Seniorsaint wrote on the forum:
I woke up on Thanksgiving Day with loss of all hearing in my left ear. No previous problems that i am aware of. I have had an MRI negative results. Audiologist says my ear is dead and they can't do anything about it. I have continuous "buzzing" in the ear. I am 85 years old and in general good health. What can I do to help the situation?
Is it true that nothing can be done? Could he benefit from a cochlear implant in that ear?
I have been an interpreter for nearly 14 years and actively involved in the deaf community as well. I have studied as much as I can about the implant and I would not recommend it for this person at their age. Sign Language is easy to learn and he can get a video phone for free in order to make calls or get as cell phone for texting.
You need to visit an ENT specialist, one which deals with Cochlear Implants to get an honest answer as to whether it will suit you. There are many people over your age who have successfully had implants and had their hearing restored.
check into an implant that is not the coclear but one that send the sound around to the other side of the ear. My friend had it done and is doing well. She also had a sudden loss and deafness over night.
Isv is talking about the BAHA, bone anchored hearing aid. Those are good for hearing loss in one ear. Did you visit and ENT right after the ear went dead? Sometimes they can give you steroids and the hearing will come back, but it sounds like it has been a while.
I had sudden hearing loss this last May on a Saturday. I thought I had water in my ear, or a wax buildup. I finally went to my doctor on Tuesday, and he sent me to an ENT on Friday. He treated me with high doses of steriods. I was already off the steriods when my hearing came back gradually. I still have a hearing loss, and am a candidate for hearing aids, but too costly at this time. Female, 59
I would definitely visit an ENT and wait it out before pursuing any kind of surgery. There is a lot of information available regarding sudden deafness (Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss SSHL) online. I personally have a cousin who went deaf in one ear and within a year-and-a-half her hearing returned on its own. Her doctor used steriods, I believe.
Hi, I recently had a BAHA hearing aid implanted. I also lost my hearing on my left side suddenly. You need to see an ENT to let you know if this is an option for you. There are lots of websites about the BAHA, I suggest you go there do start reading its VERY informative. It’s a little scary at first but everyone says its well worth it. I don’t get my processor for 2 more months so nothing has changed for me yet.
JUST A COMMENT TO SISTERLISA WHO SAID THAT SIGN LANGUAGE IS EASY TO LEARN … I DID NOT FIND THAT TO BE TRUE. I’M 70 YRS OLD AND TOOK LESSONS FOR NEARLY A YEAR. THE LANGUAGE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO LEARN. MAYBE I HAVE ‘BRAIN DRAIN’ OR SOMETHING, BUT VERY LITTLE OF THE INFO WOULD ‘STICK’ – NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PRACTICED. I FINALLY GAVE UP.
I had sudden deaf of one ear on january 7th.
All exams negative. Can someone tell me if you know about someone that have recovered after 6 months? because there’s almost 6 months passed, and I haven’t recovered almost nothing, and I feel sad and don’t believe I ever recover, but wanted to believe.
So, anyone knows anyone that have recovered after 6 months of SHL? Thank you!
I too was recently diagnosed with SSHL in my right ear…ongoing ringing is almost making me crazy. I’m curious with the BAHA implant- does it reduce the ringing or simply amplify it? Also, for the woman whose cousin got her hearing back almost a year after she lost it- was your cousin diagnosed with SSHL at the time? Did she undergo steroid treatment?
I have had the BAHA for nearly a year now, and for the one that wanted to know if it reduced the ringing? Well, no it doesn’t reduce it, but that usually gets better over time. After I was diagnosed with SSHL and treated with the steriods I never regained any hearing what so ever, but the BAHA has been a blessing for me. I was already deaf in my right ear then the SSHL took my left ear as well. On May 5th, 2008 I let my dog out, and when I turned away from the door, it was as though somebody closed the door on my world as well, since that moment I’ve been totally deaf. Thank God for the inventor of the BAHA.
The same thing happened to me. On July 6th, I lost my hearing totally and instaneously in my right ear…..a sensoneurial hearing loss. I was 69 years old. I had MRI. Two ENT specialists surgeons told me their was nothing they could do. Steroids didn’t help. I also have 30 to 35% hearing loss in my left ear. I met a third ENT surgeon specialist who told me about the Baha Implant which I had June 24th and got my Baha device….Cordelle 11, on Sept 24th. I am very happy with it. I also go the My Link FM system since I already had the FM Smart-Link for my Phonak Exelia M hearing aid. They help a lot. Good Luck and keep me posted. My e-mail is y.m.michaud@myfairpoint.net I’d love to hear from any Baha recipient. Yvette