Serious hearing loss in adults...any experience?

[kokeshi]

I've just been up at A&E today...I am almost totally deaf and pretty desperate. I first noticed my hearing was dull about 3 months ago which co-incided with a head cold. I was prescribed gentamycin ear drops and an antibiotic. The cold cleared but my hearing didn't improve.
About 3 weeks later my hearing went totally in my right ear, but the left one was still ok. I've been back 3 times since, (3 different docs) and have had an array of nasal and ear sprays and another course of antibiotics. Each time the GPs looked in my ears and said there was a blockage...like glue ear in children. I was referred to ENT 5 weeks ago and have an appointment in December (way too long).
So, 2 days ago, the hearing in my left ear deteriorated so much that I can hear almost nothing at all. It's really distressing and it affects everything. The intern there told me today that glue ear wouldn't cause such profound hearing loss and I have to go back on Monday for a test.
Does anyone have any experience of what this might be? I had been grasping on to the possibility it could be fixed relatively easily if it was glue ear but now I'm frantic that it's more serious and/or permanent.
Thanks for reading this far, any help will be gratefully received.

Apologies, I thought I'd put paragraphs in that...I'll try again...

I've just been up at A&E today...I am almost totally deaf and pretty desperate. I first noticed my hearing was dull about 3 months ago which co-incided with a head cold. I was prescribed gentamycin ear drops and an antibiotic. The cold cleared but my hearing didn't improve.

About 3 weeks later my hearing went totally in my right ear, but the left one was still ok. I've been back 3 times since, (3 different docs) and have had an array of nasal and ear sprays and another course of antibiotics. Each time the GPs looked in my ears and said there was a blockage...like glue ear in children. I was referred to ENT 5 weeks ago and have an appointment in December (way too long).

So, 2 days ago, the hearing in my left ear deteriorated so much that I can hear almost nothing at all. It's really distressing and it affects everything. The intern there told me today that glue ear wouldn't cause such profound hearing loss and I have to go back on Monday for a test.

Does anyone have any experience of what this might be? I had been grasping on to the possibility it could be fixed relatively easily if it was glue ear but now I'm frantic that it's more serious and/or permanent.

Thanks for reading this far, any help will be gratefully received.

I've experienced almost complete hearing loss following colds before, but it only lasted about 7/10 days each time. I took anti-histamines which seemed to help.

Sorry no real advice but just to say I hope it gets sorted out very soon. It feels very strange not being able to hear.

I've lost a lot of my hearing as an adult but it was far more gradual than what you are describing so probably not the same thing at all. Sorry.

Thanks for responding guys...yes, it's really isolating. I've never had any problems with my hearing before so it seems really strange to me. I would never have appreciated just how much life is affected though

Gentamycin can cause hearing loss.

Have you had anything else? Any balance problems, ringing in the ears, dizziness?

You might find some info here RNID

I hope you get a diagnosis soon and treatment. My son is deaf, it does affect everything.

Hi Christina...really? I didn't know that about gentamycin. Jeez. I haven't had any other symptoms apart from a slight pressure in my ears. No pain, no dizziness, nothing.

How does your son cope? Was he born deaf? I was just saying to my DP that at least I can tell the doc how awful it is. Poor kids. Do you mind me asking what his diagnosis is?

Gentamycin is often given as ear drops so I suppose small doses are fine. DS was prescribed this too, as if he needed anything else to damage his hearing.

Ds is 7 now and he does very well with hearing aids (good speech, confident child). He's having investigations for a cochlear implant. His deafness is due to a mutation in connexin 26 gene on chromosome 13. About 4% of the population are carriers and it so happened both DH and I have one abnormal gene and DS inherited both abnormal genes from us. DD isn't deaf but we don't know yet if she's a carrier. DS's hearing w/o aids is at over 100 dB (i.e. he would just about hear a plane taking off). With aids it's down to 40-50 dB (conversation level is around 60 dB, whispers at 40 dB). With a cochlear implant it can come down to 25-30 dB. Sorry if too detailed.

Good luck with getting your hearing back.

Hi Christina...that's really fascinating about the genetics of it, oh and don't worry, I'm a biomedical scientist by training...I got the gist!

I'm glad your son copes well, I hope he has some news about the implants (they're quite new aren't they?). I'm not sure what range my hearing is in at the moment, but it's definitely outwith normal conversation, even with someone sitting right next to me. I'll have that test on Monday...I'm hoping for some answers. Thanks again for replying x

CristinatheAstonishing thats a really wonderful detailed diagnonsis. Can I ask how you came by it? My ds is moderately deaf with two digital aids and a radio mic system. We havent ever been told why he's deaf,(there is deafness in my family so we assumed it was heredity ,we had no idea that it was possible to diagnose so exactly). Did you have a private consultation?

Kokeshi I havent any helpful advice I'm afraid ,I can understand how worried you must be. I've got my fingers crossed for you.

Anyone?

Can someone help me today? I'm at a loss with this...feeling pretty isolated at the mo. Thanks.

Kokeshi,you need Sherlock LGJ.
Her dh had a cochlear implant later in life.
She is about to day i think,or check archives.

Je suis ici......will read now.

Have you tried taking Mucron ??

Also try Friars Balsam and extremely hot water and inhale.

It is possible you are iternally congested.

What is your money situation like could you afford to see an audiologist privately ??

Thought to be honest, December for the NHS is not that long.

When you see your consultant tell them it is having a profound effect on your life.

If they do hearing tests do not strain to hear the sounds, if you can't hear them, you cant hear them. They can only base decisions based on what you tell them you can hear. IYKWIM

Also it might be worth pointing out to them that whatever your results are they are in test conditions and RL is more taxing.

If and I pray to God it isn't but if it is come back to me and I will tell you about the CI route, though you have to be deafer than deaf to qualify.

Good luck

Thanks so much for replying. I haven't tried Mucron, is that available over the counter? I'd give anything a go at the moment. Do you know even this morning I'm feeling like my hearing has deteriorated further. Maybe I'm just panicking?

I think the intern bloke was quite shocked by how bad my hearing was, he was pretty incredulous that I'd been waiting this long. His reaction has probably made me more worried.

I guess whatever happens on Monday, it will be good to get a diagnosis. Thanks so much again for your response, LGJ, I hope your husband is coping. I'm sure I'll never take my senses for granted again. x

Morning all...thought I'd give this a go for any international/insomniac mnetters. God, I hope it's not so unusual that no-one else has ever gone through similar.

I guess I just wanted someone to tell me it was going to be OK! Eeeeh I feel like a 5 year old again

Hi to all the nightowls...

kokeshi I just wanted to say good luck for your appointment tomorrow . Please let us know what happens.

Ah, thanks lorina, that's really kind of you. I do appreciate your concern. I hope you're well too. kx

Lorina - we had the genetic testing done on the NHS. They only took a small blood sample from DS. We waited a long time for the results but I hear nowadsys they get back to you faster. It was good for us to have a reason for DS's deafness as otherwise i'd have always wondered if it was from his birth, whch was quite traumatic.

Kokeshi - how did it go?

Oh hi folks...thanks so much for your kind thoughts, I wasn't going to post anything yet as nothing's conclusive, but here's the story so far...

Went to audiology for hearing test and they did the press the button thingy. I had a squizz at the chart and the hearing loss in Db seemed quite bad to me. Over 100Db in my right ear, and 80Db in the left.

Also did the ear canal volume test and couln't make head nor tail of that! I want back to see the ENT intern who did the tuning fork test (couldn't hear that either). I was pretty worried as I can hear almost nothing now (it's very strange) but the doc thinks it's more than likely glue ear...which is a huge relief.

I have to go back on Friday for a scan so they can work out how best to treat it but for now I have to do with DP writing things down! DP had been ace though, and I think I've learnt to be more trusting of folks. I don't find it easy to let people help me so I guess it's a good thing!

So kind of you all to ask after me, thanks again. I shall post the definitive diagnosis and treatment plan after friday. Thanks again for shring your own experiences with me, it really has helped loads.

kx

Oh and californifrau, I was so sad to read about little Noah. I hope your neighbours are doing OK.

I'll say goodnight, I really shouldn't be up s late! Take care.

Much love xxx