Sudden hearing loss and hyperacusis

[Sally_Bones43]

I am an 80-year-old female.

I was told I had some hearing loss on the left side when in my 30s but did not have any treatment as I was still hearing well on the right. However, in about 1990 I experienced a sudden loss in hearing and sensitivity to loud plosive sounds, and was referred to an ENT who diagnosed tinnitus and hearing loss. I was supplied with a masker, and after about 3 weeks the sensitivity declined. However, the loss remained and I was later referred to another specialist who diagnosed otoscerosis and offered me a stapedectomy: I refused as I was still hearing well on the right and I distrusted the diagnosis. I was fitted with a hearing aid which I did not find very helpful.

I moved to South Africa in 2001, and I saw a private ENT there, and was diagnosed with severe loss and tinnitus on the left, and a moderate loss on the right side. Tried an aid in both ears, but could not bear the racket, so accepted an aid only in the 'good' ear.

In about 2008 I experienced a very sudden loss in the good ear (right): My ENT prescribed oral steroids which did nothing. He insisted that it would go away, but I was distrustful and asked for a second opinion. (My own researches had established that any sudden hearing loss should be treated as a medical emergency). Second - younger - ENT did a scan to eliminate potential tumors etc, and prescribed injections of steroid into the right inner ear. (He said it was pointless treating the left ear as it was beyond help ). This was immediately effective, and within 2 weeks my hearing returned to what it had been before (i.e. almost total loss and continuous tinnitus on the left, partial loss on the right, managed with an aid.) I have tried using an aid in the right but the amplification has to be so high it is uncomfortable. I also have used a blue tooth aid on the left feeding into the aid on the right but am not comfortable with it and it does not allow me to identify where sounds come from. I am currently wearing an 'in-the-ear' aid on the right only, and hear nothing on the right. I am consequently not able to identify where sound come from and am socially disadvantaged as I don't hear people seated on my left in social situations.

I have some tinnitus on the right side and increasing age-related loss in the high register. I am due for a review and possible update on my device which is now 5 years old.

[PABLR]

You sound as though you could be a candidate for a cochlear implant. If they don't mention it to you, ask them about it. I'm not sure how the health system works in SA. If you are a candidate don't get the hearing aid until you have decided what implant you will get as only certain brands are compatible with each brand of implant. Resound hearing aid for Cochlear Americas implant, and Phonak for Advanced Bionics. If you reach that point I can send you the link for my blog which will take you through the process from beginning to end. My hearing loss was almost total in the left, some hearing in the right. I qualified for bilateral implants but went with the one implant one hearing aid option and it's great, and I can still hear important sounds with nothing in.

[Sally_Bones43 in reply to PABLR]

Thanks for the info: I am back in the UK. But I get my hearing aids privately. I will ask my audiologist next time I see him: He has not suggested cochlear implants to me as an option. I doubt I would qualify for NHS implants as I can still function pretty well with one aid, but a friend who had an implant is delighted with his.

[PABLR in reply to Sally_Bones43]

I'm in the USA and there are strict guidelines. You might think about getting the resound aid or phonak aid anyway. When I first lost my hearing I wasn't even thinking about implants down the road, but it got much worse suddenly and I found myself with nearly $5000 worth of useless hearing aid. I then bought a resound for another $1650 which included a good discount because I had the implant. It's also worth the ask.

[Sally_Bones43 in reply to PABLR]

Thanks.