Hearing Loss

[Eve]

Wondered if Sqad or others with similar issues could give me a bit of advice.

I've been having some increased menieres disease problems but have kind of put it on the backburner as have had other things (gallstones, arthritis etc...) I saw as more pressing to deal with and didn't want to be getting involved with even more specialists etc... if I could help it, have mentioned it t my GP in the same vein.

I've got the day to day crap with it which I am pretty used to by now but have been noticing increased problems with worsening hearing loss for quite some time now to the point it's starting to cause problems and leave me more frustrated. I think a different work environment has heightened it, being in an open plan environment with lots of people and I'm finding it hard to pick up things people are saying to me just over the other side of the desk and mishearing quite a lot and am finding I'm turning volumes up a lot more.

It does fluctuate a bit - worse at some times than others, today was quite a bad day and my music on my phone I usually have to have the volume to maximum but even that was really quiet today, even "loud" music and with background noise drowning it out. The pressure is up more today though and they are having one of their very clicky/popping days with frequency changes and such.

I had audiology tests back from before I was diagnosed which were lower than normal then a few years ago I had one which was borderline hearing assistance but none since. I think it's something to do with frequency they said as I can hear some things better than others. It also concerns me more now from a safety point of view, especially being in a large busy city, as to giving me the best chance of hearing what's around me. I think I need to admit it's got to the stage I need to do something about it.

I'm wondering it is it possible to just go via the hearing test route and see what comes of that or should I try and get back to an ENT - not sure of the system now as I was in a different area and sent by neurology there out to a separate hospital to another specialist who diagnosed so not the same people. I'm not sure if there is much more they could do save the betahistines and stemetil I have to whether it's worth seeing one for a review or whether to pursue just the hearing aspect.

Any advice welcome, sorry for the long waffle but it's really been hacking me off lately and I'm finding myself withdrawing more and just nodding (hoping I'm not being asked something) and smiling as I'm so fed up of asking people to repeat things so much more than before, it gets really frustrating.

Arghhh, was good to have a rant though :)

[Zacs-Master]

Pardon?

[Eve]

How polite! I usually just get "what?".

[Sqad]

From previous posts and specialist investigations it is clear that we are dealing with Meniere's Disease........that is important.

2 aspects of MD are debilitating for the patient:

a) Dizziness
b) Hearing Loss

As per your question, I will deal solely with the hearing loss.

MD has a fluctuating nerve deafness which gets worse with each attack and as one gets older. This initially affects the low tones and can cause problems at a later stage in the disease.....e.g you can hear sound, but may be difficult to locate it......also,it is easier to hear in a noisy environment as people tend to raise their voice.
Now....as one gets older....the high tones start to deteriorate (presbycusis) and you then find that you can hear people talking, but cannot understand what they are saying.

This is the situation at which you have arrived.......a low tone loss due to your MD and a developing high tone loss due to presbycusis (the ageing process)

Solution?....you need to return to audiology, review of your audiograms and asses your suitability for a hearing aid.

[Eve]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write that sqad, I so appreciate it and it's always good to understand more. At least I shouldn't have to have water poured in my ears again though it always makes me wonder with the listen to the high pitched beep test in people with lots of tinnitus :)

That said, mine is usually more like a rice crispies popping noise though and an underlying high pitched frequency like noise. I do get more proper ringing now, it used to be more when I had been near something loud or they were particularly playing up but more common now. I'm interested to know how the popping noise works (separate to the pressure and popping) if it's easily explanable?

I find the frequency switches weird, when it's like a high pitched louder than normal frequency noise but it muffles/shuts one side of your hearing off and can switch sides before coming back.

I will bring it up with my GP to get back to audiology, hopefully speaking to her tomorrow on the phone to see if they have heard from my rhumatologist about where to go with meds so will hopefully get things in motion then.

Are the hearing aids (if needed) like normal ones for people with general hearing loss or adapted for the tone loss and can you adjust them easily when it fluctuates?

[Sqad]

\\\Are the hearing aids (if needed) like normal ones for people with general hearing loss or adapted for the tone loss and can you adjust them easily when it fluctuates?\\\

I may be out of date, but i doubt whether the NHS will provide frequency adaptable hearing aids.

[Sir Alec]

I have misheard a lot of things on the radio recently. Mind you, one of them made me write a brilliant parody of a Jolson song, which I was really proud of....

[Eve]

Haha, I always find that my mishearing is so much more interesting than the reality, I think I have too fertile an imagination sometimes :)

I have all kinds of weird versions of song lyrics that just don't make sense save that's what I hear :)

I spoke to my GP today and she said to try back on the betahistines at 3 a day and tailor down to see if that helps with my hearing. I have them but tend to take them as and when as is suggested, to try and tailor them down.

She said if that doesn't make a difference she will refer me. Am thinking this is going to take time, not sure if the betahistines will help my hearing much save maybe making it a bit easier if it settles some of the pressure and tinnitus but worth a try.

So, I booked myself into Specsavers for one of their free hearing tests to see what they say about the level generally.

[gingejbee]

Jenna: I have right-sided Menieres with fluctuating hearing-loss and about three years ago, at a routine audiology exam, it was suggested that I would benefit from a hearing-aid. Two weeks later I had an NHS Oticon digital aid with volume control. The aid is programmed to your personal hearing-loss, correcting the "poor" frequencies. Most digital aids do not have a volume-control because they are not required, but Menieres sufferers are provided with aids that ARE volume-adjustable. I was told that similar aids bought privately cost about £800! and you have to buy all your own batteries which I get free. So, don't be persuaded by Specsavers that you need one of their aids when the NHS provide the same at no cost. Incidentally, I was told by the hospital's audiology dept. that, because I am already one of their patients, I do not need to be referred by a GP for further visits - I just phone them to make an appointment. Hope this info. helps - as does my aid!

[Eve]

Hi gingebee and thank you for the advice :) My ears have really been playing up the last couple of days, mum's too, wondering if it's related to the crap weather - I do wonder as we often have bad times at a similar time.

I thought I'd pop and get one of the free hearing tests at SS today (they couldn't talk me into getting one of theirs, no chance I could afford them!) just to see in advance (in case a wait for referral) to get an idea as to my hearing level. She said not much change from the last one and still pretty mild which is good. Still doesn't help the issues I'm having but wondering if there are other menieres issues making it seem worse like the tinnitus and pressure as well as being in a more "confusing" working environment hearing wise.

I'd feel better having it properly assessed by an audiologist. It's a different hospital so not sure if I could ring up direct. Am getting back on the 3 betahistine a day to see if that helps settle some of the other issues more.

Mum has hearing aids though she never seems to use them, or her meds.