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Lost hearing on the left ear

Posted by miskipper @miskipper, Apr 17 10:16am

Hearing loss after a flight from Orlando
Last year coming back from Orlando I lost my hearing on my left ear, I attributed that hearing loss to the decompression of the flight, waited 3 days before going to the emergency, was put on steroid for a few weeks but never regain my hearing back, since them had an MRI and saw an earring specialist, being told there was nothing wrong with the brain but hearing on the left ear was lost forever, I then got fit with earring aids but never like your own earring.

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KC Terry | @kcterry | Apr 17 11:10am

Sorry you lost the hearing in your left ear so suddenly. Do you still have good hearing in right ear? Consider yourself lucky if you do. I also lost the hearing in my left ear suddenly following a right neck dissection to remove lymph nodes for biopsy in trying to determine the extent of cancer in my throat. The hearing in my right ear had already gone years before and I greatly depended on my left ear. The loss was devastating on top of having to go through radiation and chemotherapy at the same time. Like you, nothing can be done for me to regain normal hearing and so I also have hearing aids. What people don’t understand is all they do is amplify sound, not clarity! Also, people think because you have them everything with your hearing is normal so they continue talking indirectly to you, mumble, and speak softly. Phone conversation is particularly difficult for me especially if the other person talks rapidly, isn’t fluent in English, or uses a headset device or speaker box. Unfortunately it limits us tremendously, especially socially. Regrettably it hasn’t gotten any better or easier to live with since I lost the hearing putting me in this situation.

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Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Apr 17 12:03pm

@miskipper and @ terrymassie1945 Also to anyone else who has experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Losing hearing during or after a flight has happened to others whom I know personally. It is not common, but it does happen. The unfortunate reality is that steroid treatment rarely works unless it is given within a few days of the problem. It worth a try, but not a guarantee. Regardless of how sensorineural hearing loss happens; sudden or gradual, it is not reversable. Enter the world of hearing technology. Hearing aids have improved greatly over the years I've been using them. They provide significant help but are not perfect. Hearing assistive technology that works with hearing aids can enhance their capabilities considerably. That means using telecoils or BlueTooth, both are important as they do not do the same things.

Cochlear implants go many steps further than hearing aids. Just a few years ago, candidacy for cochlear implants was narrow. That has changed with the advancements in the surgery and also in the technology. If you find that hearing aids don't help enough and that your hearing loss is keeping you from enjoying life, it may be time to ask about cochlear implants.

Don't be surprised if your audiologist or ENT doesn't suggest them. However, if your audiogram is showing severe/profound hearing loss and you can't hear in social settings you've always enjoyed, or in theaters and meetings, etc. Push it. Best thing to do, if possible, is go to a CI center and let them test you and make a recommendation. CI surgery is not standard among ENT practitioners. It requires a specialty. You can find more information about cochlear implants in general on the website of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance. http://www.acialliance.org

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KC Terry | @kcterry | Apr 17 12:22pm

@Julie 04…Thank you for sharing about the cochlear implant. KC Terry

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miskipper | @miskipper | Apr 17 12:40pm
In reply to @julieo4 "@miskipper and @ terrymassie1945 Also to anyone else who has experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Losing..." + (show)
@julieo4

@miskipper and @ terrymassie1945 Also to anyone else who has experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Losing hearing during or after a flight has happened to others whom I know personally. It is not common, but it does happen. The unfortunate reality is that steroid treatment rarely works unless it is given within a few days of the problem. It worth a try, but not a guarantee. Regardless of how sensorineural hearing loss happens; sudden or gradual, it is not reversable. Enter the world of hearing technology. Hearing aids have improved greatly over the years I've been using them. They provide significant help but are not perfect. Hearing assistive technology that works with hearing aids can enhance their capabilities considerably. That means using telecoils or BlueTooth, both are important as they do not do the same things.

Cochlear implants go many steps further than hearing aids. Just a few years ago, candidacy for cochlear implants was narrow. That has changed with the advancements in the surgery and also in the technology. If you find that hearing aids don't help enough and that your hearing loss is keeping you from enjoying life, it may be time to ask about cochlear implants.

Don't be surprised if your audiologist or ENT doesn't suggest them. However, if your audiogram is showing severe/profound hearing loss and you can't hear in social settings you've always enjoyed, or in theaters and meetings, etc. Push it. Best thing to do, if possible, is go to a CI center and let them test you and make a recommendation. CI surgery is not standard among ENT practitioners. It requires a specialty. You can find more information about cochlear implants in general on the website of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance. http://www.acialliance.org

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Thank you about sharing your info

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mikepa | @mikepa | Apr 18 6:45am
In reply to @kcterry "Sorry you lost the hearing in your left ear so suddenly. Do you still have good..." + (show)
@kcterry

Sorry you lost the hearing in your left ear so suddenly. Do you still have good hearing in right ear? Consider yourself lucky if you do. I also lost the hearing in my left ear suddenly following a right neck dissection to remove lymph nodes for biopsy in trying to determine the extent of cancer in my throat. The hearing in my right ear had already gone years before and I greatly depended on my left ear. The loss was devastating on top of having to go through radiation and chemotherapy at the same time. Like you, nothing can be done for me to regain normal hearing and so I also have hearing aids. What people don’t understand is all they do is amplify sound, not clarity! Also, people think because you have them everything with your hearing is normal so they continue talking indirectly to you, mumble, and speak softly. Phone conversation is particularly difficult for me especially if the other person talks rapidly, isn’t fluent in English, or uses a headset device or speaker box. Unfortunately it limits us tremendously, especially socially. Regrettably it hasn’t gotten any better or easier to live with since I lost the hearing putting me in this situation.

Jump to this post

So true - those not educated on hearing loss/aids think the aids give you 20/20 hearing like eyeglasses. That's why we advocate and educate as much as we can. Still have a long way to go!

Mike

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dloos | @dloos | Apr 18 3:02pm

I’m one who lost significant hearing after a plane flight two years ago. I had just had Covid and I’ve wondered if somehow the two are related.

My hearing loss is not what bothers me so much. It is the fullness/pressure, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and accompanying dizziness that makes it hard. I had Eustachian tube balloon dilation surgery, but it has not helped, in fact I’m worse since having surgery.

What to do? There apparently is no help. I wear hearing aids, but my hearing changes constantly so the aids aren’t much help.
I still have quite a lot of hearing, and I hesitate for more surgery. Maybe cochlear implants are in my future.
At the expense of sounding like a drama queen, all of this has ruined my life. I imagine fellow sufferers will understand.
Distorted hearing and roaring ears pretty much keeps you from life.

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