Hearing aid at 33 sudden hearing loss

[Sweetpea1989]

I had sudden hearing loss before Xmas in one ear. My GP mix diagnosed with wax, and then when I finally got a referral it got postponed as the consultant caught covid which meant I didn't get the steroids I needed in time resulting in permanent hearing loss which was confirmed yesterday after an MRI.

It's 'moderate hearing loss' so not total, I'll be honest the constant tinitus is worse than the hearing loss.

My husbands pushing me to go see a private for a second opinion but I feel the damage is done and it would be a waste of time.

I don't even know if I want a hearing aid but to doc said it might help with the tinitus.

Does anyone have an similar experiences? Feeling a bit down about it all.

Hello, I don’t have any advice I’m afraid but if you don’t mind me asking what was the cause of the hearing loss? I am suffering from the same thing, sudden loss in one ear, not wax, it started in April. There are no ENT appointments despite a quick referral, though hopefully I will be able to get a private appointment for diagnosis/treatment.
Sending sympathy, I’m feeling pretty miserable about it too.

I think you need steroids asap to try and clear what's going on. The longer you leave it the less chance of it getting better. There comes a point where that ship has sailed.

My GP prescribed me nasal steroids while I was waiting for my ENT apt but I should have had the stronger oral ones apparently.

The ENT dr said to me yesterday if this ever happens again I need to go to a&e and ask for steroids right away. I would really think about doing this to protect your hearing x

If the tinnitus is bothering you then the hearing aid might be a good idea, you could get one that also doing the masking noise so you hear that instead of the tinnitus?

I don't have hearing loss but have tinnitus in both ears. You do totally get used to it and it just ends up being a background noise that you only notice if you look for it.

I wouldn't assume you have permanent hearing loss just yet. As I understand it (I've had sudden hearing loss), doctors don't always really know what causes it. If not from a mini-stroke, it's assumed to be viral damage and hence give steroids to try to help. But they're not 100% sure if it wouldn't improve anyway without the steroids. They didn't have any real affect on me (and I even had the eardrum injection) but my hearing did, eventually, return.

And I was offered a hearing aid as well but then Covid happened and all appointments stopped. I'd have taken it though.

Would you feel the same way if you were told you needed glasses?

I don't know anything about your potential case of neglect against nhs, sorry

I suffer from bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss. This got worse recently in 1 ear and I was referred to an audiologist who recommended hearing aids to treat both issues. I was fitted with 1 hearing aid today and it has made a massive difference. I was worried about how a hearing aid would look (I'm 36) but they are discreet. Having the 2nd fitted in a few weeks.

@SwedishEdith
Old thread but can I ask how long it took for your hearing to recover?

Hi @Izzy24 I'd say it was about 6 months before I realised I wasn't really thinking about it any more.

@SwedishEdith Thank you for replying. That gives me hope!

@Sweetpea1989 @SwedishEdith old post but found this. This has just happened to me a week ago, age 36 sudden total loss in left ear. I knew about the importance of quick review thankfully , so started steroids same day, and having gone private for appointments and MRI. But I'm
Just wondering if you ever got your hearing back? My hearing test was unchartable ... as in the recordings were off the scale bad she couldn't plot them all. Toddler and newborn at home, the mixture of noise is horrendous for my "good ear", it's driving me bonkers!