Nerve related hearing loss

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My hearing loss was strange. About two years ago I woke up with no hearing in my right ear. My left ear was fine. This past December I woke up with no hearing in my left ear and minimal in my right. The ENT has no idea. A Brain MRI did not show anything. Why would the hearing loss switch ears? I now have hearing aids.

I experienced nerve related hearing loss as a young adult (age 22), and I am now 69. Hearing never returned. Vertigo for months afterwards. Chronic tinnitus for decades.

@gailelease1 How are your hearing aids working?

It's interesting how hearing loss stories vary. A reminder that much more study and research is needed in this field.

It wasn't that long ago that researchers believed nothing would ever be available to help with hearing loss. We were told to 'just live with it and plan to be deaf eventually'.

Being 'deaf' isn't all that easy for people who have had typical/normal hearing. It can be devastating. I was told to learn sign language back in the day. Yeah, right?!! So WHO am I going to 'talk' to with sign language??

So thankful for advocacy and support groups that came on the scene in the early 1980s that encouraged more research and development. While hearing instruments and cochlear implants are not perfect, they are far better than they were 40 years ago. They will continue to improve as long as people who need them keep advocating and educating.

I feel like a broken record sometimes, but will continue to encourage people with hearing loss to tune in to and support The Hearing Loss Assn. of America (HLAA) http://www.hearingloss.org And also learn from The Hearing Health Foundation, Inc. http://www.hhf.org A newer resource that has a lot of excellent information is The Center for Hearing Access. http://www.centerforhearingaccess.org

It pays to know what is available in hearing help before buying costly hearing instruments. There is a lot of misinformation. Advertisements on TV and in magazines talk of miracles that happen with their products. YOU are the only person who will know how much hearing aids help or don't help when you try them. The people who sell hearing aids don't always share all the pertinent information about options with their customers. It helps when those who need hearing help are informed about potential products. It pays to check out those information resources listed above. Some of the information they provide may sound complicated. It pays to take time to learn. Think about how you approach other purchases like appliances, cars, TVs, etc. Those available today have options we should know about before a purchase, right?