Losing my hearing is a big deal?

[SeaSunandSand]

I started with a cold a few weeks ago. I finally got over that and started with another one. Sign of the times now we are all back in the real world! It went to my chest and I had a really nasty cough. I was sat waiting for my DD to finish an activity when my hearing in my left ear started ringing and it wouldn’t clear. I saw a dr the next day who said I had bronchitis and an ear infection in both ears - the left being the worst. There wasn’t any ear pain just a feeling like someone had their finger stuck in my ear plus the ringing. I was prescribed ABs and given ear drops. 5 days later and I was still feeling unwell and my hearing hadn’t returned.

I saw another doctor who said everything was clear but now I had a mild sinus infection but needed to see an ENT. I live in the Middle East so my medical insurance means I get seen quickly.

I saw an ENT the next day and he said my ears were completely clear. I had tests and my ear drum is fine, no infection, ear pressure is all fine. I had a hearing test and I have lost 20% hearing in my left ear. He said there is damage to the nerve and prescribed strong steroids. I am to go back after 2 weeks. It’s been a week and no change.

All the research I have done suggests this is permanent and won’t improve. I hope that is wrong!

So far every person I have told has just dismissed it as no big deal and told me I can just get a hearing aid. DH has barely mentioned it. DD has started learning sign language - bless her!

I am really struggling in loud environments. I can’t focus on what has been said and strangely, some loud noises sound louder! I feel off balance and can’t tell where sounds are coming from.

AIBU for feeling this is a big deal? It came from nowhere. I wasn’t even in pain. I can’t comprehend how it has happened.

Oh dear, that sounds awful. But hearing aids will help. They are very sophisticated nowadays and almost invisible. Some can be programmed to block out background noise, and be linked to your phone.
At least speak to an audiologist and get an opinion.

This is a very big deal, op, and I'm so sorry. You must feel very disjointed and worried.

It is a big deal, OP.

DH had similar, following an infection. The tinnitus and hearing loss remain. Be aware of side effects from the steroids (it was like living with the hulk - no-one had warned us, I honestly thought we would have to split - thankfully went back to normal once they stopped). He doesn't (yet) use hearing aids, but it does impact his day to day life and he lives in fear of losing more hearing any time he gets a cold.

I hope your hearing does improve and would recommend you see whether hearing aids will help.

I have sensorineural damage causing hearing loss in both ears due to Covid. I had no ear pain or infection, vertigo and tinnitus only. Hearing aids make a big difference. It takes time to adjust, but you will. It is a big deal the loss of part of one of your senses. People don't realise how much it can impact your life until it happens to them. Your DD sounds very sweet.

I agree it is a big deal.

My granny started losing her hearing years ago and it's very isolating. It's a shame as she is 92, fit as a fiddle, mind completely there but just can't hear and she says she feels stupid:(

I'm sorry for you. I hope the steroids do something but what I believe is hearing damage can't be repaired :/

If I were you I would learn sign language just in case..

Is it just something I’m supposed to accept? Is it normal to just loose so much hearing? Like needing reading glasses? I never thought it could happen like that! I have no idea right now if it will get worse or stay the same. I will have an appointment with an audiologist after I have been back to see the ENT next week. I think I’m still in shock TBH

Don’t be surprised if you end up with heating aids in both ears. I have mid-range loss in one ear and have aids in both. Only having one caused me headaches and dizziness as the “good” ear was overcompensating.

It is shocking. Mine is permanent, severe loss in upper range and moderate in mid range. It is something I have had to accept. I hope you will recover some function, but the steroids may only be able to prevent further damage unfortunately.

Are you in the US? Have you seen an audiologist? Have you had all the hearing tests? Does s/he know what has caused the nerve damage?
On the one hand 20% hearing loss in one ear, whilst distressing you for you is considered a mild loss.
iirc a hearing aid won't be much good for a sensory loss, but I very much doubt they would offer a cochlear implant at only 20% unilateral hearing loss.
Nerve damage can be repaired over time, but it very much depends what and where the damage is.

In the mean time don't try and hold a conversation in different rooms/ walking out of a room; when your back or your DH's back is facing you; Switch off the TV/ radio when you are having a conversation. Tell friends and family to speak up and speak out, and slow their speech rate down, mumbling is not allowed! And limit conversation when there is background noise eg car engine, canned music etc as it can quickly lead to frustration on both sides.
Fingers crossed it's just temporary

Was your hearing loss quite sudden? I had this, was put on 2 lots of steroids for a week each, steroid injection through the ear drum and my hearing didn't really come back. Had talks about getting a hearing aid and then Covid hit and nothing happened. Oh, also had tinnitus and vertigo. However, about 6 months after the initial hearing loss, I realised my hearing had returned. It was a gradual return. So, the same may happen yet for you. But, yes, it's a big deal and very upsetting at the time.

i bought hearing aids this year (I’m early 40s). I was very upset and uncomfortable buying them, but now my life has completely improved. I’m not at all self conscious because they improve the quality of my life. I can answer phone calls on them and listen the audio of my tv shows with them!

Thank you for your responses. I’m still in shock that it can happen so fast and without any fuss! I’m not in the US I live in the Middle East. I have great health insurance so appointments will be made and I’ll get great care - of which I’m really thankful!

I suppose it’s the apathy which has surprised me. Everyone just dismisses it and says how I can get a hearing aid.

My FIL lost a huge amount of his hearing just before he retired and really struggled getting to grips with hearing aids and trying to deal with it. I had a huge amount of empathy for him. Of course, he was by far worse. He struggled with depression and went through a terrible time of it. I’m determined to be more positive about it which I suppose might be mistaken for me not being bothered?

I’m just not sure how I should be feeling!

I’m 41

Hearing aids MAY help. DH has one sided complete hearing loss and tinnitus from a viral infection and for him they are worse than useless.
OP, it bloody well is a big deal especially at what I imagine is a relatively young age.
See an audiologist asap and get a good range of options.

I get it. I’ve got partial hearing loss in one ear and can actually barely hear out of it tbh. I should be wearing a hearing aid but the NHS one is so clunky and crap that I might get a private one. I’ve started using subtitles on some TV shows. Recently, I used it on Dhamer as there was a lot of mumbling I found and the Milwaukee accent didn’t seem to help. It’s not pleasant and others shouldn’t be minimising how you feel.

I forgot to say. I’ve also completely stopped using my AirPods 😢 😢 Are you using anything like that? May help to conserve the hearing that you’ve got, that’s what I’m hoping for myself anyway.

So sorry to hear this has happened to you. My DH has the same. Started with labrynthitis including severe vertigo and hearing loss with tinnitus in one ear. Despite going straight to A&E and seeing an ENT he wasn't prescribed steroids, we're actually in the process of a medical negligence claim as a result of this but that's another story.

He lost 50% of his hearing in one ear and has severe tinnitus which hasn't improved (this happened in January). One ENT said about a third of people do have some improvement, but it can take several years as it is effectively the nerve repairing/regenerating itself. He has got a hearing aid. Initially he was very upset about this, he still is a bit but tried to be positive about it, it's excellent technology, he can use it to stream podcasts etc and it has improved his quality of life massively. Having it in also completely gets rid of the tinnitus. He's a university lecturer so he was really struggling in big halls with a lot of students.

He's bald but even so the hearing aid isn't that noticeable, can only see it from behind. As a woman if you have hair you would hardly see it. But also, so many people have glasses and don't think it's a big deal at all, and a hearing aid is actually far less visible. I think the stigma over it is gradually reducing. Since getting it, my DH is observant of other people's hearing, and he thinks a lot more people actually need a hearing aid than have one, which is strange really as you wouldn't go without glasses if you have bad eyesight.

It is a big deal and it's been a hard year for him adjusting, so don't let your family talk it down. It is a disability. Again I'm sorry this has happened to you. My DH is getting the best of the best hearing aid through the UK access to work scheme, is there anything like that where you live? The idea is that if you still have years and years of working life left, they'd rather spend £2000 on some equipment to help you continue working than risk you having to quit and claim benefits for the rest of your life.

It is a big deal. Is it possible they are trying to reassure you in a misguided way?

Op, I listened to great podcast on bbc sounds yesterday that was on Radio 4, it is the last in a series called Room 5, the person really eloquently describes her hearing loss journey

OP, it is a big deal. I have an unexplained loss in both ears, diagnosed when I was 33, now at a moderate-severe level. It can take a lot of getting used to, and even now there are plenty of times I get upset or frustrated that life chose to throw this at me.

If you have audiology questions, feel free to ask me as I'm a Teacher of Deaf Children and Young People. There's also a support/chat thread for those of us who have a hearing loss - www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/4340542-Thread-for-those-of-us-that-are-deaf-hard-of-hearing?reply=120943239&utm_source=thread&utm_medium=share

Oh I didn't even know there was a support thread on here. Thanks SuziLikeSuziQ 🌻

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I think the apathy is just other peoples way of being reassuring rather than anything else.

I had a bit of a breakdown to DH today and told him how I am feeling - frightened, worried, why is this happening etc. he was pretty close to useless as he usually is. Not because he isn’t great but what can he say? He can’t fix it. He is way better with broken pipes and pranged cars. He can do something then.

DD is amazing. Although her first sign language sentence is “I want penguin milk”. I’m not convinced that will ever come up in conversation! 😂

I rarely use headphones. Occasionally in the gym and noise cancelling on flights. I was a Police Officer for 8 years before leaving the country and the ear I wore my earpiece in the the affected one. I have no idea if that plays some long term role in this or not.

Over the last 6 years or so I have had what I call “tuning out” when I’ve had a bit too much to drink. Like my left ear suddenly can’t hear and I can only hear a tone. Again, no idea if it’s linked it’s just the same ear.

Thank you for the links. I’ll have a look at them. I’m upset to realise so many are going through the same thing. I think the suddenness has made it all the more shocking for me. One minute I could hear fine then it was gone!

I am in a very fortunate position that I do not need to work. I do work on an ad hoc basis in schools working book fairs. Tomorrow is the first day since this has happened and I genuinely don’t know what it will be like. I’m worried the noise level will be overwhelming. My employer knows and was quite dismissive telling me I always had a job. Good to know! But maybe not what I was aiming for…

There isn’t any financial support here and I don’t know what my medical insurance will cover yet. I need to go through the appointments to get to that point before I can really know more. Again, I’m fortunate that cost doesn’t really play a factor.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond and for holding my hand.

I think this is a big deal. A similar thing happened to me some time ago.

I ended up under the ENT department where they told me it was permanent, wasn't congestion, and I would need hearing aids. But I was sure it was congestion - I had that 'finger in my ear' sensation, which I would also describe as a kind of heaviness in my ear.

I went through with the hearing aids, against my better judgement; I didn't feel ready to accept my hearing loss. My audio therapist was wonderful and talked me through the limitations and advantages of the aids. They didn't really deal with the problem of background noise, despite having that setting. I did find the 'Loop' setting very useful when one was available, providing that there was no hum on the loop - it brought the sound from the PA/loop system right into my ear. Hearing aids are not like the effect of glasses on vision.

She pointed out that most people have problems hearing over background noise as they get older. She also explained that the reason some sounds are 'louder' when hearing is lost is that we lose the ability to hear the quieter sounds and thus the build-up of a sound over fractions of a millisecond, which normally occurs, is lost so we go from nothing to full blast. She also advised me that I probably lip-read more than I realise, as again, many people do as they age, and to try to always have the light behind me so that I get illumination on the speaker's mouth.

But, fortunately, my ENT doctor prescribed a nasal spray, just in case it was congestion, as I was so insistent. 6 months of Beclometasone (Beconase) hadn't helped, but they gave me mometasone furoate (Nasonex in the UK), and, after using it twice a day for about 18 months, my hearing cleared and I no longer needed the aids.

While my hearing was obstructed I think I was better off with the aids than without, much as I resented them, and I did kind of get used to them.

Obviously I don't know your circumstances, but I do hope that you are actually in the same situation as I was and that your hearing will eventually clear.