Thread: Sudden Hearing Loss - Second Hit

This is the update I never imagined I would provide to my previous post in November 2012.

Two weeks ago I had reached a stage where I was back int he real world despite major ongoing hearing issues with my left ear. Read deafness is the easy part constant ear pain due to overload and distortion being the major issue. Despite this after 12 months my brain had finally re-wired itself and the good ear had become dominant. I was starting to feel "normal" again and starting to get back into wood turning.......

On the anniversary date of the above hearing loss (March 13th) I have had a second episode of sudden hearing loss in my good ear.

I was in the middle of a phone conversation at work and my hearing just suddenly changed from clear to distorted..........even my own voice had changed. You can imagine my gut wrenching reaction....

Similar to last year I had just recovered from a cold and saw my GP immediately hping for something simple - but dreading the worst.

Yet again the problem was mis -diagnosed as a blocked eustacian tube and the patient (me) was left to figure out what had happened. I booked myself in to an audiologist on Monday last to get a second opinion and the the bad news was confirmed with an audiogram and a visit to the specialist: I have lost a chunk of hearing around 2kHZ - about 25 dB thankfully not the diabolical loss of hearing last year (200 - 2kHZ) 40 dB loss at all frequencies.

For those who don't understand dB's a 10 dB loss is subjectively half the volume so 40dB is like 16 times less than "normal"

Back on Prensilidone - the only drug that "might help" but I know its about a 40% chance of recovery.

I post this not looking for sympathy but to warn people of this terrible event. - and the appalling medical incompetence in its treatment.
If your hearing suddenly changes for any reason treat it as an emergency and go straight to the eye and ear hospital

If you need convincing on this do a google on SSHL "Sudden Sensineural hearing Loss" you will read of people that have lost everything - including young people aged 25.

Incidentaly I am generally in excellent health with no issues that could cause this problem - the official diagnosis is a virus from the insidious cold has caused cochlear damage - which is usually permanent.

I have had a few knocks in my life but being hit with sudden hearing loss twice has been devastating and I am not sure how I will pick up the pieces.

Never take health for granted god promises tomorrow to no man!