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 Late Deafened
 Age of Onset (Page 1)
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| Author | Topic: Age of Onset |
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Paula Moderator |
posted 01-23-2001 07:10 PM
 
How old were you when you started to lose your hearing? Late deafened doesn't really mean you were a senior when you lost your hearing. I never knew that until recently! I was only three years old when I was diagnosed with a hearing loss. I was already talking up a storm before that. As I've gotten older, my hearing loss has gotten worse. I'm now profound in both ears almost across the board. Some of my responses are off the audiogram chart! How old were you when your loss started? Has it been stable or progressive? Do you find it to be a big factor in your life? IP: Logged |
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chadn unregistered |
posted 01-30-2001 01:32 AM
I lost my hearing from meningitis when I was 23. My hearing loss actually occured during my recovery over a period of 2-3 days. I have a severe (R) and severe/profound (L) hearing loss. IP: Logged |
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chadn unregistered |
posted 01-30-2001 01:40 AM
oh yeah, Its been six years since my hearing loss. Obviously it has had a huge impact on my life. Though, I have adjusted quite well. I mean, i finished colleged and now have a career. so, I guess I'm pretty "normal". but of course, its still a huge thing that I have to deal with. IP: Logged |
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Broncomaniac Junior Member |
posted 02-03-2001 02:04 PM
I had severe hearing loss on my right side as a teen. I never really paid attention to it. Then I became instantly deaf on that side post-surgically. I have since developed loss on my left side. At age 36, I am like Paula. Profoundly deaf on all frequencies. I have 100 db of amplification which allows me to hear some speech (ironically though, that volume has destroyed my cochlea, which was intact). I was a musician. It has been quite an impact on my life. And my marriage. IP: Logged |
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Beth Southard Junior Member |
posted 02-08-2001 10:52 AM
My name is Beth. I am a senior in college. I am going into Speech and Language Pathology. I am interested in learning about how people feel and cope with their hearing loss. If you don't mind discussing it could you tell me what areas or situations in your life are most difficult. IP: Logged |
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Sue unregistered |
posted 02-15-2001 01:08 AM
quote: Hi, my name is Susan. I'm 43 and a teacher of special education students, ironically, students that are not hearing impaired. I began to lose my hearing, mild t moderate loss at about 38. Now have two hearing aids. Keep trying to cope with communication. Most difficult is when 1 or heaven forbid both hearing aids are going out (need cleaning or repair). When I only have one hearing aid to use it is like listening to the world with one speaker/amplifier, and part of everyone's speech sounds as if they are mumbling. Without one or both aids I need to listen extremely carefully to understand people. I know I sometimes get frustrated and hope that people don't think that I am ignoring them. Well, I wish the best to all you deaf/HOH people that are on site. I especially give you a thumbs-up if you are struggling with a hearing loss and trying to make it through college! Bravo for you! And keep on truckin'!!!!! Hope to hear from everyone else. Nice to meet you! IP: Logged |
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CreekingPines Junior Member |
posted 03-02-2001 12:03 PM
quote: How much time do you have? I used to think my hearing problem was a curse from God. For at least ten years I thought it was a major problem in my life. It's hard to understand conversations when all you can hear are the vowels! Then something changed. Maybe I finally grew up, or just became more accepting of things that didn't go my way. Now I see my hearing difficulties as a blessing. Even though I came into this situation kicking and screeming, I've learned to enjoy the benefits of my deafness. I don't have to listen to my mothers lectures 500 times. I don't try to understand yelling from across the house. I just wait for the other person to come to me. I have a good excuse for not showing up to parties; I never liked them anyways. People who aren't willing to talk to my face or tap me on the shoulder to get my attention, when they know I can't hear, aren't worth my time. They are the kind of people I wouldn't want at my deathbed, or other serious times of need. I've learned that the auditory sense isn't the only one available to me. Sight, smell, and touch have increased to the point where I relish that which I can sense. American Sign Language is starting to become a part of my repoirtua (did I spell that right?). My son thinks it is a fun "code" that just Mommy and him speak. My husband is learning a sign here and there, and promises he'll be learning more. I'm taking classes to improve my skills, and enjoy the company. I'm brushing up on my lipreading skills again, and they help some. I'm starting to turn the t.v. down, surrendered to the fact that I'm still not going to understand the conversation at max decible levels. (No closed-captioning on our dinosaur!) I've just come to the realization, that it is okay if I don't know everything that is going on. And thank God for technology!! Things are possible today that never have been before for deafies! I consider myself lucky. If there ever was a time to go deaf, it would be in my lifetime. I can't even imagine what other deaf people must have gone through before the Age of Technology. Let alone the predjudice, etc. I have a lot to be thankful for. While it isn't exactly what I was hoping for my future, I have started to come to terms with it, and enjoy the fruits. I look forward to all the accomplishments I will be able to complete. What is even more amazing is that the fact that I will accomplish them, regardless of my deafness, and against all the hearies saying I won't be able to do all the things I wanted to because of my "disability". IP: Logged |
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elnegric unregistered |
posted 03-08-2001 05:47 AM
quote:
My hearing loss is considered moderate. I got my first HAs when I was 25 and in pharmacy school. They were btes and I hated them, but at least I could hear things that I had never heard before! It made my mom cry because she really never realized what my hearing loss was like. My speech is fairly normal - without aids I drop my "s" sounds, but with aids I do ok. I now have cic programable aids and can't at the moment think of the brand. I have a lot of trouble with them. In fact, one of them is in the shop at the moment and the other one probably needs to go for cleaning. The effect on my life has been pronounced and negative. People just "don't get it!" I have felt alone and "out of it" most of my life. I have spent a lifetime of people laughing at me for inappropriate responses due to mishearing. My family was the worst of all. They would get angry at me because I didn't respond to their directions which I hadn't heard. Asking someone you are close to to repeat things they have said is frightening! Their response quickly becomes "FORGET IT!!!" When I got my first aids, I went through a speech school - they did a full evaluation and recommended the aids I got. The lady who evaluated me was surprised that I had gotten so far in school and spoke as well as I did. My speech range hearing is at about 60db if I remember correctly. It hasn't changed over the years so far, but of course I am just as elligle as normal hearers to develop senior hearing loss. Boy, do I dread that!!! The hearing aids I have now do a good job of deciphering sounds in a close environment, but I figure they only improve my hearing from about 60% to about 80%. I have wondered if that is the best I can do. I am interested in digitals but I cannot afford them. In fact, at the moment, I can't afford to replace these with anything! Why doesn't medical insurance cover aids?!?!?! If you want any further info, please feel free to email me. I actually enjoy discussing my hearing loss with someone who will actually listen and understand! Thanks, IP: Logged |
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CreekingPines Junior Member |
posted 03-08-2001 10:31 AM
quote: Hi Ellen, I felt the same way for a long time about my hearing problem. I've had a hearing problem for 18 years now. My family sounds a lot like yours. After getting frustrated all the time, that they didn't take the time to do small things to include me in conversation or whatever, I finally came to the conclusion that they aren't going to change. That is unfortunate. So I have decided to go on my own path. In high school I had an in-the-ear aid that cost a lot at the money (my parents still remind me of that one!). It helped somewhat, but for me it wasn't enough that I used it more than a year. I hear the digital ones are much better, but I guess you would know that better than I would. My whole point to this letter is that your sense of hearing doesn't have to be your only mode of communication. I've started sign language again, and have found that it is very refreshing not to have to ask people to repeat things because I can't hear them. I get it right the first time (if I know the sign, that is!). There is no communication gap. Now my parents are too "busy" to have to accomodate their lifestyles to mine, whatever that means, but my husband and kids are picking it up quickly and I do have to say that I don't feel left out anymore. I'm not lonely. I can function like everyone else, with a few modifications. And for those people like my parents who won't go the extra mile to be a part of my life. . .their loss!! It sounds tough, but it is true. Anyways, give it some consideration. It may be the answer you have been looking for. IP: Logged |
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Denise Member |
posted 03-08-2001 12:47 PM
I was 19 when I started having ringing in my ears, diagnosed several yrs later with Menierre's Disease which I have in both ears. My right ear is pretty much deaf, my left ear may be the same at some point. I wear Resound computer programmable HA's and like them. My hrg loss fluctuates, and will have several months when I can't use phone and have difficulty understanding speech even one on one in quiet rm. The other months when at my baseline I can function pretty well. currently I am disabled from my job as a RN at a hospital but am looking for another nursing job I can do as a deaf person. I have looked and researched extensively but no results yet. That is frustrating part to lose excellent job and then have nothing. I understand others when you talk about difficulty with family, etc not including you in conversation. It sure is lonely. I am learning sign language also and hope some of my family can pick it up as well. Denise IP: Logged |
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Mina unregistered |
posted 03-14-2001 09:34 PM
Hello! I was about 19 when I "noticed" I could not hear everything spoken at the movies, nor when someone was speaking to me while my back was turned to them. I have had tinnitus since then also. I have a son from my first marriage and two girls from my second, all have mild to profound loss and speech impairments. My speech is perfectly fine, but now, at age 32, most high-pitched sounds are drowned out. I cannot remember the last time i heard a bird's song, unless they where right above me somewhat. I have been given ITE aids for both ears, and all three of the children have BTE aids.They were all tested around 2.5 years of age. I am the only one in my family to have the hearing impairment, besides my kids, and this is definitely congenital. I assume that what we have is auditory neuropathy, but I still don't know what's caused it, since we are otherwise in perfect health. So if you're a Seinfeld fan, you'll know what I mean when I say Damn those "low-talkers"!!! IP: Logged |
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Janis unregistered |
posted 03-18-2001 04:04 PM
Paula -- I was interested to see that you made it through law school with an FM tuner. I am an attorney, age 47, and started losing my hearing about ten years ago. I am losing hearing steadily, with another significant loss in the last year. I have several frequencies at 65-70DB now in both ears. The only normal hearing I have left is in the lows. It appears to be hereditary, as my father has it, though mine seems worse than his, and he is 72. I am currently checking out the possibility of an autoimmune disorder, but am very reluctant to take steroids even on a diagnostic basis. If anyone out there has tried steroids for this, please let me know how it went for you. I have worn hearing aids for five years, and am already on my second pair (first set of digitals). I got Phonak BTEs this time, specifically so that I could have the FM tuner option. Paula's comment makes me think that option might be very helpful to me. Before I got the Phonak BTEs, I had Phonak Claro ITEs on a trial basis, and I would like to tell everyone that they have a great noise reduction program for restaurants, etc. The noise reduction program does not work nearly as well in the behind the ear version, at least for me. The drawback, too, is that the digitals are still so expensive. I cannot get over the fact that this is not covered by insurance! Paula, are you able to practice law, and if so, in what capacity? I am still in practice, but am extremely frustrated with my current job, which requires a lot of telephone work and occasional hearings in which it is imperative that I hear every word everyone says, something that is simply not possible anymore. I am struggling with the idea of changing careers completely, or at least finding something that is more oriented toward legal publications. I'm afraid this will mean giving up being a solo practitioner, which I love. This is for Beth: I am experiencing a lot of emotions, including anger and self-pity, as well as fear about whether I can possibly work to retirement age. I am still in shock and resentment about the impact on my social life, family relationships (my teenage daughter and my mother are both difficult to understand),and my work. I dread the daily embarrassment of not being able to understand waitresses, store clerks, etc. I am beginning to avoid air travel, at least by myself, because it is just too frustrating. I am amazed at how hard it seems to be even for family and friends to remember to not talk to my back, to not cover their mouths where I can't lipread, to not talk to me when I am standing next to a running faucet or washing machine, etc. The result is that I am more and more irritable and isolated. I now avoid most group gatherings. After a hearing or a day with my extended family, for instance at Christmas, I am so physically exhausted it is as if I had run some sort of marathon. My whole body is tired, and my ability to understand speech gets worse as the day progresses. Also, probably due to the adjustment of my hearing aids, the screeching of babies and toddlers drives me crazy, and I cannot understand the speech of children. Most teenagers are also difficult because they mumble or talk fast. I do agree with one of the postings on this site: thank God we live in this technological age, when we can communicate by email and get captioned movies and TV. As for telephone use, I have read that telephones exist that have both high amplification and tone control, but have not been able to find any. I would appreciate any advice anyone might have on telephone technology. It's good to be in communication with all of you! I am glad I found this site. IP: Logged |
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Paula Moderator |
posted 03-18-2001 05:30 PM
Hi Janis: Welcome to the HearingExchange community. I "hear" you! LOL I know what you mean about being tired at the end of the day and being frustrated when people can't remember to face you or keep their mouths clear for easy lip reading. You can try the Harris Communications web site for mail order assistive devices. I've used them myself over the years and was always pleased with their service and products. www.harriscomm.com/acb/index.cfm?ncp=yes&DID=7 Click on Store Directory when you get there, it'll make searching for products much easier than their search engine. I have not practiced law as my goal was always to work with the deaf and hard of hearing in an advocacy position. It seems HearingExchange has become just that! Have you considered using a virtual assistant to help you with your phone calls? You can learn more about them at www.assistu.com. Also, have you ever tried CART services at the hearings? (Computer Assisted Real Time)I know this can be expensive, but I wanted to mention it in case it was feasible for you. The Phonak FM system (MicroLink) is very helpful. How large are the hearings? If I have small meetings with fewer than 8 people, I place the microphone in the center of the table and wear the receivers on my aids and it picks up everyone pretty well. There are other types of things you can use for large spaces, one is a soundfield in a box that students take from class to class, which can work well for larger spaces/groups. Paula ------------------ [This message has been edited by Paula (edited 03-20-2001).] IP: Logged |
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heather unregistered |
posted 03-18-2001 08:51 PM
Hi. This question is for Mina who said in her post that she thought that she (and her children) had auditory neuropathy. I just wondered if you had ever been diagnosed with an. My understanding is that most people do not do well with hearing aids with this condition. I also have auditory neuropathy and my second son has it. I was just curious because we've been told they will not help. we have a mild/moderate loss. thanks. heather IP: Logged |
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LOU unregistered |
posted 03-20-2001 04:20 PM
I was 21 when I or my husband noticed that I couldn't hear everything that was going on. It has gradually gotten worse throughout the years (over 20) where I now have severe/profound hearing loss. I have never really coped with it OK and just tried to get along. I can no longer use the phone (just relay and only use that if I have to---since it is slow and frustrating at times). I have a husband and children who help me whenever they can to be my ears but what do you do when they're not there??? I tend to keep away from large gatherings and cannot go to church or school activities (the church has an FM system but it's no good for me anymore). The school activities I do attend I cannot understand a word. I hear the noise alright but not the words to understand (if you can understand that) My hearing loss seems to be heredity as one sister and two brothers developed it also late in life although we do not know anyone in the family who had it. We have nerve damage they say (neurosensural loss). My sister and I both wear hearing aids but my brothers have just gotten it so they do not as of yet. I was just venting and thank you for listening (reading..LOL). Lou IP: Logged |
I have gradually lost my hearing since I was 14, and currently have a 5-70 dB loss, depending on whether the frequencies are low, medium or high. The high ones are shot, the low ones are getting worse, and some of the medium ones are tapering downward.This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 All times are ET (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
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