ear problems, ...am i going deaf? Options

[pink.x.r0se]

i've been sick since around the beginning of spring break, just a coug and a runny nose, but since it lasted so long i've been to the doctors a couple of times. they've never really given me a straight answer on what's wrong but both times i was told i had a sinus infection. the cough and runny nose i still have, but it's gotten a lot better. but a few weeks ago i noticed that my right ear's hearing seemed dulled and it felt like i had to pop it but i couldn't until a few days later. it REALLY hurt but i could hear normally again. but even since then, my ear would pop painfully every so often.

now, my ears pop whenever i yawn. and when i eat, my chewing sounds so loud to me that it completely drowns out anyone who's talking to me; if i can't see that someone's talking to me, i won't know AT ALL. the same thing happens after i excersize, except for that my heart's beating/my breathing is too loud.

any ideas on what this is and if its connected to te sinus infection?

[Sprague]

It could be connected to the sinus infection. I have a similar problem that deals with ear wax build up, which started after I had a cold, too. I've had to live with it for five or so years, but that's aside from the point. My doctor told me that there are nerves that are closely linked from the ear to the nose, and what happens to one could very likely happen to the other.

In my particular case, something that's related to my nose is pressing against my eardrum, which causes a build up and no way to release the wax, causing a loss of hearing. I'm not saying this is what's happening to you, but I'm just saying its similar and could be relevant.

I'd suggest doing what Fist says and talking to your doctor about it if it bothers you this much. Insist that something is not right.