Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

Welcome to the Hearing Loss group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with hearing loss, and friends and family supporters. Whether you were born deaf or hard of hearing, experienced hearing loss after birth or with aging, it helps to connect with others. Together we can learn from each other, support one another and share stories about living with hearing loss, coping with challenges and celebrating milestones.

Let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? What is your hearing loss experience? Got a question, tip or story to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

@naadee35

May I suggest you visit an ENT practice for a hearing test as soon as possible. If the tv is loud enough to give your husband a headache it might be the cause of, or is increasing your tinnitus (ringing in the ears). In the meantime I think you should turn on your captions option even though it might be a little distracting for others. Most people wait too long to start the process of possibly needing hearing aids. Please do not go to a hearing aid place like Beltone. . See a reputable ENT doctor who can physically check your ears and then he or she will send you to whoever gives the tests in that practice.

FL Mary

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@naadee35

I have not been diagnosed. However, I have to have the volume of the tv louder than my family. It gives my husband a headache. I also have severe and constant ringing in both ears.

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I encourage you to see an ENT and/or an audiologist as soon as possible. The constant ringing in your ears is tinnitus. Tinnitus is often a sign of sensorineural hearing loss. Once you have a baseline hearing test, if you don't already have that documented, you'll have a better idea of what to do next. Excess noise is a causative factor in SNHL. That can be an extreme incident like a gun shot, or excess noise in duration like having the TV volume too loud all the time.

Your spouse may also want to get a baseline audiogram. That's a good idea for anyone in mid life.

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Hi @naadee35
A T.V. which blares at high volume does not add to peaceful co-existence at home, or with the neighbours!
When I got my first hearing aids they sold me an attachment for the T.V. I can watch the TV at any level I want, leave the room and hear the transmission perfectly, and yet ... and this is the good part... the volume for the room, can be at "0", so no one else can hear anything!
I am puzzled why you have not been diagnosed? Perhaps a hearing test could give you some much needed answers. Ask them questions. A hearing aid can not only help your hearing but address that ringing as well.
All the best to you as you begin this journey. It is a painless one with great benefits!

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@naadee35

I have not been diagnosed. However, I have to have the volume of the tv louder than my family. It gives my husband a headache. I also have severe and constant ringing in both ears.

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I had had ringing in my right ear since 2000, the ear canal itches, feels inflamed, plus I have a great loss of hearing from the 2000 stroke.

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@sag

I'm not sure if this is where to ask this question. When I receive emails each day that say for example "Hearing Loss - 8 updates", are those 8 updates in some particular place or is there a way to identify those 8 updates? @sag

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susan, it's a nice feature of this site. Click the blue print where is says Hearing Loss-8 updates.

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I noticed my hair starting to thin out about 5-6 years ago when I was 33 years old. It's been a gradual process since then.

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Thanks to all who replied to this post. I know it has been awhile since I posted. I could not find my post on the app & so could not find all the responses. Have posted a few other times & could not find those either. Had posted to a moderator, but got no response. Read these connect letters every day. Today it asked me to sign in. Maybe was the issue, although never signed out. Signed back in & the post above popped up. Maybe some of the rest will also.

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I waa exposed to a noisy environment in my early twenties and belatedly started wearing hearing aids at 50. Now at 77, despite wearing high quality hraribg aids, my inability to hear is an increasing annoyance to family and friends, but deficit is not great enough for cochlear implants. What am I missing?

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@pacarnut

I waa exposed to a noisy environment in my early twenties and belatedly started wearing hearing aids at 50. Now at 77, despite wearing high quality hraribg aids, my inability to hear is an increasing annoyance to family and friends, but deficit is not great enough for cochlear implants. What am I missing?

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I would suggest seeing a really good audiologist and trying some other high end hearing aids. I am somewhat stuck with Signia IX 7 hearing aids because my cost is only $1,800 for the pair. Check out TruHearing and some good Medicare Advantage plans. Humana Gold Plus might be one to look at.
Good luck.

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@pacarnut

I waa exposed to a noisy environment in my early twenties and belatedly started wearing hearing aids at 50. Now at 77, despite wearing high quality hraribg aids, my inability to hear is an increasing annoyance to family and friends, but deficit is not great enough for cochlear implants. What am I missing?

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https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/remote-mics-and-hearing-aids-equal-a-perfect-pair
Remote microphones that work with high powered hearing aids can make a huge difference in social settings where background noise is present,

I encourage you to check out HLAA. If there is a chapter in your area you will find a great deal of support from the members. http://www.hearingloss.org HLAA chapters are formed when people who are living with hearing loss come together to talk about it and learn. Support groups that provide mutual help can be life saving.

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