Audio Test Keeps Getting Worse

cdaigle430

cdaigle430

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Well, was just informed that my hearing dynamic range is getting narrow to the point that even hearing aids will not be able to help. I may have another 4 to 8 years of help from hearing aids and then I have no idea whats next. He set me up with an ENT because he thinks there is something mechanical going on so I will have to wait and see what new tests and there results will be forthcoming.

I have to admit I am very nervous and a little down about the whole thing.
 
Whatever happens, it is not the end of the world. It is difficult, but people have survived this.

There is a Deaf community if you learn sign language.

You have us, here.

Please keep us up to date on what's happening with your tests.
 
yeah besides, I'm stable but with a little drop in my right ear at the 8000 hertz range (just found out on Friday)
 
"something mechanical".....I assume he means the temporal bone function?

If your cochleas are fine, you have a couple of options (possibly, hopefully) to choose from, but let's wait until the ENT diagnoses your issue.

Yes, it is much harder on late-deafened folks, as they are losing something that they've always had, whereas for those of us that have been deaf for many years have learned to adapt.

Really, as DB said above, it is not the end of the world, we can give you pointers on what to expect.
 
Thats true-Thanks, for the most part I can deal with the hearing loss but the tinnitus is driving me batty. I am going to a couple tinnitus management classes from the Veterans Administration the next couple of months so I think that will help.

I think mechanical (conductive?) hearing loss can range from ear wax buildup, fluid buildup to Severe Otosclerosis(hereditary or a result from measles?) I have both sensuaral and conductive (mechanical) hearing loss and severe tinnutus. My first ENT appointment isnt until the end of this month but I am anxiously waiting. Been to ENTs in the past and always got "Sorry, there is nothing we can do for you" I think at least this time we will at least know why my hearing gets alot worse every four years. We should also know why sounds and voices sound tinnie now. I am going to try and ask for a copy of my charts from 8 years ago and the one last month to compare them myself-just for a visual reference.
 
Is there any way you can get them to do bloodwork on your ability to absorb nutrients from your food? It's possible that you're suffering from degeneration of the middle ear because your body is unable to maintain its health through degeneration of your GI tract. I'm suspecting that is the cause of a lot of people's problems.
 
deafdrummer said:
Is there any way you can get them to do bloodwork on your ability to absorb nutrients from your food? It's possible that you're suffering from degeneration of the middle ear because your body is unable to maintain its health through degeneration of your GI tract. I'm suspecting that is the cause of a lot of people's problems.
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good call and I'll have to make a note of that when I'm older :3
 
deafdrummer said:
Is there any way you can get them to do bloodwork on your ability to absorb nutrients from your food? It's possible that you're suffering from degeneration of the middle ear because your body is unable to maintain its health through degeneration of your GI tract. I'm suspecting that is the cause of a lot of people's problems.
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Is there a medical term for this? I'm not sure-every year I get a bloodwork done for my physical and nothing stands out, then again, we arent looking for something like that.
 
cdaigle430 said:
Is there a medical term for this? I'm not sure-every year I get a bloodwork done for my physical and nothing stands out, then again, we arent looking for something like that.
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This is something that almost everyone has to some degree, and even starts out in the 20s (just look at the number of balding men out there), just as a product of being a civilized human in the 20th-21st centuries.

You see, we almost always apply technology sciences before we realize the consequences of using them in hindsight. There are many examples. Radithor in the 1920s (radiation poisoning), the Titanic (faulty metallurgy), various plane crashes (arising from lack of understanding of aerodynamics in certain air conditions and airframe/powerplant/equipment failures), vegetable oil (rise of heart attacks and circulatory diseases concurrently with the introduction of this oil as a substitute for animal fat used in cooking). These are examples of what we call "technology getting ahead of materials science."

You might want to start looking for EVERYTHING. It would be expensive, even with insurance, but you might find something unexpected and save thousands of baby boomers and after this fate.
 
deafdrummer said:
This is something that almost everyone has to some degree, and even starts out in the 20s (just look at the number of balding men out there), just as a product of being a civilized human in the 20th-21st centuries.

You see, we almost always apply technology sciences before we realize the consequences of using them in hindsight. There are many examples. Radithor in the 1920s (radiation poisoning), the Titanic (faulty metallurgy), various plane crashes (arising from lack of understanding of aerodynamics in certain air conditions and airframe/powerplant/equipment failures), vegetable oil (rise of heart attacks and circulatory diseases concurrently with the introduction of this oil as a substitute for animal fat used in cooking). These are examples of what we call "technology getting ahead of materials science."

You might want to start looking for EVERYTHING. It would be expensive, even with insurance, but you might find something unexpected and save thousands of baby boomers and after this fate.
Click to expand...

This could easily venture into the land of "alternative medicine," (scientifically unsupported medicine) which is not what I think Cdaigle needs.

I've not heard of hearing loss caused by something in the blood, but it can't hurt to ask, I suppose. A qualified ENT doc should know what to look for. Get a second opinion from another ENT if you have doubts.

It seems to me that Cdaigle is doing the right thing by essentially asking his ENT to start an investigation into this.
 
Badger, I realize that unfortunately, it could venture into that "alternative medicine," "holistic medicine" that so many people fall into. The good thing about the ENT doctor is that the basics of ENT can be checked out, and then a referral is made to a specialist to help deal with a suspected cause to check it out. With these people, including a general physician, you can get access to bloodwork, biopsies and have someone qualified to interpret them.

It's funny that you bring up "alternative medicine," because when I hear the words, "holistic medicine," I hear an "educated" red-neck accent based in south-Austin saying it as HOE-LIa-STIK MEHD-uh-SIN. Damn it, thanks. I can't get it out of my head now... He was someone I worked with at a health-based company, and he was one of the people who talked the owners into have a salad dressing line and getting involved in "live blood analysis." I disagreed with him. The company folded 11 months after I left. Karma's a bitch...
 
deafdrummer said:
Is there any way you can get them to do bloodwork on your ability to absorb nutrients from your food? It's possible that you're suffering from degeneration of the middle ear because your body is unable to maintain its health through degeneration of your GI tract. I'm suspecting that is the cause of a lot of people's problems.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, the middle ear is the part of the ear between the eardrum and the oval window of the cochlea. To the best of my knowledge, (I'm not citing medical literature because it is 2AM and I have class tomorrow), there is no known connection between absorbing nutrients and middle ear pathology.
In addition, diseases of the middle ear by definition can only cause conductive hearing loss (with the rare exception of otosclerosis that travels to the cochlea). And conductive hearing loss is generally treatable through surgery or bone conduction hearing aids.

Any speculation is useless without knowing what your ENT says.
Keep us informed but remember, if you disagree with your doctor, find another doctor. Don't turn to the Internet. Turns out that doctors spend an insane amount of time learning stuff to be doctors.
 
ecp said:
Just to clarify, the middle ear is the part of the ear between the eardrum and the oval window of the cochlea. To the best of my knowledge, (I'm not citing medical literature because it is 2AM and I have class tomorrow), there is no known connection between absorbing nutrients and middle ear pathology.
In addition, diseases of the middle ear by definition can only cause conductive hearing loss (with the rare exception of otosclerosis that travels to the cochlea). And conductive hearing loss is generally treatable through surgery or bone conduction hearing aids.

Any speculation is useless without knowing what your ENT says.
Keep us informed but remember, if you disagree with your doctor, find another doctor. Don't turn to the Internet. Turns out that doctors spend an insane amount of time learning stuff to be doctors.
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True but I do know that to a doctor you are the embassader of your own body. Doctors will only take it so far and it is really up to you to get things done. For many years of seeing different ENT specialist I always got "Nothing we can do" or "let me tell you about these new white noise generating hearing aids we have for sale" Things I didnt need at the time. I wanted to find out three things-1) Why am I losing my hearing now and why is my tinnitus so loud, 2) What can I do to stop the hearing loss from progressing and what can I do to manage the Tinnitus and 3) A cure for one or both.

Now that I am under VA care and technology has progressed, I may be able to get a little further than before and who knows gain some hearing back or quiet the ringing. At least now they no longer tell you to just deal with the ringing and they offer Tinnutus Management classes which I am taking. There are still other things I may be able to consider like CIs or maybe even the Esteem implant which I can qualify for for free.
 
It's commonly referred to as a progressive loss. I have been dealing with just that for 50 years. It could be mechanical as you call it or it or it coudl be genetic. And don't disregard the genetic theory if no one else in your family suffers. That's irrelevant. You should try to determine whats's causing it and possibly look into an implant.
 
I know what youre feeling. Ive lost most of my hearing over the last 11 months. In January I had no hearing loss but now im down to about 20 % in both ears. It took me about 6 months to come to terms with it but now I realize I have to adapt. Im getting bilateral CI's in the next few months. Have you thought about a CI?
 
your choices as your audiogram is getting worse(in no partical order)

sign language
lip reading
cued speech
manual communication methods(txt,pen and paper,email)
cochlear implants
 
Why am I dissapointed that my CAT scan of the middle ear came back normal when I should be happy? Anyway-looks like I am suffering from just plain old inner ear damage. Sad thing is I dont qualify for the "Esteem" and my next set of HA will probably be CI's. Not the end of the world but it is the End of the World as I knew it before.
 
cdaigle430 said:
Why am I dissapointed that my CAT scan of the middle ear came back normal when I should be happy? Anyway-looks like I am suffering from just plain old inner ear damage. Sad thing is I dont qualify for the "Esteem" and my next set of HA will probably be CI's. Not the end of the world but it is the End of the World as I knew it before.
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I can relate...that's always the worst part of getting news like this, that nothing will ever be the same or as you remembered it. Yet I remind myself that there's always someone going through something worse...to keep things in perspective.

Laura
 
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