Hi All,
Having just signed up on this very forum, wasn't sure where to post my *story* as it were, so if I have put it in the wrong section MODS feel free to move it
Any advice on the following (quite long) story would be appriciated.
I am 36 years old. Back around 12 years ago I had a balance problem which was caused after having the flu (cold) for a few weeks I couldnt get rid of. This obviously affecting my hearing as colds tend to do, but the ears got infected along the way to the point of having to have a grommet inserted into the left ear to drain the fluid.
The grommet was in for around 2 years or so which cleared up the problem within weeks to which afterwards thought the problem was rectified. After having the grommet removed (as it didnt fall out on its own accord) over the years I have lost my hearing almost completely in my left ear.
Recently over the last 12 months was having problems hearing certain things (i.e. not being able to hear what people are saying if there is any background noise, not being able to tell which direction sound is actually coming from which can be dangerous due to traffic as I ride a bike quite a bit)
So thought make an appointment with my doctor to see what he had to say, to which he referred me to my local ENT to have some tests.
Today I went to the ENT, to which they told me I still have a hole in my eardrum, so sent me to the audiologist to take a hearing test. The right ear is almost perfect, however the left ear is almost to the point of having no hearing in it at all.
Upon going back to the ENT doctor with the results of the hearing test, he basically told me that nothing can be done about it. No repairing of the eardrum as it would probably cause the balance problems to arise again and no hearing aid either.
When he said this to me after the audiologist had actually told me I have no hearing in the left ear, left me dumfounded to the point of asking the ENT doctor, so where does that leave me to deal with this situation.
He replied with, "Tell people you have hearing loss and to speak to you face on so you can see what they are saying which will make things easier"
Anyone else had issues like the above, and most importantly where do I take this, as obviously its getting hard to deal with simple things in life, like even going out or being amongst friends who are talking, basically makes you feel like a social outcast.
Do I go back to my GP and explain to him, as I have already done that once as he was the one that referred me to the ENT clinic in the first place.
Any advice would be appriciated and thanks for reading this half a life story
Having just signed up on this very forum, wasn't sure where to post my *story* as it were, so if I have put it in the wrong section MODS feel free to move it
Any advice on the following (quite long) story would be appriciated.
I am 36 years old. Back around 12 years ago I had a balance problem which was caused after having the flu (cold) for a few weeks I couldnt get rid of. This obviously affecting my hearing as colds tend to do, but the ears got infected along the way to the point of having to have a grommet inserted into the left ear to drain the fluid.
The grommet was in for around 2 years or so which cleared up the problem within weeks to which afterwards thought the problem was rectified. After having the grommet removed (as it didnt fall out on its own accord) over the years I have lost my hearing almost completely in my left ear.
Recently over the last 12 months was having problems hearing certain things (i.e. not being able to hear what people are saying if there is any background noise, not being able to tell which direction sound is actually coming from which can be dangerous due to traffic as I ride a bike quite a bit)
So thought make an appointment with my doctor to see what he had to say, to which he referred me to my local ENT to have some tests.
Today I went to the ENT, to which they told me I still have a hole in my eardrum, so sent me to the audiologist to take a hearing test. The right ear is almost perfect, however the left ear is almost to the point of having no hearing in it at all.
Upon going back to the ENT doctor with the results of the hearing test, he basically told me that nothing can be done about it. No repairing of the eardrum as it would probably cause the balance problems to arise again and no hearing aid either.
When he said this to me after the audiologist had actually told me I have no hearing in the left ear, left me dumfounded to the point of asking the ENT doctor, so where does that leave me to deal with this situation.
He replied with, "Tell people you have hearing loss and to speak to you face on so you can see what they are saying which will make things easier"
Anyone else had issues like the above, and most importantly where do I take this, as obviously its getting hard to deal with simple things in life, like even going out or being amongst friends who are talking, basically makes you feel like a social outcast.
Do I go back to my GP and explain to him, as I have already done that once as he was the one that referred me to the ENT clinic in the first place.
Any advice would be appriciated and thanks for reading this half a life story
