Readers Respond: How To Cope with Sudden Hearing Loss?

What advice would you give to someone who just experienced sudden deafness? This person was able to hear their whole life, and all of a sudden they lost part or all of their hearing. How can this person cope emotionally and avoid depression?

One way would be to keep busy, as with anything you are trying to keep your mind off of. Another might be to try a sign language class or get lipreading training, to develop new needed communications skills. Can you suggest anything else?

Learn more about hearing loss and about being late deafened.

People thought I was faking.!

I too am havig this issue, people saying that I am faking just listen to me...! After a night out I woke up not being able to hear a thing literally.. The doctors said I had severe ear infection.! And my ears were blocked up..! But they didn't feel blocked like when you have blocked ear you can hear yourself talk and like water in your ear.. But I couldn't hear myself at all.! I have been to the doctors and waiting on an ENT appointment . However I lost my hear almost a month ago. And have had none back yet .. My friends are learning sign language and writing things down but my parents just don't seem to get to grips I cannot hear a thing... I'm waitin on my referal maybe for hearin aids .! I am 19 years old.

—Guest Bambionice

Hearing Loss

My mother is in a nursing home and suddenly one night woke up not being able to walk and losing her hearing. Could that be caused by a stroke?

—Guest Judy Joshua

Found Out on Job Interview

I found out I am losing high frequency hearing through a job interview at age 21. A hearing test was required as the job was phone based. I had invested my life in college to get this job, only to go on my first interview & realize I had wasted my time and money. I will never work in my field of choice. In the last 6 years since finding out my high frequency hearing is significantly declining. Without my hearing aids everything sounds like a bass drum. I am starting to be unable to understand speech. For those new to hearing loss. People will not understand the changes they will need to make to help you understand. Even my family still do not aid in my understanding conversation. It works wonders for people to get your attention, look directly at you & speak as clearly as possible. But people without hearing loss take for granted carrying a conversation with back turned or from a distance. Do not be ashamed to admit to people about your hearing loss & ask for them to help you.

—Guest Late listener

Get Educated

Learn everything you can about Sudden Hearing Loss, but above all, get to a specialist to treat you. Do not monkey around with GP's or primary care doctors. Like stroke, getting medical help immediately is important. You can cope with hearing loss later by learning ASL and lip-reading. Protect any hearing you have left by learning about your ears and how to keep them healthy and protected from damage. After you have done this, teach others what you have learned.

—kallisonanderson

My Initial Reaction - I Can't Be Deaf

Almost 3 years ago I went deaf in my right ear after having a lifetime of perfect hearing. I was in a conference room and someone crumpled a bag which sent tingles all down my body. It took me a few hours to figure out I could no longer hear from my right side. My Dr. diagnosed it as "hay fever" and sent me home with meds. I researched hay fever and realized that is not what I had. I did not contact an ENT for three more days and she started me on a massive dose of steroids and shots in the ear. Too many days had passed for it to be effective. If you suspect something like this is happening to you, see an ENT immediately to start the steriod treatment. My ENT also told me this syndrome is more prevelent in the North West, just like MS. Does anyone have any stats on this? The thing I find the most difficult to deal with is my loss of direction and sound. I can't figure out where sirens or sounds are coming from etc.

—lmm12

Get help! Pronto!

I am one of those who experienced sudden hearing loss, and due to ignorance, did not immediately get to an otolarynologist. I wear hearing aids and get along fairly well, but have a lot of tinnitus exacerbated by drugs, caffeine--almost anything, including cataract surgery. Support a campaign to educate the public about this very important issue. Contact organizations for the deaf and HOH, write your congressperson, and urge your medical providers to get active on this issue.

—kallisonanderson

Blamed My Doctors

One day my 8 year old daughter asked me to get on the floor with her and watch cartoons with her and when I did about an hour all of a sudden i heard a loud explosion sound go off in my head and then some really loud fuzzy like noise and then gone. I was deaf in my right ear I jumped up and asked my daughter if something was in my ear she said no ,so I went to the doctor and he said don't worry about it go home and your hearing will come come back the next day. I went back and was told the same thing but I still did not believe every thing was all right so I called the doctor back and was told ok come in the office at 4 thirty and he would see me again but when I got there he already went home. The next day my doctor came back off vacation she sent me to the ENT and he said it is to late to treat you I only had three days to get treated it was now three weeks later he said your going to be deaf for now on. My heart stopped im trying to get used to it and cant because i feel alone its bad.

—Guest Lyle Maisenbach

It is What it Is

I just recently lost 75 percent of my hearing on both ears. It has been the life changing choice to know that reasons and circumstances plays a big road in how u cope. sum it up I died woke up deaf. Love music and talking to my family. I listen to music i remember well. I wake up and I have bad days but I remind myself each day whether i'm a good or bad person i'm always deaf. the moment i miss out on is the one i didn't participate in the best way i can.

—thisishowiroll

Suddenly Lost on the Phone

I am 58 years old. First hearing loss was one ear 22 years ago. Sudden, felt like my ear was going to pop. It began ringing that never stopped. (along the way with a multitude of sounds from jet engines to tuning forks.) Lost 70% of hearing. Every few years I would lose a bit more until I had no hearing in that ear. Tough in crowds, and sound directions, but I could function. Doctors were no help. 6 years ago, while on the phone, I completely lost my hearing. (Oddly, I did have one month during the total loss, that I regained my hearing for almost a month.) I don't know why. I have hearing aids and can hear sound. Without I hear almost nothing. It has been devastating. I try every way I can to keep into life, but still don't know how to and miss socializing and conversation. I don't read lips well. I still wake every day thinking I can hear. It's an odd disability that puts the work of communicating on others. It is quite a lonely process.

—jannelee

Happened at 16

Hi, my suggestion is to keep close your friends and family. Don't push them away, it may be difficult, embarrassing and frustrating, but loneliness won't help to feel better. When I went deaf in my left ear I was 16 and it was a bit of a shock. Now my dearest friends know that they can't whisper in my ear or talk too softly when I'm driving.I'm still having problems admitting it with new people i meet, but i will get there. Learn sign language, it will help you to communicate and to understand that visual communication is as effective as the oral one.Write a book, read books, find information on the Deaf community, take painting/photography classes, do volunteering work and everything that can help you express yourself, practice new abilities and make you feel helpful for other people. Don't be scared by people judgment, if they can't accept you they are not worth the pain, true family and friends will always be at your side.you can still see,touch,taste,smell, you're alive.

—Guest bebs

People Thought She Was Faking

Hi All, I have read your replies and am surprised that so many of us lost our hearing in similar ways and have or are learning to or have learned how to cope after many years. When I first lost my hearing, I too was blamed by some people that I was "faking". I was so hurt that people would think I would do something like this. Now, I could care less. It's their problem not ours. What helped me cope and grow is learning to accpet my deafness. And it was slow process. I worked my way back to family and friends who had left when I first lost my hearing. It takes time and the right people to be able to rebuild a life. Also, as time went by, I made new friends by volunteering my time at the craft-room at our church. The most important thing is giving ones self time to heal and adjust. And as one person already said, keep busy, learn how to knit or paint or garden. Writing was my passion and still is and has helped me cope with my hearing loss. Best of luck. A.

—Annastott

No Formula

No one can tell you how to walk your road of life when a hearing loss suddenly appears. They can share what worked for them and perhaps some part of it will give you some insight. Your own gut response to others is your best guide. Dear friend of mine (Deaf from age 13 - now 45) just decided to get a cochlear implant...the reaction of some of the Deaf community has been less than positive but it is HER choice and I will always support her decisions. Use hearing aids if you think they help, learn ASL if it helps you communicate, seek counsel of professionals (of ALL kinds). Trust yourself! If the loss is in a child then the parents need to seek diligently and seriously, all options to make life the best for their child (and not just themselves!). Hearing loss is never the end of the families or the individuals worlds...it is an opportunity to find intelligent and creative solutions to what others see as 'problems". Started to lose hearing years ago still moving along the road.

—Guest Tallguy99

Can Hear Noise But Not Words

Anita, you hit the nail on the head! I woke up from a nap (at 64 years of age) with virtually no word recognition..can hear NOISE. Many people just do not undersatand that. Hearing aids help to a small degree, but mostly I am learning speechreading. I live in a rural area where there are no groups (that I have found) that are among the Deaf Community. Massive doses of prednisone early on did not help and they royally screwed up my diabetes. Doctors have attributed it to the all inclusive 'auto-immune' and yet I believe it was aggravated (caused) by living in an unhealthy environment, air quality related. Depression, isolation have been my main issues. I too, have found that I cannot explain the symptoms, but it is easier to just say I am deaf. I talk to myself a lot..but at least I can talk and SEE!

—Guest Margaret

Family Does Not Understand

I was sick on my stomach 1 night. I went to bed, & woke up deaf in left ear in the morning. This is not your typical deafness. I can hear sound, but can not understand the spoken language. This is very hard for my husband, since I am not completely deaf in the left ear. When he speaks to me, words sound different. The word eight might sound like mate. I have look at him while he is speaking to really understand him. People can understand if a person is completely deaf in 1 or both ears, but to say you can not UNDERSTAND the words you are saying, is very hard for them to accept. No hearing aid has been developed to help a person understand words being spoken, while still leaving the sounds at a normal level. I think it can best be described like a person who is blind in 1 eye. They have no depth perception. We need the complete use of 2 ears to help us understand words. I stopped trying to explain it. I just tell people I am deaf in my left ear. They can understand this.

—Guest Anita

Frustrating at First

I am 32 years old and came from mumps that affects my right ear. I'm still lucky to have hearing in my left ear. But it was really frustrating on my part at first. But through the help of a friends and families I'm still accepting it. I was looking as well of the support groups that helps me and of course the device. I am working as a sped teacher but for me this is just a challenge on me.

—medinaliezl