Hearing loss worse

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stephaniep

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Went to my Audiologist, she was concerned about a substantial loss in my R ear. I already had about 70% hearing loss in that ear? I could not hear any of the sounds on my hearing test for that ear, so she sent me to a ENT Specialist, one whom I had seen before who hardly examined me, and told me she doesn't know why I lost my hearing in that ear, but felt that it was sort of my pattern to lose hearing in both ears. She told me abruptly to wear my hearing Aids until I lose all my hearing, then she said "we'll talk Cochlear implants"!. I felt like I wasted my time, and now I am concerned why I lost the remaining of my hearing in that ear so quickly? My MIL passed away, that was a shock, but other than that, I never really had any colds or flus, Maybe a little ear pain for a few minutes that went away? Now, it feels like the hearing in my left ear is worsening as well, and it too had substantial hearing loss, but again, I don't seem to have symptoms to indicate something is wrong? I never expected more hearing loss in such a short time. When I went to see this ENT before, she said it was genetic but could also be immune related, said it's progressive and nothing will stop it or help it. Now she is talking about implants. Any way, I just needed to talk to someone about this. Thank you for listening.
 
Ask your audiologist to refer you to a cochlear implant clinic for evaluation. The clinic would be better able to determine if you're a candidate now for the CI. Don't wait till you're totally deaf.
 
I don't think she can do that, I'm not even sure they have a cochlear clinic here, first they refer you to an ENT who puts one through all the necessary testing and then they go from there? It's obvious that this ENT doesn't feel I'm ready since I got a little bit of hearing left in my other ear. If my other ear progressess like the first one, I will be back there soon enough?
 
Where are you located? When my hearing got to the point that I felt I was a candidate my audiologist referred me to a clinic. I never went to my ENT. When you go to a clinic, they will test your hearing with and without your HAs and they test with sentences in noise. If you "fail" the hearing test (don't guess when you take it), you'll see their ENT to determine if you're physically eligible for an implant (some people have physical reasons why they can't get an implant).

You should NOT have to wait for your other ear to get as bad. My better ear was not eligible for a CI but was bad enough that with both ears my hearing met the requirements (set my insurance companies).
 
Thank you for your response, it was helpful. It got me to look up Cochlear Clinics in my area, and while there is only one to serve the entire Province, one Clinic does exist? When reading history, prior to 2014, they did Cochlear Implants mostly for children only, and some of those parents had to take their children out of Province because of the long wait lists to get it done here.? Five years ago, they added adults to the list, and I think if you are a young adult, the chances are better to get on the list? Now, according to their site, a person does have to be referred, either by an Audiologist, a family doctor or an ENT?. I was thinking why my Audiologist sent me to an ENT instead of directly to this Clinic.? However, think she was concerned because I could no longer hear the test on my R ear, she was concerned about just the one ear dropping a little too much, so she said she was sending me there to rule out other things, especially serious things, so I can see that, and while the Audiologist did her job thoroughly, I commend her on that, but, the ENT, did no more than shining a light in my ear and asking me a couple of medication questions, it's like she couldn't be bothered to look any further? It was a wasted appt ? No Tests or MRI's at this time? Does she think looking into it now is a waste of money, when I may be back in a short time? Now on the Cochlear site it does say that these implants are not for everyone? What reasons may deter a person from being eligible for one? Who knows, maybe she suspects something that implants won't help with? She told me the first time I went to see her that my condition is progressive and that NOTHING WILL HELP"
 
I'm guessing you're in Canada. I know it can be hard to get them there. (I'm in the USA). But, if you're up to it, keep pushing to at least get tested. It may still take a long time to actually get one, but at least you'll know if you're a candidate or not.
 
Yes in, Canada. thank you, I will consider your suggestion when the opportunity arises.
 
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