Does hearing ever recover?

[Sangye]

My ear docs have told me that there isn't anything they can specifically do about tinnitus. It doesn't mean there's no hope though. When we treated my acute severe hearing loss last year with high dose pred and steroid ear injections, the tinnitus greatly improved, too. Before we treated the hearing loss they said there is no way to predict if tinnitus like that will improve or even worsen.

[gurinbasra]

drz,

I know of two people that have had CI's within the last 4 years - one lady like us who has a rare AI - can't remember the name but she completely lost all her hearing and had to wait a year for a CI - she now has two. Anyway, both people have reported that the tinnitus has greatly improved with the CI, but it's back when they take it off at night. I specifically asked this question at the Tinnitus class because the audiologist there was part of the Calgary CI team and she said yes that because the CI works to specifically stimulate the auditory nerve, that the tinnitus is considerabley decreased. Are you still considering a CI? Have you talked to people who have it, they all say that it sounds very "mechanical" but you get used to it and are just happy to be able to hear everything - that's the key for those of us who have heard before, our brains don't need to be rehabilited to know what the sounds mean.

How do you cope with your hearing loss?

[pberggren1]

I am getting a little excited and nervous at the same time for my appointment with the CI team on March 1.

[drz]

drz,

I know of two people that have had CI's within the last 4 years - one lady like us who has a rare AI - can't remember the name but she completely lost all her hearing and had to wait a year for a CI - she now has two. Anyway, both people have reported that the tinnitus has greatly improved with the CI, but it's back when they take it off at night. I specifically asked this question at the Tinnitus class because the audiologist there was part of the Calgary CI team and she said yes that because the CI works to specifically stimulate the auditory nerve, that the tinnitus is considerabley decreased. Are you still considering a CI? Have you talked to people who have it, they all say that it sounds very "mechanical" but you get used to it and are just happy to be able to hear everything - that's the key for those of us who have heard before, our brains don't need to be rehabilited to know what the sounds mean.

How do you cope with your hearing loss?

With difficulty. I have cut back and curtailed many of my former activities cause there is no point in going to something where you need to hear to be able to enjoy it. My hearing fluctuates a great deal depending on how congested my Eustachian tube feels. Under right conditions with hearing aid working well I can converse with some one fairly well, but if the room is noisy or my ear plugs up or hearing aid battery gets low, I feel virtually deaf and can't hear person next to me well enough to understand what they are saying. I do best with things like TV set at home where I can adjust volume and replay things I miss on the PVR. Sometimes I still can't figure how what was said even if I replay a line three or four times. I can use the close caption if I really want to follow a TV program. i bought several pocket talkers but haven't found them to be much better than my regular hearing aid. I definitely plan to explore surgery option when they tell me it is safe to do so.

[Chas]

My symptoms started in July 2010 with joint and muscle pains moving all over. My GP referred me to a consultant rheumatologist who discounted Rheumatoid Arthritis. Symptoms disappeared for the next five months till I started losing my hearing in both ears in October, completely in left and 80% in the right ear.
I was referred to an ENT consultant in December who thought I had glue ear and inserted grommets which didn't make any difference. I also was seen by a respiritory consultant who failed to diagnose wegeners.
Two weeks ago the joint & muscle pains returned with a vengenge and I was admitted to hospital where after a kidney biopsy vegeners was diagnosed.
I have been on treatment(prednisolene, cyclophosphamide etc.) for two weeks now and my hearing has started to recover by at least 50% in each ear which has made a vast difference to my life. The aches and pains have also abated for now. Doctors say they are hopefull of my hearing returning to normal.

[elephant]

Are you seen a Wegeners specialist? The Audiologist can help determine if you have permanent nerve damage.

[Chas]

The ENT Consultant who diagnosed me said he didnt think any permanent damage done but my body was producing fluid that had closed my inner ear(glue ear).
Wegeners specialist who is treating me sees no reason why hearing should not return. So far I am very pleased with the improvement reached in two weeks since treatment started.

[Natalie]

Hi Chas, How is your hearing going now ? My wegs started with my ears and like you doc thought Glue ear and was forever getting them sucked out and also about 5 sets of grommets . they did settle down after a few years of ups and downs but I guess I have got used to them ringing now ,, my Right ear has returned to perfect and makes up for my shitty left one . But was a tough few years when they were really bad , I can relate to Drs posts about his trouble in public places and unable to hear the person standing right beside you ,,

I hope your ears continue to improve .. good luck with it all Nat