Oh, our precious ears.
Thyroid Symptoms In The Ear
“My ears feel full. I can’t explain it. It’s like when water clogs your ears while swimming. I’m constantly jiggling my earlobe and shaking my head to the side to unclog it but it never unclogs.”
“I have excessive ear wax. I’m certain it started after my thyroidectomy but doctors tell me they are not connected.”
“I find myself sensitive to noises that never bothered me before.”
“My hearing deteriorated in the decade I was trying desperately to get help for my thyroid. I now have tinnitus and moderate hearing loss.”
“My ears are itchy and it’s maddening!”
“I had a constant humming in my ears. Told it was tinnitus but it went away a few months after starting natural desiccated thyroid.“
“The hissing sounds in my ears have gotten louder over the months. It overwhelms me at times. I can’t properly sleep because the sound is always there.”
“The constant pumping in my ears is directly related to my levothyroxine dose. The more doctors reduce my dose, the more raging the sound becomes.”
“I’m afraid that I’m losing my hearing in both ears but mostly one side.”
“I think my thyroid medication is too high. My heart started racing and my hands shake. I started to hear a heartbeat sound in my ears like a whooshing sound.”
“I have hyperthyroidism and I hear a strange swoosh sound in my ears, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.”
“The ringing in my ears is driving me mad. I have trouble hearing conversations and even the TV. I get quite panicky about it. Was just told I have some hearing loss and that’s that. In the meantime, I live with this ringing constantly.”
“My hearing started to deteriorate just before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and I now have to wear hearing aids. I was considered too young for it to be age-related, so it was just ‘one of those things’.”
“My hearing loss started soon after I began treatment for TED Thyroid Eye Disease with the new prescription drug Teprotumumab.”
These are the types of stories that I have received over my ten years as Hypothyroid Mom. One thing is clear to me. Every part of the body can be disrupted by thyroid imbalance and that includes our ears.
Thyroid Hearing Loss
Thyroid hormone is responsible for regulating the metabolic rate of every single cell in the body. An imbalance in thyroid status can affect any system in the body and that includes the auditory system. Approximately 40% of adults with hypothyroidism are estimated to have hearing loss in both ears.[1]
The association of hypothyroidism with hearing impairment was first documented by Kemp in 1907 in a severely hypothyroid female.[2] In 1967, Ritter stressed that hearing loss can be the most common otorhinolaryngological manifestation of congenital and acquired hypothyroidism, and auditory symptoms may happen alone or in association with vertigo and tinnitus.[3]
For over 100 years a relationship between hearing impairment and thyroid dysfunction, congenital and acquired, has been recognized and accepted among researchers.[4-14] Studies have revealed abnormal changes in thyroid hormone levels in both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. If 100 years isn’t enough, the research on this topic continues to present day. In 2020, researchers discovered an association of preexisting hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism with an elevated risk of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss SSNHL in a large case-control study involving 16,655 individuals.[15]
This is not surprising really given that researchers have known for years that thyroid hormone receptors are located right in the spiral ganglion cells as well as the inner and outer hair cells of cochlea. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure located in the inner ear (that resembles the shell of a snail) that contains the Organ of Corti, the organ of hearing.[16] It is also well-known that congenital thyroid disorders are often associated with profound deafness because thyroid hormones and their receptors are essential for the auditory development in the fetus and infant.[17]
Low Free T3
TSH alone is not full thyroid testing. It’s often the only test taken for thyroid patients but it fails to give a full picture. TSH is an indirect test of thyroid function. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain that sends a message to the thyroid gland to increase or decrease thyroid hormone production. TSH is not a direct measure of the level of thyroid hormone circulating in your blood. If you follow my blog here at Hypothyroid Mom, you know that Free T3 is “my queen of thyroid”.
Every cell of the body has nuclear receptors that bind to T3 thyroid hormone. It is by binding to the nuclear receptors that T3 exerts its biological effects by turning on or off various genes in the nucleus much like turning on or off a light switch. Testing “Free T3” is key, and yet Free T3 is not routinely tested in mainstream medicine. I propose that this is one of the major reasons why there are so many unwell thyroid patients all around the world today. The majority of hypothyroidism patients are treated with T4 only levothyroxine medications, yet they are exhausted beyond words because they do not have enough circulating Free T3 to bind to those desperately waiting nuclear receptors.
What does this have to do with your hearing? A lot.
There are more than 66,000 new cases of SSNHL Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss annually in the United States.[18] It usually occurs unilaterally (in one ear), and is sometimes accompanied by tinnitus, vertigo, ear fullness, and nausea. In 2021, researchers reported that low Free T3 (FT3) is a risk factor for moderately severe-to-profound SSNHL.[19]
Tinnitus, Hypothyroidism & Hyperthyroidism
Ringing, whistling, buzzing, humming, hissing, chirping, roaring, clicking, fluttering, tapping, crackling, bubbling, ticking, twitching, blowing, thumping, or even shrieking in the ears. That’s how so many of my Hypothyroid Mom readers describe the annoying sound of tinnitus. The ringing may be loud or soft, high or low pitched, in one ear of both, and more pronounced when there is no other sound in the room. Tinnitus has been found in patients with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and autoimmune thyroiditis.[20] In a 2022 study, researchers found that hypothyroidism increases the risk of developing tinnitus when associated with comorbidities including vertigo, hearing loss, and insomnia.[21] Tinnitus may be the first sign of hearing loss.
A whoosh sound, a rhythmic sound like a heartbeat, pulsating, swooshing or whooshing. You can’t imagine how many people over the years have described this strange sound in their ears to me and wondered if it could be their thyroid. Always contact your doctor to let them know about new and worsening symptoms. There is one thing I would like to say about this whoosh sound. Contact your doctor to do a thorough thyroid and heart exam. Unlike most types of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus has a physical source of the sound. It’s the sound of blood circulating through the arteries that you hear with your ears. In cases of hyperthyroidism or over-medication with thyroid hormone replacement medication, the high thyroid hormone level can cause increased blood flow and that whooshing sound can be the sound of the blood flowing quickly through the carotid artery in your neck. It is also common with the autoimmune thyroid disease known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis for TSH to rise and fall with a combination of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid symptoms.
Ear Fullness, Earwax & Noise Sensitivity
Excessive earwax. A feeling of ear fullness or pressure. Sensitivity to noises, even everyday sounds like the sound of people chewing, drinking, or breathing can be so maddening. I know these are vague and not much research has been done specifically on them but I hear from enough hypothyroid people with these complaints that I know they just can’t be a coincidence.
In my 15 year journey with hypothyroidism, I’ve made a point of collecting my thyroid lab results and recording my hypothyroidism symptoms every time. In this way I have identified my own “optimal” ranges. My optimal Free T3 is near the very top of the Free T3 normal reference range. That’s when my hypothyroidism symptoms disappear and I feel wonderful. Using this simple method, I know exactly when my Free T3 falls to the middle or bottom of the normal reference range by the start of certain key symptoms. In my case, I begin to experience constipation, belly fat, face swelling, skin paleness, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, headache, fatigue, and buildup of ear wax whenever my Free T3 starts falling too low. They are like red flags waving in the air straight at me warning me that I need an increase in my thyroid medication dosage.
What are your red flags? We’re all different so your early warning signals may be different. I wonder if buildup of ear wax is one of them for you.
Earwax, which is not really wax at all, but a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris, is produced naturally by the body to clean and protect the ears from dust, foreign particles, and microorganisms. While earwax is good for your ears, there can be too much of a good thing. In most people, the self-cleaning process works well. In others, however, including people with hypothyroidism, the wax can collect to the point where it completely blocks the ear canal. This earwax blockage is called cerumen impaction. The buildup of earwax can cause hearing loss, ringing ears, vertigo, earaches, ear infections, balance problems, and a feeling of ear fullness. According to Harvard Medical School, excess earwax, if it gets lodged in a certain way in the ear canal, can even cause a cough by stimulating the branch of the vagus nerve that supplies the outer ear.[22]
Another interesting theme that I’ve noticed especially on the Hypothyroid Mom Facebook page is the number of hypothyroid people that experience a heightened sensitivity to noise. That noise keeps them up all night, even noises that go unnoticed by the other people sleeping in the very same room. I’ve often wondered about these types of experiences and had an a-ha moment when I read a paper published in 2015 by Dr. Bonnie Schnitta:[23]
Throughout my career in acoustic engineering, I have observed two interesting dynamics. Many of the people that I encountered with extreme noise sensitivity, that is easily disturbed by noise 1–2 dB above background (typically unperceivable by most), were found to be in ill health. Once I recognized this phenomena, I began to take note that there was an increase in these numbers specific to those suffering from cancer or a thyroid problem. I began to survey these individuals and most identified having been sensitive to noise long before their initial diagnosis, further developing my theory that noise sensitivity may indeed be a symptom for certain diseases, and a warning sign for early treatment.
Dr. Bonnie Schnitta, The Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 2015
Teprotumumab for Thyroid Eye Disease TED
On January 21, 2020, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Teprotumumab (Tepezza) for the treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease TED. A little more than a year after becoming the first and only FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of thyroid eye disease, new research sounded the alarm on the potential risk of hearing loss. A study presented at the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting ENDO 2021 indicated that more than 50% of patients receiving this new treatment experienced hearing loss symptoms.[24]
Final Thoughts
Over 100 years of research already. How much longer will it take before the connection between thyroid disease and hearing loss becomes common knowledge? My guess is way too long.
In 2020, researchers found a whopping 66.3% of hypothyroid adults had mild hearing loss affecting the higher frequencies that were predominantly bilateral (affecting both ears) and sensorineural type. Hearing loss with tinnitus and dizziness was the most common presentation among the hypothyroid group.[25]
Thyroid status should be evaluated in patients presenting with auditory-related conditions as thyroid treatment has been found to partially or even completely reverse the hearing impairment if started in the early stages in some cases.[26-27]
Maybe I’m being too cautious but why not, given all the decades of research, ensure every patient with thyroid disease has regular monitoring of their hearing just to be on the safe side. I’m not the only one to recommend this and I won’t be the last. In 2020 researchers concluded:[28]
We suggest that when thyroid dysfunction is diagnosed, a baseline audiogram is intended to provide a reference for future comparison. For timely diagnosis and treatment of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss SSNHL, clinicians should advise patients with these risk factors to notify a doctor should they experience acute changes in hearing function.
Tsai, Y., et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
And let me add this. Every patient experiencing unexplained ear symptoms like hearing loss, tinnitus, excessive ear wax, ear fullness, ear pain, dizziness, chronic ear infections, and noise sensitivity should have full thyroid testing. Yes, maybe that’s being too cautious but this is about our precious hearing, after all. If you struggle to find a good thyroid doctor in your area, book a consult with me and let’s talk! I’ve been compiling lists of good thyroid doctors by region for the past ten years based on recommendations from my followers. I have extensive lists for every single U.S. state as well as the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, South America and South Africa. Here is my booking calendar to make an appointment.
REFERENCES:
[1] Santosh, U.P., Sudhakar Rao, M.S. Incidence of Hypothyroidism in Meniere’s Disease. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 May;10(5):MC01-MC03.
[2] Kemp WR. Deafness in myxoedema. Br Med J 1907;1:375.
[3] Ritter, F.N. The effects of hypothyroidism upon the ear, nose and throat. A clinical and experimental study. Laryngoscope. 1967 Aug;77(8):1427-79.
[4] Clinical Society of London. Transactions of Clinical Society of London. London: Longmans and Green, 1888:21 (suppl).
[5] Hilger JA. Otolaryngologic aspects of hypometabolism. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1956;65:395-413.
[6] Parving, A., et al. Audiological and Temporal Bone Findings In Myxedema. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1986;95:278-283.
[7] Howarth A E , Lloyd H E D . Perceptive deafness in hypothyroidism. Br Med J 1956;1:431-3.
[8] Van’t Hoff W , Stuart D W . Deafness in myxoedema. Q J Med 1979;48:361-7.
[9] De Vos, J.A. Deafness in hypothyroidism. J Laryngol Otol 1963;77:390-414.
[10] Post JT. Hypothyroid deafness. A clinical study of sensory neural deafness associated with hypothyroidism. Laryngoscope 1964;74:221-32.
[11] Van’t Hoff, W., et al. Deafness in Myxoedema. QJM. Apr 1979;48(2):361-367.
[12] Parving, A., et al. Hearing sensitivity in patients with myxoedema before and after treatment with L-thyroxine. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1983;95:315-21.
[13] Khechinaschvili, S., et al. The hearing system under thyroid hypofunction. Georgian Med News. 2007 Mar;144:30-3.
[14] Sharma, K., et al. Brainstem auditory evoked potential in clinical hypothyroidism. Avicenna J Med. 2015;5:79-82.
[15] Tsai, Y., et al. Association between Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Preexisting Thyroid Diseases: A Nationwide Case-Control Study in Taiwan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb;17(3):834.
[16] Lautermann, J. et al. Postnatal expression of the alpha-thyroid hormone receptor in the rat cochlea. Hear Res. 1997 May;107(1-2):28-8.
[17] Forrest, D., et al. Thyroid hormone receptor β is essential for development of auditory function. Nature Genetics. 01 July 1996;13:354-357.
[18] Alexander, T.H., Harris, J.P. Incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Otol Neurotol. 2013 Dec;34(9):1586-9.
[19] Zheng, Z., et al. Thyroid-Related Hormone Levels in Clinical Patients with Moderately Severe-to-Prodound Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Prospective Study. Front Neurol. Oct 28 2021;12:753270.
[20] Wang, T., et al. Increased Incidence of Tinnitus Following a Hyperthyroidism Diagnosis: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study. Front Endocrinol. (Lausanne). 2021;12:741719.
[21] Hsu, A., et al. Hypothyroidism and related comorbidities on the risks of developing tinnitus. Scientific Reports;2022;12:3401.
[22] Harvard Medical School. Got an ear full? Here’s some advice for ear wax removal. 16 Nov 2021. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/got-an-ear-full-heres-some-advice-for-ear-wax-removal
[23] Schnitta, B. Acoustic sensitivity phenomena found in people with cancer and thyroid problems. 2015;137:2320.
[24] Endocrine News. Increased Risk of Hearing Impairment with New TED Treatment. Apr 2021. Retrieved from: https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/increased-risk-of-hearing-impairment-with-new-ted-treatment/
[25] Vinitha, V., et al. Audiological assessment in adults with hypothyroidism. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2020;10(3):242-246.
[26] Hussein, M.M., et al. The effect of L-thyroxine hormone therapy on hearing loss in hypothyroid patients. The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology. 2017;33:637-644.
[27] Anjana, Y., et al. Functional Status of Auditory Pathways In Hypothyroidism: Evoked Potential Study. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2006;50(4):341-349.
[28] Tsai, Y., et al. Association between Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Preexisting Thyroid Diseases: A Nationwide Case-Control Study in Taiwan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb;17(3):834.
READ NEXT: THE THYROID, NOSE & SINUSES
Hello Dana!
I came across your article here as both my husband and I have noticed clogged right ears after increasing our doses of NDT. Our pulses
and temperatures are improving, but we’re puzzled by the clogged ears. Do you think the increase of NDT could be the source of this and that it will go away as we slowly find our optimal dose of NDT? Thank you!
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 2007, after losing my first baby at 19 years old and I was 21 weeks pregnant and I went into the dr to find out the gender and instead I found out he had no heart beat. My grandmother my whole life said I had a thyroid issue that needed to be checked and no one would ever check it, when I found out I was pregnant with my first child they ran test my thyroid came back inconclusive and my dr told me no need to repeat my labs, I had no clue that thyroid problems could effect my children. I now have my rainbow baby that is almost 15 and was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease in 2019 and she is struggling with taking her meds I keep telling her how important it is to take her meds. I also have a son that is 12 and another daughter that is 11. I do have questions about the ears I have itchy ears all the time what can I do?
I really wish there would be solutions for all this . I’ve wrote on here before . I have hypothyroidism and hashimotos . I have titanitus too . I’ve experienced vertigo through the years . The only thing that has helped me is asking to be put on tirosint , it’s gluten free thyroid medicine . It’s made in the USA. No one believes a person when they complain of these medicines effecting our ears and god knows what else . We need more natural like meds. Pain joints and back since taking thyroid meds too .
Hi, I read your story. I hate the fact that so many people suffer from their thyroid not working properly. I have also been told my numbers were high. They wanted to put me on meds I turned them down. Instead, I did my own research and started taking Thyroid strength from Megafoods. My number was 21 and it went down to 13 then 10. It’s not perfect, however, I’m praying that the supplements I take will work for me. I get the fullness of the ear and have experienced vertigo. I’m just sick of it all. I’m not telling you not to listen to your Doctors, however, try looking into holistic subblements. Oh seamoss is good for thrroid too
2
Hello from a newbie to your website.
I have hashimoto’s disease and was diagnosed in 2012. I was doing okay on levothyroxine but within the past year I have randomly fell 4 times. After the last time I went to see my doctor who ordered tests and an MRI. The MRI showed nothing, but my blood work showed my left ear to have a lot of wax buildup and my thyroid levels changed, my cholesterol levels went up and my kidney functions aren’t the greatest. I am 61 and want to live to my 90’s or beyond. I am currently reading the Thyroid Reset Diet and through Dr. Christiansons book while doing websearch came upon your site. When I get money together I want to get your newsletter. This article about the ear/thyroid resonated with me. My balance is off due to too much wax is probably why I fell. I cannot wait to delve more into your website. I am even going to look into a doctor who specializes in thyroid issues. I like my regular doctor but want someone who specializes to better advise me as i embark on my new health journey. Thank you again>
Hi Lisa, It’s wonderful to have you here at Hypothyroid Mom. I put together a directory to help organize the hundreds of articles on my website to make it easier for readers to find information on topics they want to read about:
https://hypothyroidmom.com/thyroid-warning-signs-from-head-to-toe/
I’m at a loss to explain why I feel so terrible. My labs keep coming back “normal” and even my functional provider doesn’t feel it’s my thyroid. I have dry skin and hair, muscle tightness and fatigue, low body temp, sensitive to cold, lymphedema, brain fog, and now very troublesome tinnitus with hearing loss, and I’m so exhausted. So very exhausted. My functional provider stopped answering my questions and my primary care doctor has not been able to get beyond my labs looking good. I have food sensitivities and am mold exposed. So many variables and no one seems willing to stick with me long enough to get to the bottom of it. It feels like even my husband who is a wonderful and caring man, is getting tired of hearing me complain. I’m 53 and feel so much older. Who can I turn to for help with this?
Dear TM, In the same boat. 52 and have every symptom you have. My doctor(s) – have seen many including specialists – each tell me it is menopause. This has been going on for 2+ years and I am post-menopausal. I don’t have the classic menopausal symptom of hot flashes. They came and went. So, getting no where with MD’s, I started trying supplements by symptom one at a time to rule out: (1.) Cold hands and feet could be anemia. I took iron and a bit warmer for a few hours then cold again. Perhaps low iron although not 100% solved by supplements so determined it was something else. (2.) Tinnitus and hearing loss since I was 42. Told it was from bad ear infections as a child and the flu knocked out what remained. Believe this until another flu and no worsening of hearing. Anemia can cause tinnitus but iron did not alleviate it. (3.) Bone dry skin and severely ridged nails. Toe nails splitting don the middle. B12 anemia? Started taking a TON of B12. Ridges minimized a bit but not completely and lunula only appeared on 2 nails. The rest? Completely missing lunula and still have mild ridging. (4.) For the past 2 months I have been ice cold. Thought it might be sepsis from a UTI which can make you cold. Took antibiotics to be safe (told telemed MD I had a positive AZO test strip for UTI to test theory, they prescribed). No change. Still ice cold. (5.) So…I decided it could be my thyroid and got over the counter desiccated (dried) thyroid, selenium, and iodine. WARMTH! Also, less constipated/regular. My last TSH before this as reference = 3.4. FT3 and FT4 are mid-low range although “normal” per MD. Total T3 and T4 virtually zero although Totals apparently doesn’t matter for some reason. What I tried was Standard Process Thytrophin PMG. Someone else mentioned it here, perhaps on another blog discussion within this site. Imagine any type would work to test the theory. Just check your heart rate and blood pressure, very important. If blood pressure drops to below 115/75 you could be low on cortisol. If it’s high 130/85+ and drops to 120/80, bingo, your thyroid is responding. 120/80 is the goal. If heart rate jumps but if it comes back down (60’s-70’s resting) when it was always remaining high (80’s resting), voila, it is working, you need thyroid treatment, personal opinion. Some have low heart rate with hypothyroid. I found mine was remaining high until I took dried thyroid. Believe my cortisol was sky high to make up for low thyroid and high cortisol raises heart rate. The other vital signs that came back in good range since starting these thyroid supplements: blood pressure down, blood sugar down (it was staying high despite serious effort to reduce), heart rate down. I was tired of being tired, sick, checked out out of life, and on the verge of losing a job. This approach isn’t perfect but after losing so much “life” feeling awful, this approach is helping. Icing on the cake? Tinnitus is better – not gone just not as loud. I’ll take it! FYI, you need to take dried thyroid every 4 hours or so as it doesn’t last all day. When I start to get cold again I’ll take another dose. Debating on taking this to my doctor for a prescription of levothyroxine. You may email me if you would like.
Dear TM,
You are discouraged, but I encourage you to pray, rest, and don’t give up. It may be a worthwhile investment to get your house professionally tested for mold spores, even if you live in a very dry climate, as we do. I contracted stage 3 Mycotoxicosis from Aspergillus penicillium and Stachybotrys chartarum. We had our house professionally remediated, but fungal mitigation of the body takes years. It was a physical/mental/emotional marathon, to say the least. Aspergillus is one root cause of Hashimoto’s (which I have now, too- a newbie here). As for thyroid, NDT’s seem to have much better results than levothyroxine, according to ample testimonies on several hypothyroid websites. If you call Dana Trentini (from this site, hypothyroidmom) she can help you find a thyroid doctor in your state. She very kindly helped me: now my homework is to keep going through that list until I can fimd an available, suitable doctor and make an appointment, which will likely mean a long wait, and a long drive. But hopefully it will be worthwhile. We need medical help in getting correct testing/dosing/monitoring. Hypothyroidism is not a “diy project!” Take heart, and persevere- you’re not alone on this weary journey- so many others have been struggling in a like manner for a long time. May God bless you.
Thanks for sharing this info. I have had ear problems since I was a baby. From infections, to fluid, to pain, to too little wax, etc., that has lead to some hearing loss. The symptoms seem to be progressing and in the last few years I have had vertigo multiple times, tinnitus and now my hearing loss is much worse. In the past 3-6 months by hearing loss is very noticeable by others now. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid when I was 10 years old. I am now knocking on the door to 44.
It is mind boggling to me all of the connections that have to do with my thyroid condition.
Hi Sherri, You are so right. It is mind boggling how a little gland in our neck can affect our entire body. The hardest part is that people that don’t have this disease can’t imagine how intense it can be. It is sad to me that over a century has gone by since researchers first noted the connection between thyroid and our ears and yet, so many years later, it is still hard to find doctors that know this connection. There are 6 key lab tests to ensure you have done to give a full picture of your thyroid health just in case it is your thyroid underlying your recent hearing issues. The 6 lab tests are described in this article here: https://hypothyroidmom.com/top-5-reasons-doctors-fail-to-diagnose-hypothyroidism/ Wishing you all the best.
I belong to a Cervical Dystonia (neurological movement disorder affecting the neck muscles) Support group on Facebook and someone posted a link to this website. I have hypothyroidism and my two sisters were diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. For many years, I have had tinnitus and hearing loss of my higher frequencies in both ears. A few months ago, I felt like I had water in one ear that wouldn’t go away. I developed a little infection too. My doctor put me on an antibiotic and sent me to an ENT doctor where I had a hearing test and had ear wax removed. I decided to look into hearing aids but found them too uncomfortable and returned them. I may have to revisit that decision at some point. I also see a holistic doctor who has me taking a compounded formula of T4 & T3. I’ve been on it for many years now. I am intrigued by the connection you make between hypothyroidism and hearing loss. I will let my holistic doctor know about my recent ear problems and mention your website. I may ask him to recheck my thyroid levels. Many people with Dystonia also have an autoimmune disorder and some have wondered about Dystonia affecting their ears as well. My surviving sister developed another form of Dystonia in her 60’s. Somehow all of this seems connected but I’m not sure exactly how. I suspect in my case it’s genetic. I will check out some of your other links. Thanks for this information!
Hi Joyce, It is good to have you at Hypothyroid Mom. I received a message from another Hypothyroid Mom reader several months ago who asked about the potential connection between Cervical Dystonia and thyroid disease. While I did not find much research specifically on the connection at that time, I recall reading that there are many potential causes for CD but that autoimmunity may be one. Whenever I hear from people with one autoimmune disease, I always ask if they’ve had thyroid antibody testing for the thyroid autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. There are two thyroid antibodies to test for it: Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies. I ask because when someone has one autoimmune condition, the immune system may then progress to erroneously target another body part and a cascade happens where the person develops multiple autoimmune conditions if the immune system is not corrected. From autoimmune experts that I’ve met over my ten years at Hypothyroid Mom, many have told me that autoimmunity can occur over time in a cluster of up to 7 or 8 different autoimmune conditions. By no means does this mean that CD is necessarily an autoimmune condition in every case but it would be worth it, if you haven’t done so already, to have your thyroid antibodies tested. Here is an article for you to read: https://hypothyroidmom.com/hashimotos-your-body-is-not-supposed-to-destroy-itself-right/
Diagnosed with hashamoto’s hypothyroidism 2000, taking Armour Thyroid. Diagnosed with Meniere’s disease 2017. Had left ear pain before the attacks started. 2018 was the worst year I’ve had so far and had the sensitive hearing problems for quite awhile. I now have it in both ears. I’ve ordered iodine and will start that tomorrow when my order get here. I hope it helps. I’ve also started eating whole plant base foods. Also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 2007, trying to reverse this.
Hi Celine, It’s a coincidence that you mention Meniere’s disease. I am currently working on a new article for Hypothyroid Mom all about dizziness, vertigo and Meniere’s disease as a follow up to my thyroid ear article here. At first I was going to combine the material together but the article was far too long all in one so stay tuned because I plan to post it within the next week or two. Researchers have connected Hashimoto’s with Meniere’s disease.
Hi Dana, my mom was recently diagnosed with Meniere’s disease and she also has a low thyroid taking Levothyroxine. Her doctor basically told ther there is nothing that can really be done its something that she is going to have to live with forever. She is 74yrs old and she gets dizzy and has a zooming noise in her ears. Please update me on what can be done to help her or what test need to be done. How do I know I know when your article comes up? Thank you in advance
So now we have a new component that arrived around 2009 for most people. RF frequencies from our New modern human toys, the cellphone and rf frequencies technology, lots of cellbtowers, wifi devices, 5G wifi-modems and I’d say it really intensified with Apple phone fad It is well known that symptoms also associated with thyroid can are caused by exposure/proximity to RF fields. Military fact for quite some time. Anyhow its not a replacement for thyroid dysfunctions, but just good to know it could cause temporary effects in sensitive persons, like dizziness, ringing and whistling in ears, burning skin, insomnia, sharp pin pricks, joint pains that pop up and then go away,muscle twitches. Microwave or mRAP weapons exist and sometimes,who knows, the celltowers might be cranked-up on high, weaponized for whatever experimental reasons. Personally, I try not to carry this tech turned on and definitely don’t sleep with it? The 5G small cells were turned on Jan 19,2019. They look like tubular cans on stand alone poles or purpke streetlights-5G relays. Crown Castle is one tower company with over 7,000 towers. They sue any City Council that dares try to stop them putting up towers. Will not allow words “health effects”to be mentioned at council meetings. Funny kind of sinister folks. The United States Military has a long history of running exeriments against whole cities. See: Deep Vault,Declassified Projects. A cellphone is a magnet for cell tower waves. Now this complicates things? Technology can be dangerous these days. Leave electric bicycles outside for instance. See YouTube, electric bike fires. Exposure to RF fields could be ‘a stress’_ in the context of stress hormones.
I wonder too about the effects of RF frequencies from technology and how it impacts our thyroid and overall health. Good to have you at Hypothyroid Mom.
Where can I find the article your wrote on Meniere’s? I have Ménière’s, Hypothyroid and Hashimoto’s. Would love to read what you wrote about it.
After cancer treatment I developed Underactive thyroid.I didn’t realise my hearing and noise in the ear was to do with the Thyriod.Thank you for sharing .
Hi Elizabeth, I’m happy the article was helpful to you. I have heard from many of my Hypothyroid Mom readers over the years that have developed tinnitus and hearing loss since their thyroidectomy. It may be a signal that your thyroid is not being treated optimally. Here is an article about the lab tests to ensure you have run for you to give you a full picture: https://hypothyroidmom.com/top-5-reasons-doctors-fail-to-diagnose-hypothyroidism/
Everything you have written I have. I have suffered with Thyroid problems since I was bullied at work 2005. I’ve been on Levothyroxine 150mg since. The ringing drives me mad and the hard of hearing and misunderstanding people for what they say is a nightmare!!!
What can I do to help? Is iodine good to take to help?
Hi Shelley, I’m sad to read you went through that experience at your work place. How awful. Here is an article that includes information about iodine including urine iodine testing to ensure you are taking the correct dosage (as too high iodine can disrupt thyroid function) and the importance of supplementing along with selenium. https://hypothyroidmom.com/a-different-view-on-a-common-autoimmune-disease-hashimotos-thyroiditis/ You mention Levothyroxine. That is a synthetic form of T4 thyroid hormone. While some do great on T4 only, many of us can’t convert that T4 to the active T3 hormone which is why many are feeling better on a combination of T4 and T3. Here’s information about this too: https://hypothyroidmom.com/which-is-the-best-thyroid-drug-for-hypothyroidism/ Then when you want to learn even more, join the Hypothyroid Mom newsletter. It’s where I deep dive into the advanced material of how to take the information and turn it into action. I like to call it my version of Hypothyroid Mom 2.0: https://hypothyroidmom.memberful.com/join
Diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer 2006. Thyroid removed. Been on levothyroxine ever since. Last year I lost hearing in my left ear. Hoping to save my right ear.
Oh Jon this makes me sad to read that this has happened to your hearing. Have you been given any possible cause for it? It might be a sign that your thyroid is not optimally treated. The first step is to get full thyroid testing. Here is an article that lists the 6 hypothyroidism lab tests to have run: https://hypothyroidmom.com/hypothyroid-testing-what-you-need-to-know-and-ask-for/ Here is information on the other thyroid medication options besides levothyroxine that are available: https://hypothyroidmom.com/which-is-the-best-thyroid-drug-for-hypothyroidism/ And if you would like to learn more about hypothyroidism, I’ve created the new Hypothyroid Mom newsletter: https://hypothyroidmom.memberful.com/join Great to have you at Hypothyroid Mom.
How do you get full thyroid testing done if your doctor won’t do it? She’s an MD that thinks the basic test is enough. I live in a small city in a rural area so don’t have many choices. Thanks.
HI Janeann, You have the option to order your own thyroid lab tests directly. Here are full thyroid panels.
USA: https://truehealthlabs.com/product/extended-hashimotos-thyroid-panel/#llchm
Canada: https://truehealthlabs.com/product/comprehensive-thyroid-assessment-test-kit-canada/#llchm
Europe: https://truehealthlabs.com/product/thyroid-plus-europe/#llchm
You may also want to consider booking an individual consult with me. I’ve been compiling lists of good thyroid doctors for the past ten years based on recommendations from my Hypothyroid Mom followers. I now have extensive thyroid doctor lists for every U.S. state as well as the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Here is where to book time on my calendar: https://ny786.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/Talk-with-Dana-Trentini-30min
Good to have you at Hypothyroid Mom.
Best,
Dana
I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2019. My “plugged” right ear started in 2017. After 3 trips to ENT, hearing test (had hearing loss) and a battery of tests, etc. ENT said nothing wrong with my ear and it was a phantom illness. He asked me if I needed him to explain it to my husband 😑
The holistic doctor that diagnosed my hashimotos had told me there could be a link between the two and now I’m so glad I found this article! I’m not crazy after all.
I have learned to live with it and at times it’s worse than others but at least no pain.
I am not on any thyroid medications just went gluten free 3 years ago and try to limit dairy. Definitely helped other symptoms I was having but not ear. Thanks for all the great info!
As the ENT told me “if this is the only cross you have to bear than you’re doing alright”
Guy is an idiot if you didn’t already figure that out!
I have all of these syptoms, so hard to hear over the ringing in my ears and yes I have hashimoto hypothyroidism ugh
Thank you for sharing Sue. You are not alone and I know that many people reading the comments here will benefit from you sharing your experience. Good to have you at Hypothyroid Mom.
Is there a link between earaches and hypothyroidism?
Hi Barbara, I have no doubt that earaches would make sense given all the various ear symptoms that can present with hypothyroidism. While I did not find much research specific to excess ear wax for example, I know that the buildup of earwax in my ears when my thyroid treatment is not optimal gives me earaches. As well, something that I should add to the article as well is that, in a low thyroid state, our bodies are more vulnerable to infections of all kinds including chronic ear infections. Good to have you at Hypothyroid Mom.