To get an hearing aid or not

[windinthesails]

Hi there,
   I see that there are a lot of threads about hearing aids, baha, cros, transear, etc. But I was wondering if anybody who lost hearing in one ear never decided to get any assistance? My audiologist doesnt really see the point and is not rcommending one for me. I was just wondering if anybody who never got any hearing assistance was able to get along? Thanks for your help!

        windinthesails

[krbonner]

I'm now two years from when I lost the hearing in my year, and 5 months post-op.  I haven't really considered a hearing aid at this point.  I'm rarely in a situation where it would help, and most of the time I don't notice the difference.  Occasionally I have to ask my husband what room he's in b/c I can't tell which direction he's calling me from, but that's not a big deal.  My audiologist did suggest a simple amplifier hearing aid to have in a drawer to use in my remaining ear when it gets plugged up from a cold or something similar.  (But, I have a slight hearing loss in my remaining ear from problems I had as a young child, so I'm more sensitive than most to a bit of fluid in there.)

For now, I just make do by telling people I'm deaf on one side.  I reserve the right to change my mind in the future  but for now I don't feel the need for anything else.

Katie

[oldewoman]

The first time post-surgery I asked an audiologist if there was anything that could help me, he replied with a sneer "You're not deaf" and let it drop. Six months later, a different audiologist asked me why I had chosen not to wear hearing aids, and when I explained what had happened, she was a) appalled and b) incredibly helpful in getting me my first pair of CROS aids. Aids will not restore normal hearing, nothing will do that. But I find them better than not having them.

[Omaschwannoma]

I am 2+ years post surgery and have been getting along without any hearing devices mentioned here.  I have moments of looking in the other directions when spoken to and if the person does not know my history I explain my left ear is "closed for business".  I have been considering coming up with an earring that has the red circle with a slash through it indicating that ear is not working. ;-)

The only time I find hearing difficult is teaching yoga in a very large room as the voices never reach my ears.  At the beginning of class I explain to my "newbies" the problem I have in hearing.  If I am needed they need to attract my attention by raising their hands or physically come and get me.  I have asked my surgeon about the BAHA and I was told in a large room it would not benefit me.  I have discontinued my search for a device to help in this situation. 

I have become very acustomed to using an ear plug when it is windy outside as I discovered my balance is much better.  My dog likes this also as I don't stumble into him as much.  Seems the wind causes me to experience what someone calls "fishbowl head", a good description.  I also "plug up" anytime I drive, enter stores such as grocery, Home Depot, etc. as the noise hurts my good ear.  I have had only one embarrasing situation while wearing my ear plug and this came while checking out at the grocery store.  Seems the gal was talking to me and (usually I can hear faintly, but clearly when someone is talking to me) the only thing I heard her say was "Are you okay?"  I then unplugged and explained why I wear it.  She laughed and also explained she too is deaf in one ear.  She didn't consider plugging up her good ear at work with the very loud loud speakers and said she will do this now. 

I have discovered I can hear better in noisy rooms with the plug in while having a one-on-one conversation.  I find solace and comfort in the silence by plugging up.  I have not had that many instances where I "wished" I could hear better, but I can understand people new to one-sided hearing having difficulty adjusting.  I believe patients can greatly benefit with instructions from the doctors on what they may experience with one-sided hearing offering tips on getting along in this noisy world.  I know I could've used this as it would have taken away some of the many questions and certainly would lower the stress levels. 

Hope this helps.

[redgrl]

I have been doing fine with one good ear. Havent really thought about getting a device. My friends and family are still getting used to me telling them to speak into my good ear. 

[Battyp]

I do ok but after almost being hit by a car twice in a parking lot I decided to check into an aid to give me more confidence when out alone or at a conference situation.  At home I'm fine and it doesn't bother me.  Most people know to ring the phone twice as I can't locate it in time before the machine picks up.  I try to remember to keep on near by but sometimes my phones have a tendancy to relocate to a new room for a little change of scenery  LOL

[ixta]

I just want one for directional sound while hunting Elk in the fall.

I am going to be upset when I hear an elk bugle in the middle of the forest and not know where to run too.
 

[Joef]

I find the BAHA helps at work (in an office) .. on the weekends, I dont wear it unless we go out to eat of something like that...but it does not help with location! 

Hunting .. oh boy, thats gonna be a tuff one .. just finding the cats in the house before I go to bed can be an interesting chore! ...'m not a hunter..(but I'm on a couple hunting and fishing forums) so I have given it some thought .. having a dog with you might help! or some sort of hunting buddy !! or you might have to take up a tree stand type of hunting were you would not have to move around . because odds are.. you would move in the wrong direction ..

[Dantheman]

I just want one for directional sound while hunting Elk in the fall.

I am going to be upset when I hear an elk bugle in the middle of the forest and not know where to run too.
 

This fall (before my surgery) I had a large white tail doe walk in front of me at 50 yds. I should have heard it as it approached on my right (AN side). I did'nt hear it until it was pretty much in front of me.
I need to get some directional hearing by this season  too.

[Obita]

Hi Dan:

Your typing is much better!!!!  Welcome back!!!

Kathy

[wyatt]

I have had single ear deafness (left grade) since I was a child (discovered in the lst grade most likelyl from a childhood illness according to the audiologist) and have compensated fairly well, except I can't tell which direction someone is speaking from and it is rather embarrassing when I look the other way or don't look up.  I have recently gotten a hearing aid in my better ear which is working okay but I still have difficulty at times. 

I am seeing an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist this day because I woke up in the middle of the night on Wednesday and could not hear (SSHL).  I have been taking predisone for 3 days as the audiologist stated there was a 48 hour window to restore hearing loss.  I will know today if and how much damage may have been done.  I will tell you that I am now in my fifties so as you can see I have been living with single sided deafness a long time, however, this is the first time I have ever experienced SSHL.  It was frightening.  Even though I have had a rough time living in what I called a "better than nothing hearing world" I could not imagine not hearing at all.

So, to answer your question about choosing not to have something done as opposed to having something done.  I wish I would have swolled my pride and admitted I had a hearing problem at an earlier age.  However, I don't believe we would have the tools or technology that we have today that would have benefited me back then. 

I am going to see the Audiologist, Dr. Daniel R. Schumaier, who patented the TransEar and just happens to live in Johnson City to see about whether this could help since it is placed in the deaf ear and would not require me wearing the canal hearing aid I now wear in the right ear.  Although, I must admit after reading the postings the complaints about the TransEar being "buzzy" is worrisome.  I did not know about the Trqanscrainal Cros but I will check out the web site posted by chrissmom and talk to my audiologist about it.

I am sorry this posting is so long but I am a newbie.  So please bear with me. 

[okiesandy]

I went totally deaf in my AN ear in three days. I have adjusted very well to SSD. However, in my quest to be as normal as possible, and after having cars sneek up on my deaf side and being with friends and family and not being able to hear on the deaf side I decided my life could be better with something to help me. I am trying the Transear and having some adjustment problems. I think it will work eventually.

My neurotologist said I didn't need anything either. Well in a quiet room with a male voice I am fine. Not so fine in a different situation. He has been wrong before and he is wrong now. The audiologist said anything that helps even a little is worth trying. He gave me some papers done on single sided deafness and the quality of life. This is one of the reasons for fatigue. Wheather we realize it or not our brain is constantly trying to hear in stereo. We are made that way. Also, why should I inconvience others with my problems? My mother refuses to use a hearing aid and she drives me nuts trying to get her to understand what I am saying. Her quality of life would go up sharply and mine would too if she would use a hearing aid. The quality of my husbands life and my friends and coworkers would be better if I didn't have to constantly remind them to talk to the good ear and repeat what they said. Eating out would be a great experience if I could always hear the waiter.

I am bound and determined that this AN thing will not impact my life any more than is absolutly necessary.

Sandy