Hello everyone, I essentially worked a lot with rock wool and wood over the past few months to build my studio. Until one day, not suddenly but gradually over two days, I found my left ear feeling as though I had lost 4-5 dB around 4000Hz, with it even seeming like there was a shelf lowering all the highs by a few dB. I went to see an ENT doctor who told me it was due to the rock wool causing some air to get trapped in my ear, and prescribed a cortisone treatment. After a month of cortisone, the doctor advised a 20-day break. I'd say I've recovered about 80-90%, but I still feel like something is missing around 4000Hz (1-2dB) and in the higher frequencies. This makes it challenging to understand what's happening with reverbs when I work live.

I've stopped going into the studio because it's still a work in progress, and I'm afraid of the rock wool and not being protected by the cortisone. Every time I've tried going in for measurements, I've experienced a worsening in the following days despite the cortisone. I'm quite anxious now since I'm on a break, knowing that prompt action is crucial when it comes to ears. A 20-day break when I still don't hear well is scary. When I yawn for a few seconds and feel like I hear things as before or almost, is it a good or bad sign?

Has anyone experienced something similar? How did you manage it?

Hi mate "ENT doctor who told me it was due to the rock wool causing some air to get trapped in my ear". I dont understand the logic of this. I think that you are over anxious, if you have a permament hearing loss it is not possible to rrcover as you are.
It sounds like you have your ears blocl by liquid, but i am mot a doctor and speak for my experience. Good luck and dont overthink it.

I am sorry, I am having trouble making myself understood; being a non-native English speaker, it is not easy for me to explain these types of things. I can say that the main thing the doctor told me is that I had trapped air in my ear due to swelling of the turbinates. I hope this makes more sense.

It sounds like a problem with a blocked Eustachian tube +/- fluid in the middle ear. For those non-medical people, the Eustachian tube is a tunnel from the middle ear to the back of the throat. The function of the Eustachian tube is to maintain equal air pressure in the middle ear( on the inside of the ear drum) vs the air pressure in the ear canal ( on the outside of the ear drum) so that the ear drum is not pushed in or out. Anything that causes swelling or mucus in the back of the nose/throat -colds, allergies. dusts (eg rock wool, mold, sawdust, etc) can cause blockage of the Eustachian tube. Temporary blockage can be relieved with “popping your ears” with jaw movements. Since this seems to help significantly then fluid in the middle ear is not likely
But, if the Eustachian tube stays blocked, the trapped air is resorbed and fluid fills the space.
It takes time ( and nothing irritating the nose/throat) for the Eustachian tube to reopen and the fluid to drain. If the blocked Eustachian tube ( and fluid) persist too long then a tube ( think a tiny grommet) can be put in the ear drum to equalize the air pressures and allow the Eustachian tube to reopen. Because the Eustachian tube in adults is larger in diameter and oriented more “downhill” compared to children, the blocked Eustachian tube blockage will very likely resolve without any intervention except for strictly avoiding any irritation of the nose/throat. Because of the ear problem and to protect the lungs, it’s important to ALWAYS wear an N95 mask/respirator anytime you’re working with ANY kinds of dusts ( including rock wool, sawdust). After doing the work, careful cleanup and ventilation is important. Before removing the mask/respirator, remove all clothes and put directly into the washer, wipe off your hair/face and any other exposed skin with a damp cloth/paper towel, then remove the mask/respirator and finally, take a shower.

Did your hearing issue ever get resolved? I'm installing rockwool and experiencing the exact same thing. My ears feel plugged or "full". I can still hear OK, but definitely feel something is missing. I spoke to an ENT and he said everything looked fine. I've tried absolutely everything I can find. Any info you have would be tremendously appreciated!