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Ginny unregistered |
posted 02-15-2001 11:15 AM
Hello, this is new for me. I have been hearing impaired on one side since age 37 and now at 52 I have to wear 2 hearing aides. I work as a nurse practitioner and was hoping to work another 25yrs or so. Yes I am a workalholic. anyway I see this may not occur. So I have decided to finally quit ignoring my hearing loss and begin to learn more. Sue, I am still at my age taking classes so I know how you feel. I especially hate it when one of my aids is in the shop an have to use a loaner. It's better than nothing but well you know. Also large groups are more of a problem. But I keep going. i refuse to become a victim to this. So yeah, anything anyone is doing to cope, I am interested. Especially the question is, I babysit my granddaughter age 20 mos and even with the monitor have trouble hearing her at times thus I don't sleep very well on those nights. Any suggestions???? Ginny IP: Logged |
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Paula Moderator |
posted 02-15-2001 01:28 PM
Hi Ginny: Welcome to the forum! Coping with hearing loss can be tough, but it is do-able. :-) What type of loss do you have in your ears? When taking classes, have you considered using an FM system? The professor would wear a small, wireless microphone and you can get boots that go on your aids. It works VERY well. No matter where you sit or where the lecturer moves, it sounds like he or she is talking right in your ears. It was the only way I got through law school. There are other types of FM systems. One good catalog of assistive devices to look at is Harris Communications at www.harriscomm.com/acb/index.cfm?&DID=7. Others are listed in our Resource Directory under Assistive Devices - www.hearingexchange.com/resources/ As for babysitting your granddaughter... there are baby alert devices. Harris Communications offers one at http://www.harriscomm.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Product_ID=683&CATID=7. You need to purchase a receiver as well. Alertmaster is one. You can use it with a vibrator to shake you awake when the baby is crying or with a flashing light. Ginny, be sure to post your questions here. Many of us can help you with ideas and information. Regards, Paula ------------------ [This message has been edited by Paula (edited 02-15-2001).] IP: Logged |
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Denise Member |
posted 02-21-2001 02:49 PM
Hi Ginny I was interested to see your letter. IP: Logged |
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Denise Member |
posted 02-21-2001 02:53 PM
Hi again Ginny, I didn't get to finish my last reply so here's the rest. I am also a hearing impaired nurse. I have Menierre's Disease in both ears and have difficulty understanding speech even in a quiet room when my hearing gets worse than it normally is (it flucuates alot). I had to quit my RN job at a hospital where I worked for 10+yrs. I am currently looking for another job as a nurse but something that is more appropriate considering my type of hearing loss. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Thanks. Look forward to chatting with you. IP: Logged |
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KLCB Member |
posted 03-10-2001 10:58 AM
Hi everyone. I was close to finishing a really good hands-on course in medical transcription in May of 2000 when I woke up with sudden hearing loss in my left ear and the roller coaster with both my ears began. I don't suppose anyone knows of a way I could still pursue that career using special equipment. I had my heart set on working at home alone (my dream) and doing that for as long as I possibly could (ignoring typical retirement age). I really like detail work like that and I liked the idea that I could take my computer and hook it up on a lake somewhere while my husband fished and I could keep working if I felt like it during vacation. It seemed like we would be able to travel a lot more that way. My doctor's opinion is that I have an autoimmune disease affecting my ears. From the audio tests my hearing loss is not typical of Meniere's because the loss is mostly in the high pitches, and also my dizziness is not severe. But Tuesday I have my first appointment at a big teaching university hospital where, as my doctor says, the experts with find out what my diagnosis should be and know how to treat it. IP: Logged |
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Kathy at San Diego CART Member |
posted 03-20-2001 03:25 AM
Don't know if we're getting too off topic here but wanted to reply to KL__ (forgot all the initials) about medical transcription and liking detailed work, hopefully remote work. Thinking positively now, with CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) hopefully improving in availability and more people asking for it, we will be seeing more reporters working in the field of personal CART service or group work (meetings, conferences) and it is my suggestion that some of this work where appropriate go through an editor for conflict resolution and occasional editing of mistranslated words. You might consider working as an editor for a court reporter and this can be done remotely as long as you have a modem and another line for the audio. Oftentimes, however, the need for the translation is immediate and there often isn't time to have it go through the editor, but it's a good option and one that should be considered for certain live TV broadcasts; again, where appropriate. You may contact me directly for more detailed info if you would like at csrs@earthlink.net. Good luck! ------------------ IP: Logged |
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gkostel Member |
posted 03-25-2001 02:46 AM
Greetings, I am a new member and delighted to find a forum where there are others able, (and understanding), to discuss the difficulties of struggling to deal with a hearing loss. I am a 43-year old full-time college student pursuing an undergraduate science degree. I lost the hearing in my right ear entirely, as well as a small bit in my left, at age 38 due to a virus--at least that was what the ENT attributed it to, as it was all rather mysterious. Like KLCB I lost it all within a 24-48 hour period. The adjustment was/is hard, but I haven't let it stop me from doing the things in life that I want. My university has provided an FM system that I use in class, when needed, and I have learned to lip read some as well. My greatest struggles are with the social aspects of this disability--how do you professionals out there manage with invitations to dinners, functions, and seminars? The speakers I understand; the social aspect before and after--this is where the problem lies. I find these situations to be incredibly confusing, and discouraging as well, as they are noisy, busy, and people are very put off by my inability to understand what they say; sure, I can HEAR them--but I cannot understand the words. I have temporarily ceased attending these, but this is not going to bode well for my PhD plans which will require my active participation and personal contacts that I make from such interaction. I would enjoy hearing from anyone who has experience with this. ------------------ [This message has been edited by gkostel (edited 03-25-2001).] IP: Logged |
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Denise Member |
posted 03-28-2001 10:18 AM
Hi everyone To gkostel, It was nice to see your letter. I can identify with you in social situations - trying to explain to people that you can hear them, but can't understand the words. I have that same problem, with the background noise and all, I think it's difficult for other people to understand. I have hearing that fluctuates, so some times I can hear reasonably well (my baseline) but on bad days I can't understand the words even in a quiet room. So it's very weird to other people to understand it. I come off I think as snobbish and unfriendly (which I'm really not!). I do avoid social situations but have learned like at church functions that I can still be involved by working in the kitchen, set up, etc and not have to try and socialize. I can still be part of the group that way. I think the most important thing is getting the people to understand what it's like for us to hear, but it's hard to do that with people we don't associate with frequently, it just gets tiring to keep explaining. I think that's great about your education you're working towards but yes it will be difficult to be part of the social functions. Good Luck, keep us posted to how it's going. IP: Logged |
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Mike Member |
posted 04-10-2001 04:33 PM
Like gkostel, I developed sudden hearing loss in my left ear. I have 100% loss due to a commercial airplane flight I took to San Diego (I travel a lot for work). I had a Fistula, hole in the inner ear which allowed the fluid to drain out killing the hair cells inside. The hole was repaired with surgery, but my hearing has not returned. I conduct a lot of seminars and attend many forums for work. I also take clients out to dinner whenever I am on the road. I find these situations most difficult, because of all of the background noise. If anyone has ideas on how to improve my hearing in these situations please email me. I have Tinnitus in the ear with loss and coupled with the background noise it makes it difficult to function! ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Janis unregistered |
posted 04-11-2001 12:54 PM
Mike, sorry to hear the surgery did not help. Is there some chance the hearing will improve with time? The only thing I know to do about tinnitus is to be very careful with medications. My tinnitus improved some recently when I stopped using a Beconase (steroid) inhaler for allergies. I can't say for sure the Beconase had anything to do with it. I also got my sense of smell back when I stopped using it. I wonder if your tinnitus might improve when you get off the meds you are on now for the ear problem. You could research every drug you are taking, including over-the-counter, to see if they cause tinnitus in some people. If you get any hearing back and get a hearing aid for that ear, the tinnitus would be helped while wearing the hearing aid. Phonak digitals are good with background noise. Good luck! IP: Logged |
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Mike Member |
posted 04-11-2001 06:58 PM
Janis, There is a chance that it will improve slightly over the next couple of weeks. My hope is that it will get to the point where I can wear an aid to help in the situations I mentioned above. Because the fluid drained out , the hairs died and the hope is that enough stayed alive to give me some hearing. After that my hopes lie in stem cell research. There are severals Dr.'s that believe in the next 5 years they will be able to implant stem cells that can regrow the dead hairs and give hearing back to those like myself that have hearing loss as a result of these dead hairs no longer working. I would be happy with a hearing aid and NO TINNITUS! ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Jeff Member |
posted 04-20-2001 01:26 AM
My name is Jeff and I live in Maryland. It was one month ago, watching a movie at home when my right ear went deaf.The next mourning I was unable to stand and focus, therefore went to GBMC. I then had all the tests, MRI's, brain scans and go figure a earing test preformed. At 28 years old they told me I was 100% deaf in my right ear. I think and have always lived life as a fighter, but the ringing in my ear is driving me insane. My own voice does not even sound right, as well as music. My question is about heaing aids,can they hep my condition. Also, in a crowd it is very hard to hear. As for medicines, mezziline as well as valium have helped for my on going verdigo.Please help, Jeff IP: Logged |
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Jeff Member |
posted 04-20-2001 07:48 AM
Mike, your not alone with the "RINGING".I have tried many different things for this terrible noise. Who would have thought that being deaf, in one ear, could have such an effect on everyday life. I work for Local 486, which is Plumbers. The ringing also goes with loss of balance even on the good days. My point is, in my job we work on hotels, stadiums, and every other high rise. This illness greatly effect my ability,not to say I can't hear around me,this is very dangerous.This may seem extreme for some but 2mg of Valium helps with both conditions. This comes with it's own price to pay. I have used many other methods, but I have a problem with taking meds to feel "right". Also, I would like to add that walking greatly reduces the ringing too. I not saying wear your shoes out but be fairful.Please give advise, Jeff IP: Logged |
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Paula Moderator |
posted 04-21-2001 03:17 AM
Jeff: Check the American Tinnitus Association web site at www.ata.org. They have a lot of information on tinnitus and how to deal with it. Hard of hearing for 31 years, I just started getting tinnitus on a regular basis this year. Mine is not too bad (yet!) as it is generally late at night when I'm tired or just when I'm trying to go to sleep. Good luck. I hope you find relief soon. Paula ------------------ IP: Logged |
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