1. < Hearing Loss
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Hearing Loss: Come introduce yourself and connect with others

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Feb 5, 2019

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.

JK | @contentandwell | Mar 25, 2019
In reply to @dorothynoz45 "I do sympathize with you. I keep thinking about Helen Keller's quote: "When you loose sight,..." + (show)
@dorothynoz45

I do sympathize with you. I keep thinking about Helen Keller's quote: "When you loose sight, you loose 'things', " When you loose hearing you loose 'people'." I can only testify to hearing loss. Don't you think that most of us are social beings, people persons? Interaction and communication are deeply interrupted or just plainly non-existent when others are talking at the same time. I have learned much from the e-weekly Hearing Health journals. In restaurants, sitting next to the wall or window helps a little. Don't sit at a table in the middle of the room which I now refuse to do. I am learning to become my own advocate If you can, sit in the middle not on the end that might help. Best to you.

Jump to this post

@dorothynoz45 It is also best if at that table next to the wall, the person with the hearing problem sits facing the wall so the restaurant noise is a just bit less intrusive than if sitting facing the open restaurant.
JK

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2 replies
Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Mar 25, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@dorothynoz45 It is also best if at that table next to the wall, the person with..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@dorothynoz45 It is also best if at that table next to the wall, the person with the hearing problem sits facing the wall so the restaurant noise is a just bit less intrusive than if sitting facing the open restaurant.
JK

Jump to this post

One more thing in the 'strategic seating solution' is never to sit where those whom you want to hear have their backs to a daylight window. Keep your back to the windows!

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angus | @angus | Mar 25, 2019

Good to know. Thank you

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wired4sound | @wired4sound | Mar 25, 2019

Also stay away from the kitchen, especially if there are no doors to deaden the clattering sounds.

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dorothynoz45 | @dorothynoz45 | Mar 25, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@dorothynoz45 It is also best if at that table next to the wall, the person with..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@dorothynoz45 It is also best if at that table next to the wall, the person with the hearing problem sits facing the wall so the restaurant noise is a just bit less intrusive than if sitting facing the open restaurant.
JK

Jump to this post

Thank you JK. There is a Denny's close by that will allow friends and me to sit in their overflow room when it isn't open yet for service. That's a great help. It never hurts to ask.

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jfobes | @jfobes | Mar 25, 2019

Good evening all. Had a hard time finding a forum for people like myself with ear issues. I say ear issues because I am not convinced I have healing loss and hear (pun intended) is why. I am 57 and have had ringing in my ears for as long as I can remember. No apparent reason or known injury to cause this. My hearing has never been great I guess but seems to have decreased and my ears are feeling fuller the past several years. I have had hearing test and have hearing aids. I do not like the electronic sound the aids produce and they are not very effective most of the time due to environmental or other conditions.

Here is what really baffles me and what nobody has been able to explain or theorize a reason for.

Every now and then (one maybe two times a year) my head will feel like it flushes and bang I can hear great and the ringing is gone, like totally gone, like really awesome!!! I can hear better if not perfectly, TV volume is on 13 instead of 30 and conversations are crisp. It really is a great thing. Until the next morning....... I wake up and everything is back to my "normal" This is why I do not feel I have hearing loss, misplaced maybe but not lost as the ability for me to hear very well is within me!

My ears always seem full or plugged. If I plug my nose and apply light pressure with my mouth my ears will crackle, pop and make all kinds of noise. This is 24/7/364, not every now and then. It is all the time!

I am looking for help or a direction to turn. My local docs and ENT's just say it's age and ignore me when I tell them what/how I feel or about the occasional great hearing days.

Any help, advice, words of wisdom or personal experience would be greatly appreciated!!

REPLY
2 replies
Parus | @parus | Mar 26, 2019

@jfobes If you have had this for as long as you can remember it is curious indeed. I had similar issues nearing 10 years ago and turns out it was TMJ and a nasty, seemingly never ending sinus infection.
I follow this topic to learn. I do not have hearing loss. I know many that do and I like to learn. Hoping some members here can have some helpful input.
Here, here (pun intended) is an educational, supportive place.

REPLY
cherriann | @cherriann | Mar 26, 2019
In reply to @dorothynoz45 "I do sympathize with you. I keep thinking about Helen Keller's quote: "When you loose sight,..." + (show)
@dorothynoz45

I do sympathize with you. I keep thinking about Helen Keller's quote: "When you loose sight, you loose 'things', " When you loose hearing you loose 'people'." I can only testify to hearing loss. Don't you think that most of us are social beings, people persons? Interaction and communication are deeply interrupted or just plainly non-existent when others are talking at the same time. I have learned much from the e-weekly Hearing Health journals. In restaurants, sitting next to the wall or window helps a little. Don't sit at a table in the middle of the room which I now refuse to do. I am learning to become my own advocate If you can, sit in the middle not on the end that might help. Best to you.

Jump to this post

Your points on where to sit in restaurants I much appreciated and am going to remember to do. Another thing that I do, is try and choose restaurants where I know there isn't loud background music or televisions on in the dining areas.

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 26, 2019
In reply to @jfobes "Good evening all. Had a hard time finding a forum for people like myself with ear..." + (show)
@jfobes

Good evening all. Had a hard time finding a forum for people like myself with ear issues. I say ear issues because I am not convinced I have healing loss and hear (pun intended) is why. I am 57 and have had ringing in my ears for as long as I can remember. No apparent reason or known injury to cause this. My hearing has never been great I guess but seems to have decreased and my ears are feeling fuller the past several years. I have had hearing test and have hearing aids. I do not like the electronic sound the aids produce and they are not very effective most of the time due to environmental or other conditions.

Here is what really baffles me and what nobody has been able to explain or theorize a reason for.

Every now and then (one maybe two times a year) my head will feel like it flushes and bang I can hear great and the ringing is gone, like totally gone, like really awesome!!! I can hear better if not perfectly, TV volume is on 13 instead of 30 and conversations are crisp. It really is a great thing. Until the next morning....... I wake up and everything is back to my "normal" This is why I do not feel I have hearing loss, misplaced maybe but not lost as the ability for me to hear very well is within me!

My ears always seem full or plugged. If I plug my nose and apply light pressure with my mouth my ears will crackle, pop and make all kinds of noise. This is 24/7/364, not every now and then. It is all the time!

I am looking for help or a direction to turn. My local docs and ENT's just say it's age and ignore me when I tell them what/how I feel or about the occasional great hearing days.

Any help, advice, words of wisdom or personal experience would be greatly appreciated!!

Jump to this post

Hi, @jfobes and welcome to Connect.
Your problem really is a curious one. The ringing in your ears, I presume is tinnitus, a fairly common problem. The fact that your hearing clears up and has clarity is pretty odd though. Is it possible that you have mild TMJ as @parus mentioned? I would rule out a sinus infection since it's been for so long. I suspect you have done some serious googling about this and not come up with anything.
Is there a large medical center, preferably a teaching center, anywhere close to you? I would think they would be most apt to be able to figure this out if anyone can. I am sure it is beyond the ken of most regular audiologists. I live in southern NH so there is Mass Eye and Ear about 55 miles down the road but there are many all over. I just googled this myself and there is a list at the US News website:
https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/ear-nose-and-throat
Hopefully one of those is close enough to you so you will be able to have a consultation there.

I am very curious about what they have to say if you do go somewhere one of these so I hope you get back to us.
JK

REPLY
2 replies
jfobes | @jfobes | Mar 26, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "Hi, @jfobes and welcome to Connect. Your problem really is a curious one. The ringing in..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Hi, @jfobes and welcome to Connect.
Your problem really is a curious one. The ringing in your ears, I presume is tinnitus, a fairly common problem. The fact that your hearing clears up and has clarity is pretty odd though. Is it possible that you have mild TMJ as @parus mentioned? I would rule out a sinus infection since it's been for so long. I suspect you have done some serious googling about this and not come up with anything.
Is there a large medical center, preferably a teaching center, anywhere close to you? I would think they would be most apt to be able to figure this out if anyone can. I am sure it is beyond the ken of most regular audiologists. I live in southern NH so there is Mass Eye and Ear about 55 miles down the road but there are many all over. I just googled this myself and there is a list at the US News website:
https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/ear-nose-and-throat
Hopefully one of those is close enough to you so you will be able to have a consultation there.

I am very curious about what they have to say if you do go somewhere one of these so I hope you get back to us.
JK

Jump to this post

Thank you for your interest and advice! I am an overly analytical person and have researched heavily my dilemma. My best conclusion would be leaning toward eustreatian tube disfunction possibly related to a jaw problem like TMJ. I did get tested for TMJ and I was told nope! I do however have a tight jaw, not clenching teeth just tight and pressing tongue against the roof of my mouth. I have tried to remedy that to no avail! Perhaps I should try chewing gum?

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2 replies
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