Tinnitus became a part of me—my friend, always there when I looked for it, a reminder that life is indeed a challenge. Sometimes I would wonder if the tinnitus was still there, and then once I wondered, it would torment me—a reminder that yes, it definitely was!
Please Send a Decoder: A Retired Scientist's Experience with Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
A retired scientist rediscovers a love for writing poetry, especially as a way to share her experience with hearing loss and tinnitus. I have worn hearing aids since the 1980s but my story begins long before then. In 1945 both my eardrums ruptured.
A Hope of Hearing Clearer
Interviewing an expert to learn more about a particular subject is fascinating and fun. Talking to someone accomplished and learning about them and their experiences is exhilarating. But if you have a hearing loss, this can be a stressful endeavor.
From Macrame to Masks
This adjustable elastic was designed for those with special needs, such as those with autism and wearers of hearing aids. The principal is simple: One strap goes around the neck, the other one around the head. The problem was the bottom elastic—it gets caught in the hearing aids and the elastic turns into a slingshot.
The Things I Miss
I formally learned of my mild to moderately-severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at age 49. The ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor’s verdict was unexpected. Almost 13 years later, I wear hearing aids vigilantly, but there’s still so much that I miss about having typical hearing.
Finding a “New Normal” After Sudden Single-Sided Deafness
Michael Goldsmith realized he had lost his hearing in his left ear when he woke up from his medically induced coma in March 2020. His account demonstrates the learning process and journey to a cochlear implant when sudden deafness occurs as just one part of a more complex medical situation.
Doing My Part to Break Sound Barriers
In September 2020, I conducted my own fundraiser for Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) online. I don’t live with a hearing and balance condition and do not have any family members affected. Rather, I became inspired to help after a very memorable elementary school experience.
I’m An Audiologist and I Don’t Like Fitting Hearing Aids
I’m an audiologist and part of being an audiologist is understanding how to protect your hearing. While I do protect my ears, I most certainly know what it means to abuse my hearing. High decibel levels from music and other loud sound sources can cause permanent hearing loss.
Keep It With You
Like many of you, this past 12 months have been an almost overwhelming avalanche of change, stress, and “new normals.” While COVID-19 has been a universal experience for all, it has also changed our individual needs and behaviors patterns in both large and small ways.
A Medical Mystery
I am an 87-year-old retired otolaryngologist–head & neck surgeon. I am writing this to present a medical mystery. In 2016 I began to experience several health issues at the same time. I developed double vision, which was corrected using glasses, and after an extensive trip across the country to visit family and friends, an old knee problem flared up. Since my knee failed to respond to a routine cortisone injection, it was recommended that my hip be replaced.