Hearing loss at 20 - feeling really down

Anon_IRL.Joe

I had my first hearing test today as I suspected that there isn't something right. Whenever I'd be in the college canteen or something and I'd be sitting right opposite someone at a table, I'd have difficulty in picking up what they're saying. So I went to my GP last week and he said that I didn't have any excess wax so he advised me to go to do a hearing test at another clinic. I did the test today and I was told that I have some hearing loss in the low frequencies (around 500hz I think (from what I remember seeing). I was asked how I felt about a hearing aid. Now, my family tell me that they're just pushing to sell me a hearing aid because the hearing test is free so they'd just try to find a way to convince me. The guy just constantly talked about the negatives and it really brought me down .

I can appreciate that sometimes with age, hearing loss can happen but I'm only 20 so I just feel really down about it all. I have certain aspirations in life and I just feel that having this will cause a huge hindrance for me. My GP suggested that I should get back to him after the test and he'd refer me to an ENT specialist but I just can't help but feel like there isn't any hope for me. I know that hearing aids are there and they would compensate for the problem but I just feel bad about the whole thing. I have other big things going on in my life these days and I just really hoped that this wouldn't add to them. Can anyone advise me on how to go through this?

Chuchoter

If its any consolation, I'm 16 and I know a tonne of girls my age who have hearing loss. I don't think its that unusual. Its only going to get in your way if you let it get in your way. Also maybe try a different doctor, sometimes they're just in a bad mood and make everything sound much worse than it is.

dory

Don't panic. Get a second opinion if you feel the doctor was just trying to sell you something.
I lost the sight in one eye at age 24. I freaked out too, doctor told me I would go blind. Got a second opinion and now I have 100% in one eye and 96% in the other. Like you I too had big ambitions, but really, these things are just obstacles. Having a hearing aid won't hold you back.
Medicine is great these days, you could have some sort of inner ear infection or something. Don't get all fatalistic until the ENT doctor sees you.
Good luck.

unreggd

The reason the one doctor deals with Ears, Nose & Throat is because they're all connected, and usually a problem with one part cant affect the others

Is there any reason you may have suffered hearing loss?

Do you listen to music very loud, or go to a lot of concerts?

If it comes down to it that the loss in untreatable, I'd defo look into a good hearing aid

Theres lots of different ones to choose from if the appearance bothers you

IMO, I'd rather someone notice I wear a hearing aid now and again, instead of having to strain to hear conversations, or constantly asking people to repeat what they say

Do you find it hard to hear what the teachers say in college?

Anon_IRL.Joe

Yeah, I would've listened to music loud (but became much more sensible over the last couple months so have turned it down a good bit from before). I have no problem listening to anyone talking on a one to one situation and I can hear lecturers clearly. I know its strange to mention this but I've noticed that I have a much easier time listening to people who have a clear accent (e.g.: South English) in comparison to listening to some people here but I've lived here for half of my life and I've been here for a year now since the last time I was away so I would've had time to adjust. I have a new friend who's from Newcastle so he'd have a Geordie accent so sometimes I have difficulty in understanding him sometimes. I was thinking that this is probably normal since its quite a unique accent but I'm not sure.

Yeah, the voice of reason keeps telling me not to jump the gun and wait to see what the ENT doctor says but I've been bothered by it for a while and suspected that there is something wrong since I'd ask people to repeat themselves. I was really hoping that I'd be told that I just have some blockage that can be removed but since I've been told that my ears are "clear as a whistle" so now I'm much more concerned.

unreggd

Well I'm the same, I know for a fact I've a slight loss in my left ear from concerts

I remember a small phase of not hearin people clearly, but I dont seem to have issues anymore

You could have somethin like the opposite to selective hearing, where you can't really concentrate on one person

I suggested to another person here last week, you could try one of them spy gadgets
You should get them in the 2 Euro shops

Its basically a little box with a mic, that you listen to through earphones

They play use for it is that you're meant to hear conversations from further away than you can naturally hear

Could be an inexpensive way to see if a hearing aid would benefit you. Did you ask the guy you did your hearing test with for a sample to try for a week??

Contessa Raven

Hi OP.

As a person who studies Sound Design, I've had to study a good bit about the ear and human hearing. I'm sure your doctor prob said this already but as we get older our hearing gets progressively worse and worse.

E.g. Humans can hear between 20 Hertz and 20 KiloHertz when they have perfect hearing. But every couple of years we lose out on more and more frequencies. Listening to excessively loud music can speed up the process as well as listening to moderately loud music for an extended period.

Also, as someone else said, it could be related to your nasal and oral passages although your GP may have picked that up by now.

I wouldn't worry yet OP. A hearing aid isn't the end of the world. Many young people have them. It is just something to help the problem.

CR

gerrycollins

Anon_IRL.Joe wrote: »

I had my first hearing test today as I suspected that there isn't something right. Whenever I'd be in the college canteen or something and I'd be sitting right opposite someone at a table, I'd have difficulty in picking up what they're saying. So I went to my GP last week and he said that I didn't have any excess wax so he advised me to go to do a hearing test at another clinic. I did the test today and I was told that I have some hearing loss in the low frequencies (around 500hz I think (from what I remember seeing). I was asked how I felt about a hearing aid. Now, my family tell me that they're just pushing to sell me a hearing aid because the hearing test is free so they'd just try to find a way to convince me. The guy just constantly talked about the negatives and it really brought me down .

I can appreciate that sometimes with age, hearing loss can happen but I'm only 20 so I just feel really down about it all. I have certain aspirations in life and I just feel that having this will cause a huge hindrance for me. My GP suggested that I should get back to him after the test and he'd refer me to an ENT specialist but I just can't help but feel like there isn't any hope for me. I know that hearing aids are there and they would compensate for the problem but I just feel bad about the whole thing. I have other big things going on in my life these days and I just really hoped that this wouldn't add to them. Can anyone advise me on how to go through this?

hi

was the test listening for different beeps in ear phones?

Did they do the "tuning fork test"

Its a large tuning fork with a base plate. the doc will strike the tuning fork and place it in front of your ears. He will then strike it a second time and place the base part of it behind your ear just below the hair line against your skull.

the strike that is put in front of your ear will sound a bit quieter than the one behind your ear however the difference between both is whats key.

If the strike in front of the ear is a great deal quieter than the other then the sound waves are not making their way into your inner ear however your inner ear is working fine because the "base plate" part of the test is very loud. This means its your ear drum at fault.

If the sound is the same and is not very intense against your skull then you have an inner ear issue which made need an operation or hearing aid.

personally i suffer deafness a lot and its becuase of a build up of fluid behind the ear drum which can only be relived by inserting a grommet, a little plastic tube which releases the fluid however recently the doc has been treating me with steriods as my ear drum has been destroyed from all the operations i have had to have done.

php-fox

Yeah, I would've listened to music loud (but became much more sensible over the last couple months so have turned it down a good bit from before). I have no problem listening to anyone talking on a one to one situation and I can hear lecturers clearly.

I am not a doctor, but I will share my experience with you. In fact from years of struggle, sometimes I think I know more than doctors
I have hearing loss in my left ear, my right ear is perfect. It happened when I was only 14. I don't wear hearing aid, it is not necessary. As you go along, you adjust, and learn your way around every situation. For example, in quiet environments, like cinema and meetings I ensure that people sit on my right. While in other situations, like having a passenger in car, I hear them well.
What I have learned is that you really have to listen to your body. While doctors are theorists, they can only imagine what is going on with you, you are the one in question. Nothing can you give you more information that your own body, it's a smart thing.
I gave up headphones fully. I don’t use them at all. They leave me deaf for a few hours especially if I listen to them at loud levels. I mostly gave up on the night life. I do go out sometimes but not several times a week. May be once every month or two. Loud music really affects my hearing. If you are in a night club and feel that the music is tearing your ears apart (it can do that to even perfectly healthy ears) leave immediately or wear ear plugs.
I have also come to a conclusion that my hearing loss resulted from poor blood circulation and I believe this is the case in most situations. I try to stay away from nicotine as it reduces the blood flow. I try to do as much sports as possible. I take vitamins (B group) - they increase the blood flow. In general, you have to really look after yourself. Eat healthy (no spicy food), sleep well (6-8 hours) and sports.

I also found that it is necessary to simply carry on with your life as normal and not to focus on your illness too much. Otherwise, if you are thinking about it day and night, you will drive yourself into madness. The whole question of what if. You just need to believe that your problem is solvable and that nothing bad will ever happen.
I have visited a physiatrist once and was told that the only patients who recover are the ones who really believe in it and fight for it.
From what you said, it seems like you hear reasonably well. You hear lecturers clearly and don’t have any problems in a one to one conversation. So, nothing to worry about really, isn’t it?
One advice I can give you is to try as many doctors as possible. Do not stop at one. Most of them are highly incompetent and care about nothing but money. I have personally visited over 50 doctors in several countries and I found a few good ones who would be genuinely interested in helping you.
Best of luck to you, get well and keep trying.

nichola seaver

hi there, i myself have a hearing problem, im severe deaf in one ear and not great in the other. its some thing u have to get on with and not let it hold u back, im 28 and i work and live a normal life (great one actually) it is tough missing out on alot of what is been heard (especialy in groups)but u just have to adjust to it and do what works best for you, beaumont hospital gave me hearing aids which i didnt like (bulky )so i went private and got tiny little aids that u can barely see. i do underdtand how it feels like a kick in the teeth to get such news bout ur hearing. it seems like you knew but u were in denial. its not the end of the world, i think it will just take a matter of time till you learn how to cope with it. i definitely think u shold try get the aid.it will really help. hopefully ul see for yourself. good luck.

cynder

gerrycollins wrote: »

hi



If the strike in front of the ear is a great deal quieter than the other then the sound waves are not making their way into your inner ear however your inner ear is working fine because the "base plate" part of the test is very loud. This means its your ear drum at fault.

If the sound is the same and is not very intense against your skull then you have an inner ear issue which made need an operation or hearing aid.

Thats funny i got that done by an ent 3 months ago,

The sound was louder in front of my ear and behind my ear was quieter, in fact in my right ear i couldn't hear anything when he placed it behind my ear.

I have mild to moderate hearing loss, i can here very very low tones and very very high tones normally but everything in-between is mild / moderate peaking at 1200mh/1400mh at 52 decibels.


Ive been referred for bilateral hearing aids. Also ive had tinnitus since i was 4 and im 29 now, i only told them about the tinnitus when i went to the ent after 25 years i can deal with it quite well.