Sudden Hearing Loss: Want to connect with others

Posted by eileen123 @eileen123, Jul 22, 2020

Hello, I am new to this group. At age 56, I recently suddenly lost all hearing in my right ear, and I am trying to process this significant impact and find support from others who have experienced the same sudden hearing loss. I welcome your feedback. I am in good hands with very experienced doctors at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, but my treatment plan has not worked to date (oral steroids and ear injections). I have profound loss in right ear, and above average hearing in my left ear. Thanks for your insight and support. Eileen

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

@julieo4

Here is an interesting article on the nee to recognize hearing loss as a major health issue.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/2789772/jama_tonelli_2022_vp_220021_1647557320.94833.pdf

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Thank you for sharing this article. Health care workers and hospitals need to be more aware and provide compassionate care to the hearing impaired and family members, especially during a hospitalization. The visitation restrictions during the pandemic have left many families to battle for health care procedures and visiting modifications and rights the in recognizing hearing impairment as a disability under the ADA law.
The hearing organizations need to send infomation to all hospitals as a reminder and education concerning the rights of individuals under ADA

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@bdurel

Hi Stephanie. I'm sorry you were also treated that way. A little compassion, understanding, and info sharing would go a long way. It does help to find others who have experienced same. It helped me to find your posts. I see the audiologist again tomorrow and I'm hoping that I'm a good candidate for the Osia. Have you been pleased with yours? Any warnings or suggestions in regards to the Osia?

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I couldn't be more pleased with the Osia. It is comfortable and the sound is natural. One downside is that there are MRI restrictions once you have an implant. And then the only other bad part that I can think of is that I'm not really clear on how long I can expect the external processor to last and what happens when it's time to replace it. Regardless, it's worth it!!

Best of luck at your appointment today!

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@jam5

Thank you for sharing this article. Health care workers and hospitals need to be more aware and provide compassionate care to the hearing impaired and family members, especially during a hospitalization. The visitation restrictions during the pandemic have left many families to battle for health care procedures and visiting modifications and rights the in recognizing hearing impairment as a disability under the ADA law.
The hearing organizations need to send infomation to all hospitals as a reminder and education concerning the rights of individuals under ADA

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Yes, this is so true. Healthcare workers at all levels do not understand the ramifications of hearing loss on their patients. It should start at the training level, but for whatever reason, it doesn't. Consequently, many don't have a clue how to help us. This is exacerbated by denial and refusal to talk about it by so many who have hearing loss.

Organizations like The Hearing Loss Association of America work hard to get information out on this topic, and strongly promote the rights of people with hearing loss under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It's important for people to know that while HLAA is called 'The voice of people with hearing loss", it is a non profit with a very small dedicated staff. Much of what HLAA does is done by volunteers who live with hearing loss themselves who participate in chapters around the country.

HLAA depends on people like us to get involved in sharing information, educating those who need a better understanding of what hearing loss does to people, and also to advocate for changes that help make hearing loss a greater issue of concern. Unfortunately, far too many people who are affected by hearing loss; theirs or someone else's, don't step up to help.

HLAA is a 'membership' organization. However, it represents all people with hearing loss, regardless of affiliation. If HLAA had more members it could do much more. The organization is working to promote legislation for insurance and Medicare coverage for hearing technologies. HLAA is also planning a national convention in June that will share a ton of information with attendees to bring back home. http://www.hearingloss.org

Have you ever attended an HLAA event? Chapter meeting? Convention, etc.?

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@megwest512

In September of this year I lost most of my hearing in my left ear. There was no trauma or anything, just a regular day - I am 26 years old with no medical conditions.
I have since met with many Doctors, had an MRI, and CT scan - all unable to give me any answers that could explain my hearing loss. Has anyone experienced anything like this or know somebody who has? I am just so confused how this could have happened, my hearing has not improved at all.

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I experience sudden hearing loss in my right ear about 4 days after an airplane flight. Both my ears were muffled for 4 days- my left ear went back to normal- my right ear went deaf. They can’t explain why this happened so they said it must be a virus. I had a audio test done & a MRI. MRI was normal. Left ear good/right profound hearing loss. Both ears were fine before the flight. I didn’t have Covid either. I had a test right before my flight and it was negative. The ENT said no fluid or wax built- up. No rhyme or reason for this to have happened. Very scary and still I’m checking out other options in hopes my hearing comes back. I need to find the root cause of this. I’m in good shape for my age of 68- take no medications and lead a active life style. If I find an alternative solution I will surely let you know. Just trying to cope- day by day with all of this.

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@wendymb

Hi Eileen. I had the exact same thing, in my early 60s, woke up one day feeling like i was hearing under water. Let it go for a holiday weekend and when i went to see doctor, he shook his head, said i had sensorineural hearing loss, that he'd try high-dose steroids for 2 weeks but it was probably too late. seems like it needs to be started pretty quickly. on top of that my loss of hearing was replaced in that ear with non-stop tinnitus. so yeah, i felt like you, i grieved my hearing loss, it's a challenge because all sounds seem like they're coming from the same place so it takes getting used to, and the tinniitus is annoying but there are lots of YouTube audio/videos that help with that, if you have it. i guess as someone said above, we deal with it and move on. but it's always there. glad to hear there are other people with this same condition.

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My story is almost identical to yours. Just this past Feb as I sat in my car I suddenly went deaf in my left ear and all hearing replaced with tinnitus. Treatments didn't work. I'm through the shock, still grieving the loss, but trying to get back to somewhat normal. Looking into Osia implant.

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@bdurel

My story is almost identical to yours. Just this past Feb as I sat in my car I suddenly went deaf in my left ear and all hearing replaced with tinnitus. Treatments didn't work. I'm through the shock, still grieving the loss, but trying to get back to somewhat normal. Looking into Osia implant.

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I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t know what an Osia implant is but I hope it helps with your hearing loss and tinnitus. Please let us know your experience with it. Good luck!

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@bdurel

Barbie I am so sorry this happened to you. I am going thru something similar so know how scary and frustrating it is. On Feb 8 I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of my dentist office when I suddenly went deaf in my left ear. I asked the dentist if it could be related to my teeth cleaning and was told no. I went home and hoped it would pass. Few days later I went to an Urgent Care as my Primary Dr didn't have any openings for a few weeks. Dr @ Urgent Care said likely allergy related tho I've never really had allergies like that. Put me on a 1-week low dose taper pack of Prednisone. And told me to use Flonase allergy spray. No change. I'll try to shorten this. Finally got into ENT at 3 week mark. (2 wks is really the max for starting effect treatment in most cases) and started high dose prednisone followed by 2 wks of steroid injections thru eardrum. No improvement. Had excellent hearing in both ears prior. Now deaf in left ear. No speech discernment at all. Dr said it was likely from the C Vax or the sonic tool at dentist office as both have shown rare cases of SSHL. He just told me to come back in 6 mths for recheck. Felt very dismissive. Have now gone to highly rated Audiology group who did much more extensive testing. Am looking into a bone anchored hearing device - Osia. Hearing loss is a always difficult but when it goes from 60 to 0 in seconds it's very traumatic and scary. I found it very difficult to find help & fast enough. No one acted like it was a medical emergency. I've learned so much now but not in time for me it appears.
Barbara

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Thanks for your reply. Sorry for your loss of hearing. Kinda the same thing with the ENT- no real reason they could give me for the loss- must of been a virus that attacked your inner ear. Well it just seems unreal. Just looking for alternative care that might help- can’t hurt. The ENT come back in 6 mo for another hearing test. They really didn’t help me or go outside the box for answers. Well good vibes to all for a solution to help with their hearing loss. No one understands until it has happened to them.

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@barbie1357

Thanks for your reply. Sorry for your loss of hearing. Kinda the same thing with the ENT- no real reason they could give me for the loss- must of been a virus that attacked your inner ear. Well it just seems unreal. Just looking for alternative care that might help- can’t hurt. The ENT come back in 6 mo for another hearing test. They really didn’t help me or go outside the box for answers. Well good vibes to all for a solution to help with their hearing loss. No one understands until it has happened to them.

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I had same thing happen. Woke up one am and couldn’t hear out of left ear. Got bad advice at urgent care and was told it was a blocked eustation tube. Later tested and steroids did not help. I wear a phonak cross. Sound picked it by damaged ear and fed to better ear. What is the bone anchored hearing device? I use a com pilot for elevated sound paired to my hearing aid. The only thing I have not been able to solve is listening to my radio while driving. Too much background noise but I drive a Scion which is a cargo car.

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I am 62 and I loss my hearing in my right ear suddenly too. I have pretty good hearing in my left ear. I am new to this group also. I lost it 1 yr ago and nothing worked. I wear bi cros hearing aid which help but am toying with getting a cochlear implant.
There is a single sided deafness group on Facebook that has been helpful,

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Sorry about your hearing loss. I will think more about the implant after exploring more options. Can I ask you what things did you try to get your hearing back? I would love to even get partial hearing back where you could wear one hearing aid and adjust it when necessary. I’m willing to try alternative options too. What could it hurt at this point.

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