Hello

[Steverino]

Hi to everyone here, I have degenerative hearing loss wear hearing aids and have pretty bad tinnitus also. As I become increasingly isolated in my social environment I am primarily looking for ways to cope with my condition. Hope to link up with some of you soon x

[jayfer]

Hi, hope you had a good weekend. I hope you find ways of dealing with your condition, not easy at times. My deafness is high frequency loss, but my mum is profoundly deaf and has cochlear implant so has spent many years isolated

[Lenocker68 in reply to jayfer]

Mine is the opposite I have low tone loss. I can hear high pitches very good.

[Cluster_Head in reply to Lenocker68]

That's a reverse slope hearing loss and is much less common. It means you are more unique.

I have a very mild reverse slope in one ear and no hearing in the other.

[Lenocker68 in reply to Cluster_Head]

The doctors tried to save my right ear but could not. Sounds and speech is now becoming distorted, sounding foreign. I can no longer distinguish what it is or where it's coming from. I had stapies surgery on my left ear many years ago, it didn't improve my hearing, sadly.

[ChrissieMT]

Hi Steverino.......I do know how you feel, my hearing has diminished drastically over the last 20 years and now I have to wear aids the whole time, 12 or more hours a day. It can be distressing. I think that it is just a case of trying to accept things, be open with others about the fact that you wear aids, generally you will get sympathy and support. I do avoid very noisy environments as much as possible but still socialise.

As for tinnitus, I would like some answers for that myself. I have noticed that it is worse when I have been in a stressful mood or following being in a mousy place. Maybe one day someone will come up with an answer to our problems.

Mean time, stay in touch and know that there are many people feeling the same as you, so don't isolate yourself, Life is too short.

Take care.

[ChrissieMT in reply to ChrissieMT]

By the way I haven't been in 'mousy' places! Just noisy......auto correct taking over!

[Hidden]

Hello! I sign if you'd like to talk!

[Steverino in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the offer, haven't quite got to that stage yet although the situation is definitely deteriorating

[Nie3000]

Hi Steverino,

Have you considered learning sign language or checking out Action on Hearing Loss that can tell you about social activities, advice etc. in your area? Perhaps this will help with the social aspects you're worried about? Apparently, Deaf Club is supposed to be pretty good and is available in most areas, its a community group that offers a social environment for people with mild to severe hearing loss / deafness, maybe it would be worth seeing if there is one in your area?

best x

[Steverino in reply to Nie3000]

Thanks for the tip, everything seems to go on around me as it becomes increasingly more difficult to participate. Think people generally tend to give up trying to communicate in the end

[Lenocker68]

I do as well, only 18 percent left, that is counting both ears. I've already met my surgeon for my implant. I have isolated myself too. But I know I can't live like that anymore.