hi my name is jake and i live in texas, a couple years ago i was dx with "meniers" as time has passed i have totally lost my right ear, and now i'm going bilateral. having no hearing can be depressing at times, but i struggle and go on. i think whats worse for me is the loud ringing, "tinnitus" the roar (like an ocean wave) and the fullness. anyway to make a long story short, i've had alot of hearing tests done, and seen alot of ent's "specialists" and thier conclusion is that i am going deaf. i have insurance where i work, but from what ive heard the insuranse doesnt cover the hearing aids, then again i havent actually gone and gotten the info for myself. ive been on dieuretics, steroids, even steroid injections, supposedly "meniers" has no cure, but they can try to aleviate the problem. i've come to the conclusion that i want and need to learn sign language. my family is very supportive and some want to learn sign as well. since i joined this site, i've learned of so many devices and ideas to help people like us who are either HOH or deaf! since joining i've changed my cell phone plan on my LG rumor and lowered the voice minutes to a basic, and added the data plan which includes unlimited text and email. i did it because i was having such a hard time not only hearing but understanding what people were saying on the phone. now i text my kids and they text me back, there are times when i do call them or they call me and if i cant hear them i tell them to text. i have the sprint captel service and the 711 relay thingy. i'm also gonna get a sonic boom vibrating alarm clock, (can barely if at all hear my cell alarm) want to get the smoke detector strobe thing, applied and was approved for the sorenson video thing. i guess what i'm trying to say is that i realize that i'm going deaf and i want to sort of be prepared for when it happens, and with the support of my family...i should get through this just like some of you have. thanks for listening or shall i say being there to read my words. thanks jake "moondog" 
