Anxiety and disbelief over sudden hearing loss and tinnitus

If it were the ear drum or bones I don't think I would be hearing at all. The problem is I've lost the high frequencies. So much sounds different. I'm missing so much now. My brain is just rebelling against it. It's like, "No. It's can't be. Something should be there."

Because of Julie - I learned about SHHH/HLAA since I lived in WI back in the time that I first found out that I was hard of hearing. I needed HELP in a big way because I was having difficulty with my employment. Suddenly finding out that I was not hearing like everyone else....I needed accommodations at work and a new life as a hard of hearing employee. I had to know what this was all about and I needed it NOW!
I went online and found the HLAA website, found a local chapter and decided to attend one of their meetings. Over time, I learned everything about hearing loss; I tried many different types of hearing aids and found/used different audiologists based on my insurance coverage. As my employment changed so did my needs. Just as Julie voiced - HLAA has provided information and advocacy for us but they only are part of the equation. We are the other half. We are the voice of the organization because we are are them. As I have said in the past streams... speaking up to our representatives and those who don't understand what and who we are - helps them understand that we have the answers and directions for what is needed. I have no difficulties showing and telling about what works for me. I have often been to the Apple Store - talking with them over the years about my Resound hearing aids and my iPhone and how they need to be working well. All of the techs in the stores know me and have helped me over the years to excel in using my programs. (My hearing aid is located on the iPhone). Don't be afraid of speaking up with anyone because you and them may learn something new or a word or two will be passed on for the future.

Thank you for the info but right now my ears are still hurting and I can't believe this is happening. At this point I need a psychiatrist. I can't think about the broader issue of hearing loss or about assistive technologies or legislation. I'm just trying to function. I don't mean to be ungrateful but it's too much.

My job is interviewing people for food stamps and Medicaid. All day long I'm interviewing people, some in person, some by phone. Understanding people on the phone has become a serious problem. Sometimes when I call they're riding in a noisy pickup truck or they're cleaning around their house or they're outside where it's windy or on a bus or shopping. Any background noise now makes it near impossible to understand what they're saying. I even have trouble sometimes understanding the person sitting just across the desk from me. I went from crystal clear hearing to this overnight. Between the hearing loss and the tinnitus and the anger and anxiety I'm not functioning very well. I called my ENT's office and they worked me in today. They did another hearing test. It was essentially the same as the last time. When my doctor walked in my eyes welled up unexpectedly. Did not see that coming. She wants me to come back in another month to follow up with another doctor who might do a steroid injection. She said I will likely need a hearing aid. The next step is to get a referral to a psychologist.

How do you stop noticing the difference in how things sound? I'm very detail oriented, and have obsessive tendencies (obviously). It's just the way I am. I'm known at work for my attention to details. So I keep noticing the difference in the way things sound. At the moment I'm lying in bed and I can hear rain on the roof but it sounds muted, dull. Every time I notice a difference in how something sounds or notice that I'm not hearing something that I should be able to hear it's makes me angry or frustrated or depressed. I'm sure many who read this might say, "You're lucky your can hear the rain at all. What are you whining about?" I understand that. I am fortunate I didn't lose more hearing. Nevertheless, I've had what is, for me, significant unexpected heart loss within a matter of minutes, and it was totally preventable. I told the doctor it feels like there's a dead zone in my hearing. She said, "There is."

There are different ways we perceive or hear sounds - your audiogram and other hearing tests provides a blueprint of what your brain/auditory nerve picks up and able to understand or not understand in our speech. One way to interpret that is to look at your audiogram as a speech banana like this....
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-the-speech-banana-on-a-hearing-test-1048455
Our English language has vowels and consonants that can be hard to see across the mouth/tongue when spoken. Lip reading and listening isn't always easy when similar words or letters are spoken - so guessing at what was said becomes the big fall back option. THIS makes the person with hearing issues desperate for answers to what was just spoken. Asking for a rephrasing of what was just said can be distressing or just letting it ride, makes for an incomplete conversation. Pretending that everything was heard can also make you look like a fool since your comments can be inappropriate or your look like someone off your rocker! This is where YOU as a hard of hearing person, must step in and do something about your hearing loss. But, it doesn't just happen over night. First, learning about what KIND of hearing loss your have needs to be known. Is it a high frequency, which is common, and how can you stop if from progressing? Second, what can you do to help yourself to hear well. What type of symptoms or bothersome situations do your find yourself inn? What do you want to be able to do? Write these situations down - ALL OF THEM. These need to be on paper so they aren't floating around in your head. These need to be brought to your audiologist attention. BECAUSE, the hearing aids may be able to address some of these needs. And they will be part of the first step in your management of your hearing loss. Joining a support group of other hearing loss people would assist you as well. Eloise (Hearing Loss Support Specialist and Member of a HLAA Support Group) https://www.hearingloss.org/chapters-state-orgs/

Eloise, thanks for replying. I found a local HLAA chapter. Unfortunately they don't meet this month. I'll try to connect with them next month. I'm sure a hearing aid is in my near future.

Yes this group a lot. ( and Mayo) Space is an issue of having a hearing loss chapter in Philadelphia . The current leaders is In middle of a move and may not resume the group. They started philly chapter 4-5 years ago. I want to continue but I do not have facility for it. Coffee shops in the day time may be possible - no positive feedback on that. I will get advice at the convention in Rochester hopefully . I am on the steering committee of the phila chapter Hard but important

Good. Then you have time to read up, study, investigate and add to your knowledge base. That way you have the where-with-all to be a contributing member or at least one that will be inquisitive so that your questions will start to be answered. Bravo!

Perfect place to take your concerns to - The convention. There will be people attending that just may be in your area who may be able to help you or at least give you connections. Take advantage of the boards at the registration table to connect to as well as registering for the Chapter leaders meetings. Sign up for sessions that can help with chapter growth and development. There usually are five different tracts to choose from. Almost too much but I am sure you will find just what you need to direct your ways. Don't forget to collect business cards, make friends and have fun!