I have felt my hearing has just got dramatically worse and I fear if I tell my employers about it they might reproach me. It's so horrible having this at 20. I have tried everything to stop it worsening such as earplugs etc in heavy traffic etc and everything but don't know what else to do. I sometimes am reproachful at myself for what I did to my hearing health at such a young age especially.
I love my job in the maritime industry but have came numb by all this pain and suffering that I have thought whatever happens happens. If I have to take some crappy low paid job I will. That's all you can do isn't it.
I have a Specsavers hearing test this weekend and hope I get hearing aids but am embarrassed about wearing them. Albeit they may change my life.
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Sailorsam2001
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Hello SailorSam. I would like to offer you a little advice, please.
Firstly, it's not likely that anyone will notice that you have hearing aids. If they do, and they tease you about it, then all you need do is calmly say something like "yes, I don't hear too well so now I can hear better". No-one says anything about people waring glasses for seeing, do they?
Secondly, it's fine going to Specsavers for a test. But they charge a lot of money for aids. Go instead to your GP. He or she will refer you to an audiology clinic, where the NHS pays for your aids and the batteries that go with them.
Thirdly, your employers should be supporting you. If you are in a large organisation you will have a proper Human Resources Department and they will advise you. If the organisation you work for is a small one, then you might not have an HR department but still, in law, your employers must support you.
You are very wise to wear earplugs where there is loud noise - good on you!
Other forumites here might have more to say on this subject - but I wish you well.
Unfortunately after going to audiology appointment, they said there's nothing wrong with my hearing and it's normal. Whatever that means. Albeit the noise is incessant and gushing. Constant noise and anxiety etc.
Hence why I am going to Specsavers as no one seems to understand or help me.
I think hearing aids will improve my life. I have found hearing difficult recently.
If your hearing is normal then I do not believe that hearing aids are suitable. If you are suffering from Tinnitus (noises in your ears and your head that no-one else can hear) then please first of all go to the website of the British Tinnitus Association. There you will find lots of information about how you can cope with this.
Do NOT believe any advertisements that you might see that say they are "cures" unless they are thought to be suitable by your own doctor or the charity I've mentioned.
If you are finding life with Tinnitus difficult then please do to your doctor and tell him or her about it. There is a pathway that GP's should follow if their patients are troubled with Tinnitus.
You can also phone the British Tinnitus Association for advice. They are available Mon to Fri between 9 and 5 - details on their website.
must put you right about Specsavers Happyrosie….….they actually have a contract with the NHS & provide free hearing aids + batteries +an excellent follow up service ….exactly the same as hospital audio departments.I have used them for years….at most branches you can get an appointment
within weeks.
If your needs exceed the services they provide, they refer you to all the clincal
Specialists available in your local NHS hospital…..& it seems you get an early appointment too.
I’m not advising anybody with Tinnitus to switch to going to SS for advice…..but for regular hearing tests their staff have the same qualifications as hospital audiologists.
You’re so right! I believe that many commissioning groups do this. I feel though that if you go straight to Ss ( as I did ten years ago) people need to know that Ss will charge when NHS is free. I didn’t know and nearly got sucked down the “ these ones are only a thousand pounds and your batteries are free for six months” ’ route
You shouldn’t just go to Specsavers as a member of the public you need to get a letter from your GP advising them you need a hearing test….. that way you will be put on their Nhs list….. and the hearing test is free.I have never paid a penny for my hearing aids nor the batteries and any time I have had a query I have always been invited in to have it sorted at no charge.
Here's an idea Sailorsam2001 Imagine it's not you in this position but one of your colleagues. What would you say to him or her? Perhaps you would say that it's not their fault, that their boss will understand and that no one will laugh at them for wearing HA's. All this applies to you too. Sometimes it's easier to be kind to other people than yourself but you need to be kind to yourself too.
Happyrosie is right both Specsavers and Boots will charge alot for aids but they are so discreet nowadays that no one will notice. Saw my friend yesterday who is very deaf and has been for 30 years but her aids were hardly visible and are NHS the most important thing to mention she did not notice my hearing aid (Boots) that I wear for tinnitus reduced hearing. Not seen her since lockdown😉. You are young and have the rest of your life to do the job you love with maybe a little help so go for it. 🍀
As I have just explained to Happy Rosie you need a letter from your GP to take to Specsavers to get on their NHS list….. and then all your treatment is free. Apparently I have very narrow ear canals& I have just had a new set of hearing aids and the tubes weren’t right, so they actually ordered some especially for me and posted them to me you - just screw them on…all for free.
If anybody is in the process of getting a hearing test please don’t just go into Boots/ Specsavers or any other company this is offering hearing tests unless you get a letter from your GP and ensure that you are in their NHS list to get free treatment.
Yes, do understand the procedures as I have just skipped through hoops trying to get Specsavers to help my visually impaired friend get a hearing test at home, it appears her Doctor is not a partner for NHS hearing services but the person I spoke to at Specsavers HQ was able to suggest a way forward which I was very grateful for.
Feeling as though your hearing has gotten worse is not the same as having evidence that demonstrates there is a problem. I can appreciate that this is frustrating.
The hearing results that you have received don't show a significant drop in your ability to hear. For most people, that would be a good outcome. I understand that this doesn't explain to you why your tinnitus is elevated and this must concern you.
From your comments, you don't appear to believe the audiology assessment that you've had, but if you get the same results from a SpecSavers consultation, are you going to be able to accept that your hearing level isn't the problem making your tinnitus more noticeable to you?
Rather than being unclear about your employer's position on the hearing issues that you feel you have, would it not help reduce your anxieties on this situation by taking your concerns to them? They can't help you if they don't know what the situation is.
Hi Sailorsam2001 Yes as Pat says, I'd advise telling your employers you are having difficulties with tinnitus affecting your hearing, distinguishing what people are saying. I worked for 18 years as a teacher and struggled with my hearing and tinnitus and said very little. The final few years were really hard.
The Disability Act 2010 is an absolute godsend because it included a wider range of health problems, including mental health... employers must follow legal procedures. They need to support you. I wish that act was around years ago for my parents generation ...many workplace practices have improved, in this aspect anyway. Take care. xx
in reply to
PS I felt very low at first needing hearing aids. It is a big adjustment to self image, but eventually I accepted them. I have two HAs but prefer wearing one. I know it is more challenging for a young male, especially if the aids are visible, depending on hair length. Take care and let us know how you get on. x
Hi Sailorsam sorry you are suffering such drastic tinnitus at the moment. If your hearing is normal then you will have to try to habituate to tinnitus which isn't easy and will take a while. Everyone has given you great advice and already pointed you in the right directions to get help and I would concur that your employer has to help you not reproach or berate you. It may ease some of your anxiety if you can speak to someone at work about this. I hope you find your way through this difficult time take care.
Hi and I’m really sorry you are going through this.Straight away I do feel for you and the perceived embarrassment of HAs.
I have them with the T function from the NHS and feel a mix of relief if I lose one and embarrassment by wearing them but they help so over all they benefits outweigh my feelings. People tell me they are just like glasses and honestly that maybe true for a full time glasses wearing person.
I don’t think you should be penalised in your work place and I’m sure there should be actions to follow if you are.
Try to be as easy with yourself as possible there is great deal of help and experience here and hopefully, friendly too.
I’ve had my T now since I think 2015 and it’s so very loud all the time.
Please feel free to ask me anything and if I can I’ll help.
Stress is the thing to avoid and it’s far easier said than done.
I’m so sorry Sailorsam2001!! Perhaps these things might help you: 1. You must keep your blood pressure low as you can and is important to control whether you snore. 2. Take Magnesium L. Threonate (Only this Magnesium!!!) 3 hours before bed. Look for information, this magnesium is really good for brains. 3. Try taking Idebenone 4. Do you know Mimicking fasting diet of Walter Longo? In Argentina there aren't doctors to guide us with this diet, perhaps you can find one. 5. And finally homeopathy might help you too. I’m doing all of these and my T is going down little by little. I wish you much luck!!
Hello Sailorsam. Oh what it's like to be 20 Again. Oh what fun we had. I do hope you don't reprimand yourself, more look on it as a learning curve. You cannot change the past, but you could find the spin looking to the future in moderation.
You won't necessarily feel it, but this gives you a window into other lives. How you can be more compassionate (say, helping people who suffer - across the road). You have another talent that you can expand on. I'm sure you care for friends predicament. Help people to understand your plight. Now to work premises.
Disability is being encouraged nowadays, adverts (Tia Maria for one, with a false leg). Employers are encouraged to employ people with challenges of every type (in your case). I remember my employer buying a headset that delivered right to my ear, rather than a standard phone. This is small fry to them, and they all want to look clean (er! than clean). You think of the Invictus games and how many have difficulties.
Incidentally can you imagine the "Hoo Haa!" (look it up!) taken to the press if you were treated wrong, and "No win/No fee" type claims.
I think you will find compassion from a lot of corners. Be brave, talk the first step. Start with an NHS ENT assessment of your hearing. Many people will try to sell you hearing aids for a lot of money. The NHS charged nothing for me, but yes, it was a while back.
Go get them kid. You're doing fine. Listen to music, turn the volume down.
I agree with a lot of what is being said above, rather repeat on audiology, hearing aids, etc. I just wanted to add a little more on working well with T.
I struggled with work when I first had T. As with most of us I focused on putting in a plan in place for myself to accept and live well with my T and although this was fundamental to me getting back to living and working well and not being constantly in a heightened emotional state there are things you can do with work. Please don't think you have to change jobs as your employer has a responsibility to help you. Here is a list of things I did:
- T is considered a hidden disability in the Equality Act (gov.uk/guidance/equality-ac... therefore I made sure my work was aware of my hidden disability to ensure I could continue working. ACAS has some excellent material, I realized my employer had a responsibility to help me acas.org.uk/supporting-ment....
- I discussed my T with my manager, HR and eventually Occupational health (OH). As part of these discussions we agreed reasonable adjustments to enable me to continue working with my hidden disability (breaks, adjusted hours, hearing device for meetings, etc.) mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/r...
- As T can have a negative impact on our mental health (at the very least it puts up in a heightened emotional state with our fight/flight reaction to it) therefore I discussed putting in place a Wellness Action Plan in place for my mental health (from the charity MIND) mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/r...
I am not sure if you are exposed to loud noise at work (I am not), if so then you may want to review the HSE guidelines on noise exposure.
I have came to accept the cards that have been dealt and unfortunately despite making some stupid decisions I am taking my health with all aspects in a more positive direction. I am wearing earplugs etc in noisy situations and such like
Hi Sam,Sorry to hear of the difficulties you are having.
As others have said, unless you have an actual hearing loss, you do not need hearing aids.
When you go to Specsavers, ask to see and be given your audiogram after the test. This is the chart on which they plot your test results, and it shows the level of hearing you have across all the different frequencies.
If your hearing is still fine, you need to be focussing on tinnitus management measures instead. This could be something as simple as playing soothing sounds to yourself such as the gentle running of a stream, to help mask the tinnitus. You can buy sound oasis machines that have a variety of masking sounds to distract from your tinnitus. Easier still, and free, youtube has loads of sound videos you can try, just search with something like "Tinnitus masking". I have put a link at the bottom to a gentle soothing clip that I like.
The NHS usually only offer the standard behind the ear aids, and those are fine for many people, and are of course free, including the batteries.
Private providers have a bigger variety of aids, including in the ear aids like the Phonak Virto Marvel that look very like earbuds in their size and design, and may be a good option for someone worried about appearance. People would likely think you were using a music device not hearing aids!
Yes, private aids are quite expensive. Many high street providers and some independent audiologists offer an extended money back trial period. Boots, I think, give you the option of buying with monthly payments.
Thank you. It is only through doing something incredibly silly that we learn to realise what we did was wrong and stupid. It is the finitude of time on this earth that is driving me forward to be a better and more healthier person. I want to live a long and healthy life. I have made adjustments to my health outcomes such as never using headphones and having regular health tests and interventions etc. I do miss them sounds and I know what I did was stupid but what can you do. You can only protect yourself. The fullness of sound I can't really describe tbh. It's something magical I miss..
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