JDR
09-17-2011, 12:00 PM
I'm new to the forums and it seems that this is the board for introductions...if I am wrong, please let me know where to post.
I'm a 53 yo who has had Meniere's Disease for about 23 years. I'll tell you - that first vertigo attack is scary as hell when you've never had one before! :eek: I was diagnosed with MD later that year. However, it's been a long time since I've had a full-blown vertigo attack. Thank goodness for that.
I have had persistent tinnitus since that time (some days it's louder than others) and I have moderately severe hearing loss in my left ear. Sounds from that side sounds as if they were muffled and broadcast from the other end of a long tunnel from my ear.
Needless to say, it's been awhile since I've used my left ear for any telephone conversations. :( I also try to seat myself to my left of anyone that I really need to listen to (instructors, etc). My one experience with trialing a hearing aid before this year left me wanting. (It was about 15 years ago).
However, I had read about all of these advances in hearing aids - especially in the area of masking out tinnitus - and since my BC/BS insurance is a lot better than my HMO insurance of that time in covering hearing aids, I gave it another shot and made appointment with an audiologist last Friday.
My audiogram showed moderately severe hearing loss in my left ear. The audiologist said that the flat audiogram (hearing loss consistent across all frequencies) was unusual for MD, but in doing my research, a flat audiogram is typical of late-stage MD (and I think 23 years is considered late-stage...:p) In the right ear, I had some mild hearing loss in the upper frequencies, but the audiologist says that this is consistent with age-related hearing loss.
He prescribed the Oticon Acto Pro - the miniRITE style. He did a quick programming of one in the office and - boy did it make a difference!!! When you haven't been able to hear normal sounds (i.e. conversations, TV) in an ear in 23 years, it is so wonderful to hear out of it again!!:D
The audiologist said that while there are hearing aids out there with Tinnitus Sound Generating technology, he said in most instances the simple act of hearing those normal frequencies again acts as a masking agent for the tinnitus. And this turned out to be right. During the 10-15 minutes that I had the hearing aid on, I perceived almost no tinnitus (I'd say about 99% gone). The hearing aid was very comfortable to wear - I could hardly feel that I was wearing one.
The saddest part was that I had to leave without the hearing aid.:( My hearing aid will be ready by next week - my return visit to the audiologist is next Friday. I can hardly wait!!!:D
JR
I'm a 53 yo who has had Meniere's Disease for about 23 years. I'll tell you - that first vertigo attack is scary as hell when you've never had one before! :eek: I was diagnosed with MD later that year. However, it's been a long time since I've had a full-blown vertigo attack. Thank goodness for that.
I have had persistent tinnitus since that time (some days it's louder than others) and I have moderately severe hearing loss in my left ear. Sounds from that side sounds as if they were muffled and broadcast from the other end of a long tunnel from my ear.
Needless to say, it's been awhile since I've used my left ear for any telephone conversations. :( I also try to seat myself to my left of anyone that I really need to listen to (instructors, etc). My one experience with trialing a hearing aid before this year left me wanting. (It was about 15 years ago).
However, I had read about all of these advances in hearing aids - especially in the area of masking out tinnitus - and since my BC/BS insurance is a lot better than my HMO insurance of that time in covering hearing aids, I gave it another shot and made appointment with an audiologist last Friday.
My audiogram showed moderately severe hearing loss in my left ear. The audiologist said that the flat audiogram (hearing loss consistent across all frequencies) was unusual for MD, but in doing my research, a flat audiogram is typical of late-stage MD (and I think 23 years is considered late-stage...:p) In the right ear, I had some mild hearing loss in the upper frequencies, but the audiologist says that this is consistent with age-related hearing loss.
He prescribed the Oticon Acto Pro - the miniRITE style. He did a quick programming of one in the office and - boy did it make a difference!!! When you haven't been able to hear normal sounds (i.e. conversations, TV) in an ear in 23 years, it is so wonderful to hear out of it again!!:D
The audiologist said that while there are hearing aids out there with Tinnitus Sound Generating technology, he said in most instances the simple act of hearing those normal frequencies again acts as a masking agent for the tinnitus. And this turned out to be right. During the 10-15 minutes that I had the hearing aid on, I perceived almost no tinnitus (I'd say about 99% gone). The hearing aid was very comfortable to wear - I could hardly feel that I was wearing one.
The saddest part was that I had to leave without the hearing aid.:( My hearing aid will be ready by next week - my return visit to the audiologist is next Friday. I can hardly wait!!!:D
JR