Going deaf

[Fraidwo1]

I’m mid 20s and I’ve suddenly gone severely deaf in one ear (e.g. I can’t hear a lawn mower in that ear, combined with unbearable tinnitus). No explanation. Has been ongoing for weeks. I’ve been told it could well likely happen to the other ear, of which I’ve developed reduced hearing. No hearing/ear issues before. It came out of nowhere.

I feel like I’m on the verge of a breakdown. I’m on strong steroids and I’m so anxious all the time, it’s hell. I just want to give up. It’s all I can think about all the time. I keep thinking about how much I’m going to miss music amongst other things (if it hits the other ear). I could cry at any given moment, at any time of day. I’m trying to pretend everything is fine but it really doesn’t feel fine.

YANBU- I would be very upset too
YABU- there are worse things in life, at least you can still hear in one ear (for now)

Have you had an audiologist appointment yet?

@CaptainMyCaptain yeah I have

What did the audiologist say? Have you been referred to ENT?

I’m making the assumption that you have seen ent urgently already as you are on steroids. You may have already been referred for an mri to check part of the hearing apparatus.
They may find a cause, they may not. It could be that this is a post viral/ immune or other thing. I say this as someone who had the same happen - this was 20 years ago. My hearing didn’t come back in that ear and the tinnitus is ongoing— but I recognise it is worse when I am stressed and have developed strategies to cope with it. My job is hearing dependent- I have a reduction in the other ear but can hear speech/ music ok on that side.
My big fear was it happening on the better side. I got a hearing aid for my affected side ( which I don’t generally wear - but I feel less anxious should it happen on my remaining side) . It hasn’t- so far .
I wish you well - I remember that time so clearly still.

Long shot but you haven't just had covid have you? I have become deaf after covid and it is apparently a rare but documented post-covid symptom. I'm hoping it's going to clear up. Sounds very similar to yours, I have the tinnitus too. Nothing has helped - had ear spray, nose spray, antibiotics, decongestants. But I bought a cheap hearing aid from Amazon and it helps, I can now watch TV at full blast and hear but conversations are still almost impossible.
And yes it's really distressing.

So they didn't give you hearing aids then?

@heldinadream .. I also wonder that. Mine was post- viral ( after flu) many years ago. There are many odd things happening post covid infection

I went to the GP because I had tinnitus and my ears felt muffled although I hadn't noticed any loss of hearing. I was referred to the audiologist who confirmed I had hearing loss particularly in one ear probably as a result of an infection years ago. She gave me hearing aids straight away and it made a huge difference.

What have the specialists said?
Have you had a brain scan?

I should have added the audiologist sent me for an MRI just to check there wasn't anything else going on.

Deep breaths you’re still in the very early stages of emotionally dealing with what sounds like a “catastrophic hearing loss.” Sh*t happens unfortunately but you will get through this.

As time goes on you will come to terms with it & your brain will learn to ignore the tinnitus. It does get better/quieter/more manageable. Trust me.

Maybe, who knows, you’ve gone to some really loud gigs in the past and didn’t realise you’d damaged your hearing? Did you ever have ringing in your ears after listening to loud music which eventually went away? That could have been the start of this.
Maybe you’ve had a mild virus which has caused it? Who knows.

Deafness is a hidden disability and in my experience the world out there just doesn’t “get it.” Tinnitus can cause awful anxiety but believe me it does “settle” and whilst every day it may take on a different personality you will get to recognise the clicks, ringing, screaming, rumbling and think to yourself “whatever!” and get on with your day. (It was a constant lorry engine running for me this morning in the early hours!)

A hearing aid might help current loss and I hope you retain hearing in the other ear. Do some research because knowledge is power & will help you understand the condition.

Tell everyone who needs to know that you are hard of hearing & that they must look at you when they speak to you. The cashier at the supermarket, the tradesman who comes to your house, your family; absolutely everyone. Phones can be challenging but there’s helpful handsets with volume controls & other equipment to help you. Your work place, by law, is obliged to help you too. Yes! By law, so do ask for help with what you might need.

You can be an ambassador for the deaf community . Stay strong, accept all the help you can get, wear your hearing aid everyday all day and DON’T PANIC!
Chin up. X

Have they actually looked at your ear? It's not wax? I went deaf in one ear and turned out to be impacted wax which took a few to get out, I'm sure they've ruled that out but just checking.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. The tinnitus makes the hearing loss feel far worse too.

I have been where you are. I cried so much from the frustration of not bring able to hear and then just hearing the tinnitus. I am not going to lie, I take antidepressants. But i had counselling to help deal with both the hearing loss and the tinnitus. I have hearing aids (private) from specsavers. This is second pair as I had difficulty getting used to first pair. I don’t know what I would do without them. But be prepared, hearing aids are an aid to help you hear better but they are not a cure and your hearing is not 100%

yoga, such as yin yoga and gentle flow yoga will help you. It helps to deal with the hearing loss and the tinnitus, especially if the tinnitus is waking you up at night. The yoga breathing can help calm you and get back to sleep.

if after investigations it is felt that it could get worse over time, do think about BSL classes

there is a lot of support out there and helpful IT options. Apple Watch, iPhones blue toothed to hearing aids, ring doorbell blue tooth to hearing aids, device to plug into sky box to Bluetooth sound direct to hearing aids

explaining to friends and family what you can and cannot hear id very helpful also letting people you meet know that you’re partially deaf will help too.

Thank you so much to everyone who has commented. Reading through these comments has brought me a great comfort, especially hearing how other people felt going through this.

They haven’t given me a hearing aid yet. I’m waiting on an MRI scan appointment and for my bloods to return. I’ve not been exposed to any loud sounds or had any viruses lately (although had Covid late December).

Unfortunately, I woke up this morning with mild tinnitus in my ‘good’ ear. It sounds much deeper and quieter than my other ear (which is a high pitched ringing), it’s kind of like a rumbling vibration, which is how the tinnitus started for me in the bad ear. I’ve called ENT and they’ll see me on Monday. It’s day 4 of steroids and they’ve made no difference so far. I’m trying to carry on but I’ve hardly done any work today (I wfh). I can’t concentrate, I feel like I could punch a wall down.

Does anyone have any tips for falling asleep with tinnitus? I’ve always found it hard to fall asleep but it’s so difficult at the moment. The sound has gone up in pitch and it’s just so aggravating.

I had some rainfall sounds to play while I fell asleep via my phone. The tinnitus drove me mad before I got my hearing aids, obviously I take them off at night but, somehow, it doesn't annoy me as much now.

When I put them on in the morning I feel 'Aah! that's better!'.

I’m partially deaf in one ear. It happened due to a childhood injury after grommets. My other ear is also scarred so not the best. I’m also in my twenties, and am supposed to wear hearing aids but haven’t got around to getting it sorted. No advice as such but you’re not alone!

I second the above suggestions .. I have aftershocks running headphones ( which I got for running) but discovered Bluetoothing to my phone was helpful in other ways , I have rain or wave sounds to sleep if the tinnitus is bad . I’ve learned to live with it but I do miss stereo and directional hearing. The film ‘Sound of Metal’ was helpful in demonstrating to family what my hearing feels like at times - it has helped them understand.