You have absolutely nothing to fear from being selected for an MRI scan - it's par-for-the course in a scenario such as this.
The scan will look for damage to the bones in your ear, blockages from debris (excess deposits from dead skin etc) and also - and most obviously - the general shape of your eustachian tubes / cochlea etc.
I'm no expert, but I believe there is a small chance your problem could be due to eustachian tube or TJMD-type problems. This can create a 'hole' in the hearing - it's not solely a shelf at high frequencies.
There's also the issue of acoustic neuromas (not malignant), although these are incredibly rare; but your GP will want to rule it out.
If you don't have other health issues such as balance problems, nausea and tinnitus, there's a good chance that the MRI scan could reveal something that's treatable and non-life threatening.
Don't worry about the MRI scan - bear in mind that the GP needs to be careful to prevent litigation at a later date! I wish I'd had an MRI years ago - it seems your Dr. isn't messing around here which can only be a good sign.
Best of luck!
edit - I notice you have loss in both ears... This means it's highly unlikely to be a growth / neuroma-type issue as this would probably just affect one ear. It could well be due to loud music... Bear in mind that different people have different thresholds for hearing damage - you may just have a lower threshold.
BTW - Do you spend much time on a mobile phone? Although proof is thin on the ground, there are research studies being conducted in this area by organisations that usually choose their subjects for research carefully...
Last edited by WG774; 28th April 2008 at 22:08.