I have been following Carly’s blog with great interest for some time now. Like Carly, I too have been living with hearing loss. My hearing loss is similar to Carly’s in that it is only effects my left ear and that the tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, humming noise) is always present.
In her most recent post Carly talks about her experience living with sudden hearing loss and I can really identify with her experience. I hope you will take some time to listen and perhaps gain some understanding for what it’s like to not have full hearing as well as some appreciation for being able to hear.
It’s been two and a half years since I suddenly lost the hearing in my left ear, and today I am celebrating all I’ve achieved since my hearing loss. Thanks to the BBC World Service, I am very happy to share this glimpse into my life without full sound.
Hearing Me is now live to listen to! Please note, a transcript is also available through the same link – just scroll down the page to download:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csynqv
Another big thank you to Chelsea Dickenson (Audio Always) who spent 4 days following me around Madrid with a microphone, and who showed me just how much energy and attention goes into making a radio documentary.
Please take a few minutes to listen and share. Thank you 🙂
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Hi again Ruth,
You are right, I also look ‘normal’, and can also communicate fine when someone speaks to me on my good side, or if I am in a quiet environmental. Doctors have also told me that this can happen anytime for often no apparent reason.
It can be scary and I think it’s difficult often to explain to others just how sudden Hearing loss can affect someone – and not just the hearing loss but tinnitus, noise sensitivity, pressure, dizziness etc that can be a result of the loss. Anyway, thanks again for the share and for the lovely comment 🙂
Best wishes
Carly
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Hello Ruth. Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂 It’s great to see people commenting on it, and hopefully people will gain a little understanding about life without full sound, and also take time to appreciate the sounds they love 🙂 I hope you enjoyed it.
Best wishes,
Carly
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I was happy to share this Carly. I think there is little understanding of hearing loss because it is an invisible disability and partial hearing loss is probably harder to understand. I look perfectly “normal” and if you are speaking to me on my good side I can hear and respond fine but if you speak to me when I am walking away I probably won’t hear you and you will likely think I am ignoring you.
You are also correct that sound is something that should be appreciated as apparently this can happen at anytime for no apparent reason (at least that doctors have been able to explain).
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This happened to my mother a few years ago–within 24 hours, she had completely lost the hearing in one ear. It was very difficult for her since a hearing aid doesn’t help at all. I have tremendous empathy for anyone who has had this happen.
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While they make hearing aids that they say may help with this condition, I have yet to hear of anyone who has been able to use one. It helps to be around people who understand – my husband, daughters, and sisters try to remember to stay “on my good side” when talking to me. LOL.
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Same with us😊
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Hello, Sorry to hear your mother also went through this. It is difficult when a hearing device can’t help – this was also the case for me. I’m hoping your mother is doing well and has learned to manage her hearing loss during the last few years. best of wishes,
Carly
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Thank you. She copes pretty well, but the hardest part was for the first little while when she couldn’t hear music properly. I think she’s used to hearing differently now and always makes sure her good ear is directed at the stereo.
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Hello,
I’m glad she copes well and has developed strategies to help with communication. Music sounds different after hearing loss – for me, it has lost depth, and it takes me longer to identify songs. But thankfully, music can still be enjoyed, with time 🙂
Best of wishes to you and your mum
Carly
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Thank you for sharing this, Ruth ❤ So sorry you have to deal with this though.
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You’re welcome Makenzie. I appreciate Carly telling her story as I think this is a somewhat common condition but since it is an invisible disability people are not aware of it.
I wonder how many times over the years people have spoke to me and because I did not hear them and did not respond they may have thought I was rude or ignoring them.
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Aw totally- it just reminds us to never assume anything about anyone, no matter how something appears. Thank you again for bringing awareness to this ❤
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As close as I’ve come to this was when I had an ear infection once, or twice. It was an absolute nightmare for me. So I can only imagine how this feels 24/7/365.
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It can be very frustrating especially in areas where there is a lot of noise. I have been living with it for about 12 years so have learned to accommodate by turning my good ear toward the person speaking and like Carly mentioned there are places that I would decide not to go because of the volume and amount of noise.
It seems to be some what common as I have met several people who have the same condition. Another frustrating thing is that I have never been given a definitive cause for it.
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So you got no closure. That must be unsettling. An ear infection complication, maybe?
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I did not have an infection at the time. One Doctor said it was probably a virus – another Doctor said it could be genetic. Pretty much the only thing they ruled out was stroke.
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I know how it feels to not have a concrete medical answer. It’s annoying.
I would never have guessed that about you, which, I hope, means that you’re still living your life.
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Absolutely! Living my life with gratitude each and every day. 🙂
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