Losing your hearing is one of the most unfortunate side effects of Meniere’s disease. It varies on how much hearing is lost from patient to patient. Some folks lose all their hearing while other just lose some hearing. In my case, I am losing more and more of my hearing, at least it seems that way.
I have written about Meniere’s disease and hearing loss in a previous post. It seems a terrible injustice to have to go through all the hell of meniere’s and then have problems with your hearing. With some meniere’s patients they have to also deal with tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears. My heart goes out to those who have to deal with meniere’s and tinnitus.
My hearing loss is mostly in my left ear, my ‘bad’ ear, my ‘meniere’s’ ear. My guess is that I had some hearing loss before I was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. I always had problems putting the phone to that ear because I couldn’t hear anyone speaking. But there are times now where I don’t pick up all the words when people are speaking to me. At that point I can either pretend to hear what they are saying or ask them to repeat it. If they do repeat it they will shout the words out loud which is very embarrassing.
I talked to my doctor about hearing aids, but he told me that since I still had some hearing in the good ear, the hearing aid would interfere with it. Someone also told me that hearing aids aren’t generally paid for by insurance companies, which is not good.
Something else to consider with hearing loss and meniere’s roughly 50 percent of meniere’s patients eventually have the disorder in both ears. I’m not sure what I would then. Maybe I would reconsider the hearing aid.
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Friday, August 28, 2009
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16 comments:
I would say 99.9% of people with Meniere's Disease have to deal with tinnitus David...it is part of the package.
I don't agree with you there, but thanks for commenting.
Hi David
I have only just been diagnosed and I am at the moment completely devastated by the diagnosis. I deal with the tinnitus daily - especially when going to bed. I sometimes wonder if I will ever know silence again..... but then wonder if deafness would be even worse! Which is the lesser of two evils?
I had an unusual experience at the weekend that has led me to reconsider the hearing issue. Generally for me, my ability to hear in my right (meniere's) ear correlates with the occurrence of an attack. When my hearing is relatively good (by which I mean I can hear the dial tone and introductory voicemail message on my phone), I know I'm not close to an attack. If my hearing diminishes, it's a possibility and if the dial tone is almost inaudible and the message garbled it's likely. It's been the most reliable indicator in my experience.
Last week I had a couple of very mild attacks (just a bit of visual wobble) including one on Saturday evening. I don't regularly take any drugs but I took 5mg prochlorperazine, followed by another the next morning as a precautionary measure because I was going out for a day's activity. Taking two in succession is very rare for me.
The thing that surprised me was that my hearing on Sunday had deteriorated, but i didn't in any way feel worse for the rest of the day. Yesterday my hearing had improved again and everything has been fine since (apart from the effects of the stiffness caused by the activity). I'm left wondering whether the dose of prochlorperazine, a vestibular sedative, reduced my hearing level? Maybe those who take drugs regularly don't have such bad hearing as they think?
Something happened to me this weekend that is making me reconsider the hearing issue. Normally the quality of my hearing correlates strongly with the likelihood of an attack. If my hearing is good (by which I mean I can hear the dial tone and introductory voicemail message on my phone) I know I won't have an attack. If it's diminished then an attack is possible, and if I can't hear the dial tone and the message is garbled then an attack is likely.
This weekend I took one 5mg prochlorperazine on Saturday evening, followed by another on Sunday morning. I'd had a mild attack and was going out for a day's activity on Sunday. Taking one let alone two in succession like this is very unusual for me. All of Sunday my hearing was reduced before improving again on Monday, with no other change in symptoms apparent. I'm left wondering if the dose of this vestibular sedative reduced my hearing? Maybe some sufferers who take medication regularly don't have such bad hearing as they think?
Jeff,
I haven't ever heard about certain drugs having a negative influence on meniere's. In my own case the drugs that I take (antivert, valium)don't have any effect on my hearing. Of course when I have a bad attack or even a slight attack my mind and my senses become a little foggy so I don't always remember things that well.
But that is an interesting question, I'll do some research on it to see of there is a correlation.
thanks
David
to Anonymous,
I hate to hear about your diagnosis. I hope that you can find some kind of relief from this terrible disorder(tinnitus).
Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.
David
I have had meniers for about 5 or so years now. (I kinda lost track because I don’t remember not having it any more). I have tinnitus, vertigo, and deafness in the left ear. I take Valium daily to try to keep the demon at bay but sometimes that doesn’t work so well either. The worst part I am on active duty in the military for 19 years and have had to hide it for the pat five so I can make it to retirement. Not to mention I love serving all of you in the capacity I do at this time. The point of this post is to let you know that you can beat it as long as you don’t let it beat you. I thank god every day for the family that I have and the incredible people I work around, with, for and the understanding of those that work for me. They have al seen at least one relatively major attack and they all were ready to do whatever they could to help me, which isn't much...but they were ready and willing. At this time there has been no relief, only a short remission that I prayed would last forever, but didn’t. For those of you that have this...refuse to be beaten!! It’s tough and tiring, but don’t let him win. For those that live around us...don’t allow us to falter. it is never easy seeing your loved one, boss or team mate go through one of these attacks. But be there and remind us that we will beat this and not let it run our lives. Make us eat right...no salt and put away the beer. I know I am not the only one in the military that has this...as a matter of fact, Alan Sheppard, the astronaut has meniers and he went into space! Fight, stay strong and physically fit, and NEVER give up on yourself, or on your loved ones with this.
hello everyone i have had menier's for 11 yearsand it has taken all the hering in my right ear and has now started on my left. i have stade away from salt and alcahol but it still is running my life. i never now when i can drive climb a ladder exc. i wish everyone that has this awfull deseas the best of luck. tony morrison portland.or
Hi tony,
I am sorry to hear about your long struggle with meniere's. hang in there there seems to be some new developments coming along that could help alot of us.
stay in touch
David
The technology in Hearing Aids has advanced considerably over the past few years, just imagine what they will look like and do in the future. Hopefully everyone in the future will be able to hear.
I think it would be even better if insurance companies could be required to cover hearing aids. Hearing aids are not cheap, most of us will eventually need them, and to Meniere's patients, they can be a lifeline. Yet insurance companies won't provide any coverage for this vital, much-needed technology. To me, that's shameful.
When my left ear became deaf from Menieres
(except for the 24/7 tinnitus!)
I asked my Dr. about a hearing aid, but was told that the regular aid would not work for me due to my ear no longer having what they call "voice recognition". The Dr. said I could look into the bone anchored hearing aid.
I think I'll pass on any further surgeries right now...but if I lose hearing in the right ear, then I might consider it.
I have heard that it doesn't work for everyone though.
Has anyone else been told that by their Dr.?Have any of you tried the BAHA, successful or not?
Hi Lauri
My doctor told me pretty much the same thing that a hearing aid would do my no good. As a matter of fact another doctor also told me the same thing.
I have heard about the BAHA but I don't know alot about it.
I'll try to bring it up in an upcoming post.
thanks
David
When I asked my doctor what I would/could do if I ever lost hearing in both ears, she mentioned cochlear implants. I stumbled on information about BAHA on my own, and it looks pretty interesting. I haven't spoken to my doctor about it because (a) I'm not near that point yet, and (b) I have a feeling she hasn't ever implanted one for a patient, since it's fairly new technology. But it's got great potential, I think.
Hi Everyone, I have wore hearing aids since the age of 5. I am in my late 40. I was diagnose a year ago. I have found I cannot wear my hearing aids because of the tinnitus and the roaring in my ears makes my ears so sensitive that it has cause me to have attacks everytime I put them on. I have lost more hearing and I am profoundly Hard of hearing and he seems to think wearing the hearing aids for so long might of caused menieres but.. I don't know for sure. I just know I can't get around loud boom speakers or even in my car. It caused attacks and then I sway and call for my family for help. I know I can't drive everyday but taking valium when I feel the attack start to come on helps calm it and I am not so wobbly and my sight gets fuzzy. I have to rest alot and limit my time out. I hope this might help. Also found out Chocholear implants are not for menieres because the risk of blood clots and fluid build up. Please check that out. I do wish the best for everyone. Thanks Denise
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