Hearing Loss

I just wondered if anyone has any insight or suggestions for nerve related/sensory hearing loss. I was initially referred to an ENT Consultant before I knew I was on the path of an MS DX. To cut a long story short my normal hearing test was only slighlty down on left side. A friend who does not have MS told me that she has a digital hearing aid and her hearing loss is nerve related. My hearing loss and tinnitus comes and goes so would a digital hearing aid help? Would be interested in other people's experiences but for me most of the time is feels as if I have water in one ear and as a singer this is very frustrating as I cannot always myself sing properly.

Off to see newe MS Consultant on Friday so am looking forward to this and hopefully will discuss DMT.

love Sarah x

[PastorDan]

Good morning.

My digital hearing aids have been a Godsend.  Whether or not they would work for an intermittent hearing loss is something you'd need to discuss with an audiologist, I suppose.

They've not done anything to help the tinnitus, but by sorting out sounds of the desired frequencies (or wavelengths; I don't recall how they measure such things over there), and amplifying only those, it makes the effects of the tinnitus far less noticeable.

The other thing about the digital ones (which, I am told, nearly all new ones are these days) is that they program them to amplify only the frequencies in which my hearing is deficient, and by increasing amounts in those ranges where my greatest loss occurs.  Each instrument is programmed at the audiologist's office to match my measured hearing profile for that ear.

Mine were horribly expensive, but a former supervisor directed me to a state agency that does occupational rehabilitation for people who can no longer do their jobs due to various disabilities.  They have (Had? We've changed governors since then; who knows?) a program that provides such needed aids to persons still working, in the hope that they'll be more able to keep working.  Cost me next to nothing, after they took on the need.

[PastorDan]

Good morning.

My digital hearing aids have been a Godsend.  Whether or not they would work for an intermittent hearing loss is something you'd need to discuss with an audiologist, I suppose.

They've not done anything to help the tinnitus, but by sorting out sounds of the desired frequencies (or wavelengths; I don't recall how they measure such things over there), and amplifying only those, it makes the effects of the tinnitus far less noticeable.

The other thing about the digital ones (which, I am told, nearly all new ones are these days) is that they program them to amplify only the frequencies in which my hearing is deficient, and by increasing amounts in those ranges where my greatest loss occurs.  Each instrument is programmed at the audiologist's office to match my measured hearing profile for that ear.

Mine were horribly expensive, but a former supervisor directed me to a state agency that does occupational rehabilitation for people who can no longer do their jobs due to various disabilities.  They have (Had? We've changed governors since then; who knows?) a program that provides such needed aids to persons still working, in the hope that they'll be more able to keep working.  Cost me next to nothing, after they took on the need.

[rumpled]

Hearing loss that comes and goes may be Meniere's disease. Have you been tested for that?

[cainer]

they  do have a implant aid that picks up vibrations  to your good ear.  it evens  your hearing out-
   i  just couldnt do it- but its very small  and gos just under the skin- wished i could think of the name-
but there are options-  wish you well!!   tick

[PastorDan]

Excellent point, rumpled.  Yes, Sarah, that (Meniere's) is definitely something that could be involved, and for which you need to be checked by competent, informed medical folks.

[Nancy T]

Tick--perhaps you are thinking of a Baha (bone-anchored hearing aid). This is only for people with severe or total hearing loss on one side but good hearing on the other (also for people with ear malformations, etc.).

Sarah: I second what Pastor Dan said--talk with an audiologist to see if a hearing aid might help you. For intermittent hearing problems, I would think not, but I'm no expert. Hearing aids are very expensive and usually not covered by insurance in the US; not sure about the UK.

Nancy (who just found out today that my Baha implant site needs a "revision" surgery, yuck!)