ENT :: Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Or Something Else?

This started around late November 2013, I started getting my normal Winter allergies and then came down with what I now believe was a sinus infection. Non-stop mucus, post nasal drip, face hurting, head throbbing etc.. This lasted for about two weeks. During the end of this and soon after, my ears slowly became more and more congested. I attested it to these allergies/sickness and thought it would slowly go away.

It never did. Instead, it started getting worse. Towards mid-December, I began to get slight ringing and more fullness in my ears. Soon the tinnitus grew worse and worse. My tinnitus during this point was extremely loud high-pitched noises, sweeping in and out. Coupled with 24/7 hiss, like an air conditioner was on in my room. Can't hear high frequencies anymore. A loud tea kettle-esque whistle in my right ear if I hear something of a certain pitch or something too "loud."

I saw my primary care doctor on two separate occasions, who said he saw a little liquid in my ear but that my eardrums appeared fine. He gave me Prednisone. No help. I got recommended to the Head and Neck specialist.

The first specialist I see, he doesn't really care to listen to me to say the least. He does get me a hearing test within a few days though. The hearing test shows a curve that they say can be attested to sensorineural hearing loss that someone my age (23) shouldn't have, and that since my hearing dropped with the timeliness of my sickness, that it was odd.

I see a different specialist next trip. He attests it to allergies and says that my eustachian tubes seem to be blocked up. He looks in my ears, up my sinuses, etc.. He recommends I just use a sinus rinse and to not get my ears drained because that will probably make things a lot worse.

I began to do so for the next week or two, and my symptoms did not seem to change at all. I had already been taking flonase and allergy medication as well, to not much help for my ears.

Lastly, I saw another specialist about a week or two ago. He told me that my hearing test showed what he typically would cite as congenital hearing loss, and kept implying that I had been born with bad hearing (That's definitely not the case, this has been a HUGE shift!) He had me do bloodwork for environmental allergies and other tests and a CT scan. I also asked for antibiotics just to rule things out- those have been used up now.

To say the least, I had to call back a few times as a follow-up. They didn't even bother to get in touch for my results, and all I learned was that I did have mild allergies (something I've known my whole life) and that the CT scan was "fine." I ordered those results to be sent to me to see for myself, but either way I guess he hasn't much interest in seeing me again. Do I see ANOTHER specialist now?

Right now, my tinnitus is not as bad as it was then (I could barely sleep then) but still extremely irritating. The tinnitus is still like that of an air conditioner, and there is still a constant ring that goes on, although it is a bit quieter than before. My hearing is still congested and full, and I can hardly hear someone talk a few feet away from me, I'm afraid my hearing may be permanently damaged or getting worse. I can no longer hear certain frequencies. Sometimes I feel like there is liquid in my ear, but maybe not. Wouldn't the CT scan or other ear examinations show that? Is this actually ETD?

I've done all the advice shown around (Proper Flonase spray to the tubes, Sudafed, (extremely careful) Afrin use, etc. I feel like I'm not getting better. My passion is music and I'm afraid I'll never be able to hear things "right" again.