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Hearing loss


pflaming

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I have had severe hearing loss for some time. The past few weeks I noticed a gradual decline and yesterday my hearing went silent.

 

A strange sense of being alone is somewhat unnerving, and frightening. I can’t seem to turn off my thoughts about a number of issues.  Will seek out getting an implant as soon as we return which is October 28. Add to this, I’m still struggling with the Lyme infection.

 

if anyone has an implant, I would like to hear from you..

 

Regards Paul 

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Can't help with the implant Paul. And have felt for you over the Lyme thing. Hard enough getting older without the curve balls. Just had a dodgey hip redone after having cobalt and chromium leaking into me from the old one for awhile. Glad it's done but don't enjoy the rehab bit at all. Keep up connecting with people, family,friends and others like the forum folks. That's what keeps us still floating and feeling ok. Kind regards from near the bottom of the world. ?

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Hey Paul, I empathize with your loss.

 

My hearing has degenerated severely over the last decade.  Too many years on the flight line while serving in the Air Force.  Too many years on the firing line while teaching others how to handle a gun and shoot.  Too many years around heavy equipment.  Add that it's genetic in my family, and I fear that I too will be soon facing what you are experiencing.

 

I am very interested in hearing about the implant process so please keep up up-to-date on how it goes for you.

 

v/r,

Matt

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Aw, Paul this is terrible news!  I could tell your hearing was poor since we first met, even worse than mine, but what an awful turn. ?

 

For over a year I have avoided visiting old friends, as my grandkids are over here a lot and most of them have tested positive for Covid. I’d hate to spread that around like Typhoid Mary, even though I have not been coughing and sick myownself, any more than could be accounted for by the forest fire.

 

Otherwise I have become a near hermit. My truck is covered in ash and dirt. I only leave the house about 4 days a month. I work on my VW, clean the boatyard, and feed the fish. 

 

If you are not worried about contamination, I will come down & see you. It doesn’t seem you have the VW on mind lately. You must be working on the Plymouth?

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In a marginally related attempt at humor.

 

One year my ex asked me what I wanted for my birthday, why I cannot imagine she never gave me what I wanted anyway.  But I digress.  Told her I wanted an ice pick, to which she replied "An Ice Pick?"  Told her I wanted one so I could stab my @#%! ear drums out and finally get some piece and quiet.

 

I have three daughters and it was a regular hen fest back then.

 

Probably will regret that when my hearing goes out on me, but probably not, hard to say.

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Sorry for your loss Paul. We all know the body will slowly deteriorate as we get older. I hope the implant works for you.

While I have bad hearing I can't imagine what it would be like in a silent world.

 

Trying to make lemonade out of lemons, You still have friends here and can communicate through the internet.

As my Uncle reached his older years it was his eyesight that went. In his 80's and good health. He was no longer independent, could not drive , He kept  up a good front and showed a good attitude and always told you a joke ... He really did give up on life though at this time.

 

If I live old enough to lose one or the other, I would prefer to have eyesight over hearing.

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My hearing has gotten worse over the past three years.  These days I don't wear my hearing aids, as they always seem to go flying of in opposite  directions when I remove my mask, and in stores and other indoor spots, that's not a good situation considering what replacements would cost.  So with out the aids, the tinnitus is worse.  I not only have the whistles clicks and pops, I have frequency shifts, doppler effect stereo,  and chain saw surround sound.  Plus what's known as brain explosions, at night when every thing ambient goes quiet.

 

The audiologist told me tinnitus is not actually sound.  It's the brain filling in for receptors no longer stimulated because your ears have lost those frequencies in your ears.  So with nothing coming in, the brain manufactures what missing in the form of the tinnitus symptoms.

 

I was at the dentist the other day and part of their process is to put ear plugs in so you don't hear the tools.  So I couldn't hear a word they were saying about what I needed to do to follow instructions.  Not a good situation.  Golden years my butt.

Edited by greg g
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Paul, I've worn  aids in both ears for over 40 years.  And, probably needed them from birth, just didn't know it.  On my last exam the doc recommended that I be examined by a specialist that works  with implants.   I haven't done so, but it is in my future plans. 

 

It apparently requires some relearning as the brain will now have input it was missing before.

 

Report back and let us know how it goes for you

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I’m sorry to report that two years ago Paul was so deaf he could barely understand the human voice on the telephone. On the other hand, he enjoyed using the circular saw and the noise never bothered him.

 

My hearing is still pretty good except for the very high frequency discrimination, and when I have all the female relatives over it and gets worse immediately.

 

Considering how much loud music and unmuffled engines I have listened to, my hearing is good.

 

The real miracle for me was when I had that eye surgery. My eyes were baaad.

 

If the doctor had told, me when he put in my lens implants, that my eyes would be great, but I wouldn’t be able to hear my wife anymore, I would’ve told him to go ahead and do the implants.

Edited by Ulu
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Doctor:  Do you suffer from tinnitus?    Patient:  No, I rather enjoy it.  (This joke also works with flatulence.) 

 

I don't mind the background noise, the crickets.  But I get the snap, crackle and pop, usually in bed when the ductwork heats up, but the sound is not directional; it's in my head.  An ENT doctor said that it is either tinnitus or the onset of dementia.  I still haven't decided which it is.

 

I hate hearing aids, at least the over-the-ear kind, where the mikes react to wind, hair too long, or accidental touching.  The hearing loss is mild, but more pronounced at the frequencies of the consonants.  So I have trouble understanding speech, especially whenthewordsareruntogether.   But I'm not complaining. 

 

All in all, life is sweet.   

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pflaming, I have nothing to offer except to say I am sorry to learn of your hearing issues. Please keep us updated on your condition and any treatment as these things are part of aging. None of us are getting any younger. I wish you success with whatever path you follow.

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Pflaming sorry to hear about your current hearing issues. Hopefully there is something that can be done.

 

On the topic of hearing, mine has been dropping year over year. I started avoiding mandatory hearing tests at work several years ago. Tinnitus ramped up and never went away.  I started thinking about hearing aides 2 years ago. A recent new office job told me it was time. Out in the field everyone is fine yelling at each other. In the office, it's quiet. Yet I was missing a fair amount of important work details.

 

My wife was really getting tired of the results of my hearing loss. Having to repeat almost everything unless she was speaking directly across from me.

I made an appointment with an audiologist.  I was told my bass frequencies are great. Like new. High end frequencies are gone. I was handed set of hearing aids tuned to amplify my damaged frequencies.  Wow. Amazing. I love them.  Changed my world. I can hear like when I was 10 again!

Over the ear type, a little clear tube goes into my ear canal.  It's only been 3 weeks yet. I am adjusting nicely. I quite like the option of turning them up or down depending on what I want to hear, or not. A recent example: I was getting my snowblower ready. Single cylinder 11 HP 30" cut. She's a brute. Fired it up. It was rattling and vibrating like any single cylinder engine contraption would.  Metal panels and parts zinging, pinging. Sounded almost like a bag of bolts flopping around in a pipe. I turned my hearing aids down, all the highs disappeared. At that point all I heard was the grunt of the engine. I have options! Lol.

 

We get older. Crap happens to our bodies. I have no problem accepting that. Manmade improvements to regain our net losses, are fine by me. 

 

Now I just gotta figure out how to dial-in my Mopar addiction.

 

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Update: today I got a second opinion. Evidently the hearing aid had not been deep cleaned, that accomplished, I could hear again.so had the ear tested, no significant loss over the last 10 years. Then he fitted me with a new top of the line model. Hearing improved 50%, I ordered a new hearing aid. 
 

life suddenly has returned. 

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Great news Paul!  

 

My latest aids have Bluetooth connectivity so they pair with my pickup sound system and my smart phone.  The pickup link makes hearing while in it much better than the phone alone as it uses the vehicle speakers and mike.  And, the aid connects to my phone allowing me to answer calls and hear directly in the aids.  I can do that even when not holding the phone, it can even be in the next room.  In addition, there is an app on the phone that allows me to select from different aid profiles.  Restaurant, music, etc, five in total.  And I can create custom programs for specific situations, like workshop.  Highly recommended!

Edited by kencombs
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Had a situation with mine.  The very small passage way in the center of the ear bud was plugged.  Took it back and the tech shower how to change them and gave me two or 3 packs of replacement inserts

 

If any one is thinking of getting hearings, my experience with Costco was positive.  They are selling last years top technology  at deeply cut pricing.  Got mine 4 years ago, for about 3500 bucks. This after we paid 100 for a gold level membership.  The gold level gave us 5 percent cash back on purchases.  So the cash back on the aids paid for the membership.  Their units are warranted for three years.  You get three free follow up visits the first year and then 1 per year the next two years.  The only problems I deal with are I have psoriasis in my ears which makes them uncomfortable to wear, and for some reason, I only get 2 days use on the batteries.  If when I get new ones, will probably be looking at rechargeable  styles.  I hate blowing through and disposing of batteries that daily wearing entails.

 

Shall we start a thread for joint replacement discussion?  I am told I need a new shoulder...

Edited by greg g
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My experience with Costco has been positive. Theirprogram makes hearing aids affordable to many. One weakness is the dispenser skills. Some are very inexperienced. When you find a good one get card and work with her/him. 
 

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