SusanCW
11-05-2010, 12:56 AM
About 10 years ago my husband was diagnosed with otosclerosis in both ears. He had approximately 50% hearing loss in both ears. He had a stapedectomy in one ear....and long story....they said there was some contamination during surgery. A few days after the surgery he had to have an emergency surgery because a granuloma had formed and they removed it and the titanium prosthesis. They thought he would be deaf in that ear, but the doctor was thrilled when he tested to have 8% left, without a stapes bone or a prothesis. The doctor then said to leave well enough alone.
We immediately went to hearing aids. And...have struggled with several sets of aids over the years. Trying to magnify 8% and 50% turns out with very poor levels and quality, even though we hope we continue to have the newest and greatest aids (?).
We live in Idaho, and at one point several years ago flew to LA to the House Institute to explore possible options. The doctor there thought we ought to leave well enough alone and told my husband to take fluoride.
My husband is struggling in business to hear clients and we are considering his possible need of an assistant to attend appointments with him. We are not able to retire for a number of years yet. And, the hearing disability puts a strain on relationships and is extremely frustrating for him.
My questions are:
1. I wonder if we truly have the best hearing aids. Any advice on the best brand for these problems? Or..one ENT doctor told us a couple of years ago that a cochlear implant with a built-in hearing aid may be available soon and could help him. The last set of aids we purchased says on the side "zon 7" by Starkey and we've not been too happy with them (perhaps audiologist set-up errors?). Any better brands? Or do we need to try another audiologist?
2. Any suggestions on what the best doctor or teaching facility we could get another opinion from? I keep having the thought that somehow, someone should be able test or look at that 8% ear and see if it's possible to put a prosthesis back in. Wouldn't that be something?!
Thanks for any advice! We appreciate it!
We immediately went to hearing aids. And...have struggled with several sets of aids over the years. Trying to magnify 8% and 50% turns out with very poor levels and quality, even though we hope we continue to have the newest and greatest aids (?).
We live in Idaho, and at one point several years ago flew to LA to the House Institute to explore possible options. The doctor there thought we ought to leave well enough alone and told my husband to take fluoride.
My husband is struggling in business to hear clients and we are considering his possible need of an assistant to attend appointments with him. We are not able to retire for a number of years yet. And, the hearing disability puts a strain on relationships and is extremely frustrating for him.
My questions are:
1. I wonder if we truly have the best hearing aids. Any advice on the best brand for these problems? Or..one ENT doctor told us a couple of years ago that a cochlear implant with a built-in hearing aid may be available soon and could help him. The last set of aids we purchased says on the side "zon 7" by Starkey and we've not been too happy with them (perhaps audiologist set-up errors?). Any better brands? Or do we need to try another audiologist?
2. Any suggestions on what the best doctor or teaching facility we could get another opinion from? I keep having the thought that somehow, someone should be able test or look at that 8% ear and see if it's possible to put a prosthesis back in. Wouldn't that be something?!
Thanks for any advice! We appreciate it!