Hearing loss is a condition that affects one's lifestyle in a sneaky, stealthy way. First come the subtle clues that something's not as it should be. I found myself turning up the volume on the television, thinking to myself, "Something's wrong with this program, the background music is so loud I can't hear the dialogue." I wondered when everyone started mumbling so that I had to constantly ask that they repeat themselves. I heard a mysterious ringing that I thought was the refrigerator motor, but my husband couldn't hear it. Finally, if you are like me, someone, perhaps an aggravated spouse who has been calling you from the basement for half an hour, will suggest that perhaps you need a hearing test, and you will face the scary truth.
Next comes denial... it's just an ear infection, or a little wax buildup, or your spouse's imagination. Then comes the fear. Are you losing your hearing? Will you need to wear hearing aids? Will you go deaf? Will you lose the ability to enjoy the things you enjoy most, going to the movies, hearing your grandson's name over the loudspeaker when he scores a touchdown, enjoying a Moody Blues concert, going to dinner at your favorite noisy restaurant with your favorite group of noisy friends. Finally, you decide to do the only sensible thing to do when questions crop up and torment you... you start searching the internet.
I learned that hearing loss in most people is a natural progression of age. Oh great, another "natural" progression of age. What is natural about not being able to hear? I read about how to select hearing aids, how expensive they are and how almost no one's health insurance covers the cost. I learned there are horrible inner ear conditions that can cause disabling bouts of vertigo, along with profound hearing loss. In short, I learned that when you search the internet, you scare yourself to death.
Although all these things are true, there is really only one way to learn if, number one, you have a hearing loss and number two, what options you have for dealing with it. See your doctor. Your GP will rule out earwax buildup and/or an ear infection, and then probably refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, who will promptly do the obvious, give you a hearing test.
So now you know for sure, you have a hearing loss, and it's time to take a look at your options, which are many. First your ENT will rule out the scary things, Meniere's disease, which includes the disabling vertigo; eardrum, middle or inner ear dysfunction; a brain tumor and all the other internet terrors you discovered in your research. If it happens that you have one of these conditions, as I did, your doctor may send you to a specialist, and you'll learn how to manage that condition. However, for most people, these situations are rare, and it is much more likely you are simply experiencing age related hearing loss.
The hearing test yields a wealth of information about your hearing loss, including how severe it is in each ear, as well as your level of discrimination, or your ability to understand what you hear, particularly pitch and spoken words. You may then be referred to an audiologist to be fitted for hearing aids. Just as it is most important to see a qualified Ear, Nose and Throat medical professional, it is just as important for some to see a licensed audiologist for the hearing assessment and possibly to purchase hearing aids. Depending on the nature of your hearing loss, it might be possible to get your hearing aids from a hearing aid specialist, but it's important to know the difference. It behooves you to do your homework on this one, including an internet search and comparison of hearing aids and audiologist vs. hearing aid services. Consumer Report's website has some excellent resources for ensuring that kyou find the right hearing aids and the right audiologist or hearing aid specialist, http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/hearing-aids/buying-guide.htm.
So, the journey through the valley of hearing loss is not an easy one to navigate, but once you reach your destination successfully, you'll be on your way to coping with it and finding a better quality of life.
Find your way through the maze of hearing aids, audiology, medical specialists and ways to cope with your hearing loss.
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