Lounge for Deaf people and their allies

[stargazingboi]

Originally Posted by SaltyButch

I am posting here, well because it seems appropriate. I as of a week ago have lost the hearing in my left ear. The doctor says it's an infection and with any luck the penicillin will work, through this experience I have a new found respect for those faced with this challenge. I am hoping it is temporary, if not I now know that there is a forum that can help. Thanks for this.

Sorry to hear Salty. As of this year I too have faced hearing loss. Currently, my doctor is trying medications to see if we can actually stop the cause of the hearing loss. The first medication had no effect regarding my ears, but did have positive effects in other areas. So, I'll have to talk with my other doctors about it. Since, my ear doctor took me off it to try another medication. This medication, I can feel a difference, but can not hear a difference....and the dizziness doesn't happen as often. So, yay! He is treating it as an auto-immune disorder within the ear (although, he admits that he maybe wrong and an additional MRI maybe required). He did indicate that the chances of me regaining my hearing is slim.

I have to admit it's frustrating and very much an adjustment. The different sounds that I can hear within my ear can be very distracting and at times painful. I started with hearing music in my right ear. Now the music stopped and I can hear a rhythmic swoosh (I'm pretty sure it's my heart beat) in my left ear. Every now and then I get a rumble or roaring sound that is so loud and painful it makes me grab my head and drops me to my knee.

Since, December I have had my hearing tested 3 times and each time I have lost more and more hearing. Once the cause is stabilized then he can recommend the right hearing aids. No point of spending money to turn around and have it change again and require something different, or worse, find that aids wont help at all.

I now find myself watching for hand gestures, looking at lips and such to try and keep up with what is being said, but it's tiring. The crew has been supportive by trying to make sure they look at me to speak, and to talk as clearly as they can. I can hear higher pitches easier that low. So, lucky for me when they try to speak louder they (not everyone I know) actually seem to naturally bring the pitch up. However, when they are tired or have a cold....I might catch 40-50% of the sentence...the rest is a guessing game of reason, logic, and well, knowing the person I'm talking too. So, frustrating.

This thread has been encouraging to read in many ways...I am grateful it's here.