chucky69
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- Jun 20, 2008
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Welp folks .......... looks like it's time to confess, and confront the cold hard facts of life.
A little history first;
I have always been somewhat hearing impaired since birth. My left ear has a little bone in it that is bent, instead of straight - causing sound not to register in that ear. I used to be able to hear somewhat out of that ear, up to a few years ago - but since the the past few years, the hearing loss has gotten to the point, that I am literally deaf now in that ear - even w/ a hearing aid - I am unable to hear much. My ENT told me, that I would be better off having an aid in my right ear, because of it.
In my right ear, the hearing used to be pretty good, however - over the past few years - even that isn't as good as it was. I have now past the point, where I really, really need it - in order to hear most, if not all conversations. And then its depending on several factors. For instance; If you are 6' away from me, and you try and talk to me in a normal voice - chances are, I won't hear you. I used to be able to hear emergency vehicles from a good distance. Now - unless they are right on top of me - forget it! Even w/ a aid - I used to be able to hear birds, but now - even that is passe. When I am listening to the radio or tv - I have to have the volume up a - "LOT", higher than most people just to hear it - even aided.
I have been classified as - "Hard of Hearing" / "Hearing Impaired" , since last Summer. To which my ENT told me that my hearing was getting so bad - that by the time I got to 60 - he'd be surprised if I would still need a hearing aid.
After several weeks, and on my last visit with him - I finally got up the courage, and asked him if I'd be able to pass the hearing test of the DOT phys, and he told me - that would depend on the Doc giving me the test, since that test is subjective. Well, I figured - maybe it won't be too bad then. And between then and my last DOT phys about a month ago, I was trying to live in denial over the thing.
Well, the test date came and with nu battery in hearing aid, aid all nice and clean, and almost turned-up full blast - I really wasn't to surprised at the outcome; The Doctor sat about 5' in front of me, and whispered something. I could barely hear him say something - but for the life of me couldn't figure it out. Although if I wanted to cheat - I could've lip read! lol.
He repeated himself 3 times, and seeing I couldn't hear - he moved-up to about half the distance. And re-tried it. Well, after focusing on what I could barely hear, and (yes - I will admit it!) some lip-reading (but not much) - I finally passed it -"Barely".
He put on my DOT Med Form - that I am required to wear a hearing aid. Which, really wasn't a surprise. I would be more surprised, if in 2 yrs, if I do take the DOT Phys again - and that looks really doubtful, if I passed the hearing part, even barely.
To which - after mulling it over for the past nine months or so, on whether this will be, or even if I should, have this as my last DOT Phys - I have decided that it would be more economical (read - cheaper! lol) just to call this my last one. Mostly - because my hearing loss has been so great over the past few years, and the barely passing it this time - I really, really can't see any sense of even bothering with it anymore.
Especially when I know for a fact - how bad my hearing is - w/o a Doc telling me!
Yes- my hearing is getting progressively worse!
My wife was asking me about coclear implants. But since our insurance says they are an - "Experimental", they aren't covered. But that doesn't matter anyways - since they won't even pay for regular old hearing aids.
I should also note; Yes- I could have my left ear operated on - but the Doc told me that it wouldn't do much good, for long anyways. So forget that idea.
So in closing - looks like it's time to get serious, and find an occupation that isn't too dependent on hearing, eh?
-charles
A little history first;
I have always been somewhat hearing impaired since birth. My left ear has a little bone in it that is bent, instead of straight - causing sound not to register in that ear. I used to be able to hear somewhat out of that ear, up to a few years ago - but since the the past few years, the hearing loss has gotten to the point, that I am literally deaf now in that ear - even w/ a hearing aid - I am unable to hear much. My ENT told me, that I would be better off having an aid in my right ear, because of it.
In my right ear, the hearing used to be pretty good, however - over the past few years - even that isn't as good as it was. I have now past the point, where I really, really need it - in order to hear most, if not all conversations. And then its depending on several factors. For instance; If you are 6' away from me, and you try and talk to me in a normal voice - chances are, I won't hear you. I used to be able to hear emergency vehicles from a good distance. Now - unless they are right on top of me - forget it! Even w/ a aid - I used to be able to hear birds, but now - even that is passe. When I am listening to the radio or tv - I have to have the volume up a - "LOT", higher than most people just to hear it - even aided.
I have been classified as - "Hard of Hearing" / "Hearing Impaired" , since last Summer. To which my ENT told me that my hearing was getting so bad - that by the time I got to 60 - he'd be surprised if I would still need a hearing aid.
After several weeks, and on my last visit with him - I finally got up the courage, and asked him if I'd be able to pass the hearing test of the DOT phys, and he told me - that would depend on the Doc giving me the test, since that test is subjective. Well, I figured - maybe it won't be too bad then. And between then and my last DOT phys about a month ago, I was trying to live in denial over the thing.
Well, the test date came and with nu battery in hearing aid, aid all nice and clean, and almost turned-up full blast - I really wasn't to surprised at the outcome; The Doctor sat about 5' in front of me, and whispered something. I could barely hear him say something - but for the life of me couldn't figure it out. Although if I wanted to cheat - I could've lip read! lol.
He repeated himself 3 times, and seeing I couldn't hear - he moved-up to about half the distance. And re-tried it. Well, after focusing on what I could barely hear, and (yes - I will admit it!) some lip-reading (but not much) - I finally passed it -"Barely".
He put on my DOT Med Form - that I am required to wear a hearing aid. Which, really wasn't a surprise. I would be more surprised, if in 2 yrs, if I do take the DOT Phys again - and that looks really doubtful, if I passed the hearing part, even barely.
To which - after mulling it over for the past nine months or so, on whether this will be, or even if I should, have this as my last DOT Phys - I have decided that it would be more economical (read - cheaper! lol) just to call this my last one. Mostly - because my hearing loss has been so great over the past few years, and the barely passing it this time - I really, really can't see any sense of even bothering with it anymore.
Especially when I know for a fact - how bad my hearing is - w/o a Doc telling me!
Yes- my hearing is getting progressively worse!
My wife was asking me about coclear implants. But since our insurance says they are an - "Experimental", they aren't covered. But that doesn't matter anyways - since they won't even pay for regular old hearing aids.
I should also note; Yes- I could have my left ear operated on - but the Doc told me that it wouldn't do much good, for long anyways. So forget that idea.
So in closing - looks like it's time to get serious, and find an occupation that isn't too dependent on hearing, eh?
-charles
I thought that 69 might be your age. Vocational rehabilitation should retrain you if you can't work at your profession anymore, I believe.
