like to add a few things.

The MRI unit into which I was placed was a dinosaur, I later learned. Hereafter, I will always ask how old the unit is and if I'm not pleased with the answer or they won't give me one, I'll simply leave. I just can't afford to lose any more hearing in my left ear, it's that marked.

The next time I have an MRI of any kind I'm bringing my silicone earplugs. These are far superior to those flimsy foam things that don't do anything for me at all. Noise-reducing headphones can also be used, along with the silicone earplug.

Note: Most MRI units are loud, but not loud enough to create hearing loss. It's important to remember that, as the discussion here may have frightened some folks from having a very necessary diagnostic MRI study.

I'm glad this came up for discussion. Thank you!

Re: MRI and hearing loss

sfnative — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:58:21 GMT

@jo555 wrote:
Hi,
I was wondering what happened with your hearing loss. I had an MRI of the cervical spine and MRI of the brain yesterday as well. I felt like I could not hear well and by the end of the day, I noticed that the hearing in my left ear was deminished. I did some research and there is info that MRI can cause damage to the ears. So, I went to my ENT today and he did confirm that I have aucoustic trauma from the MRI!! I am so upset. Can you tell me how you feel now or if you were given any meds, etc. I was not given meds, just told that it may be permanent. I did wear plugs for the cervical MRI and I did wear the ear muffs for the brain MRI. Thanks!

Hi Jo,

I hope you've come back to this thread, as I just noticed that you're brand new with your first post and wanted to welcome you and say "Hi." There are many wonderful folks here, so hope you will return and share information or ask questions. We try to feed off of eachother in a positive way.

God Bless ~ Rebecca

Re: MRI and hearing loss

ROMARY — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:05:07 GMT

I'm shocked. One would think that they could supply some type of ear mufflers. The industrial type. In this day and age, loss of hearing shouldn't be a problem at all. JMO And, thanks for the warning. We should all have on hand the very best of earplugs that we can find, just in case. Again, thanks for this very important alert. Knowledge is everything.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

June222 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:12:44 GMT

I had both a shoulder and a cervical spine MRI done within a week of each other this year. It was very loud. I had both the ear plugs and the ear muffs. Did not have any problems with my hearing afterward. I have very very sensitive hearing. So perhaps it is a condition that affects just a few people. I suppose there is risk in any procedure.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

VAbelle — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:37:01 GMT

I had my MRI in March for cervical area, and also wore earplugs and an ear muff .... the noise was still horrendous since I'm sensitive. I also had an MRI in 2006 and a technician did offer me earplugs alone, but that was not sufficient .... today my ears are so sensitive that I cannot stand to hear certain noises that would not bother the general population.

MRI technicians should make patients aware of this danger!

Re: MRI and hearing loss

LTT1 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:33:06 GMT

The last time I had an MRI performed, I was given headphones that had music piped in. This seemed to do the trick for me.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

Shorty2U — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:20:57 GMT

Sorry to read you are having hearing issues. I never heard of this until now. I have had 10 MRIs of various parts of my spine since 2001 on up to months ago due to chronic back problems, spine surgery, and chronic pain. I have never experienced hearing issues.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

Suziepeach — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 02:51:06 GMT

Let me think back, I had a brain and cervical spine done via MRI with and without contrast 2 years ago. The technologist gave me those ear plus and before I laid down, I closed my eyes (which I didn't allow myself to reopen until after the study was done due to claustrophobia), after I was in the prone position I remember her positioning my head and putting thickness over each ear. I could still hear sounds but muffled, even when she tried to talk to me, I'd yell back, "For the umpteenth time I told you I CAN'T MAKE OUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. So I meditated, maybe that's a reason so many of the sounds were further muffled- I went to happy places and could hear the ocean.. Anywho, I am so, so sorry to those that are having hearing issues to the MRI sounds, I'd of never thought about that. And here I a former registered radiology technologist but my specialty was mammography... Now I am having CT's, of my concerned issue, and there's still noise but again I went to that happy place..

Oh yes, if you have another MRI please mention this to the technologist or if there's a radiologist on site, speak with him if you can.. These aren't trivial concerns...

I wish everyone well!

Re: MRI and hearing loss

FlowershopGirl — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:18:31 GMT

Tell them you are sensitive to sound BEFORE you consent to do the MRI. Mine provide me with sound reducing headphones. If they don't have them, exit the building and reschedule with a place that your insurance accepts and does have headphones.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

ROMARY — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 19:30:57 GMT

Wow, are we lucky to have such nice posters who are alerting us. Hopefully, we won't need this info, but, in case we do, when we phone for an appointment, make sure we request ear plugs/muffs ahead of time. In fact, maybe the doc can write it in his report and authorization request. That way, it's on the patient's chart. In fact, I'd probably tell them that my ENT doc said that I HAVE to have ear protection, due to previous ear problems. Just 'make something up' when nothing else works.

Re: MRI and hearing loss

LTT1 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 19:32:16 GMT

@FlowershopGirl Yes, I agree. In fact, I now remember that I was asked if I have claustrophobic issues. Once, a long time ago, (closed MRI back in the day) I said yes and they may have given me something to relax me. But with the advent of the open MRI, I still close my eyes -- not willing to chance it. Also, I still need to will myself to calm down sometimes.

The ear muffs with music allowed me to concentrate on the music... the tech interrupted when instruction was needed and the voice thru the ear muff system was very clear.

I wish anybody the best of luck and hope they can endure this procedure without discomfort.