Can anyone advise me about hearing loss?

[gandalf456]

I've got longstanding hearing loss in my left ear, which I have had since the age of 12. It was caused by a flu virus. I am now 47 and have some high tone loss in my right ear - my better ear. It seems to be mild at the moment and the loss lies between the 25 to 40 db mark. However, because of my existing problems, I really notice it. The tinnitus also doesn't help.

I have seen an ENT and audiologist who seem to think it is age related, which surprises me. Obviously, I am aware that I am no spring chicken but I hadn't expected to suffer just yet. So, really, my question is, is this normal and to be expected at my age? Or have the problems in my left ear accelerated the hearing loss in my right? Or could there be another cause, such as Menieres?

I have been referred for a scan but they suggest something like an acoustic neuroma is highly unlikely as I had 2 MRIs 3 years ago for disc degeneration in my cervical spine and nothing of this nature was detected then. I did ask if the tinnitus and hearing loss could be related to my disc problems but they didn't think so.

I am also on Fluoxetine 20mg and have been since Xmas. Would that affect my hearing at all? My GP didn't seem to think so either.

I have been referred for an NHS hearing aid though they did say my left ear couldn't be corrected because it's been left too long. The loss is also quite severe, with certain pitches being as low as 80db (around the 2000 -
4000 Hz mark). The other pitches aren't too bad - 30 - 40 - 50 Hz. Boots seem to think it is correctable, though, as does hearingdirect.com. Who is correct?

You might be onto something with the fluoxetine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3138949/

Thanks. I have emailed Actiononhearingloss for some impartial advise, too

My tinnitus is definitely related to the alignment and comfort/discomfort of my neck.
It's bad right now, because I was swimming in the sea, with my neck stretched awkwardly to keep my face above the waves. Long drives which leave me with a neck ache have the same effect. My neck injury is unresolved whiplash from a car accident.

What helps? Avoiding bad position stuff like that, gentle neck exercises to keep mobile, massaging out the muscle knots, and, most of all a good private physiotherapist. Why private?
More time + more hands on stuff that NHS doesn't encourage. Although she's NHS properly trained.

Slightly tangential to your hearing loss, but shows there's a definite neck / ears connection.
Worth exploring.

Do you have an audio gram? It sounds like it’s high pitch loss in both?

If you google platinum audiogram it gives you an idea of what mine look like and I have hearing aids in both ears. It doesn’t fully correct it, but gives more clarity of speech. There are different mounds and types - for example the more severe the loss the bigger the hearing aids get (in my case anyway).

Boots will tell you anything to get a sale, if you can find an independent audiologist uoure most likely to get an honest answer. A lot of health boards no longer give two aids as standard - despite all the evidence to show poorer outcomes.

Thanks, Dancing. I'll look into that. I expect the MRI may reveal more and whether the neck problems have progressed or not.

I do have an audiogram and, yes, it is mainly the higher pitches in both. However, the Boots one looks different to the NHS one, which showed slightly better hearing. I wish I had a copy of both now.

I have contacted Actionforhearingloss (RNID) for some impartial advice. Maybe they can look at the audiogram.

You can request copies of both, I always do and keep them. It’s not too late at this point.

Not too sure how helpful action on hearing loss are on the practical.

With boots they should let you try a pair (I was allowed to go a wander with them in) to see if they help.

There are pitches I can’t hear and hearing aids simply don’t help at all but where I have some hearing they do.

I would also be asking audiology to help you try aids in both ears, the worst they can say is no.

Thanks. That is very helpful