Not Only Sudden Hearing Loss, but Also So Much More
Sudden hearing loss is an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing either all at once or over a few days. In 2016, I experienced a profound sudden hearing loss in my left ear, and have been living with single-sided deafness ever since.
If you have experienced a sudden hearing loss, you may find yourself dealing with much more than the hearing loss itself. Everyone experiences sudden hearing loss differently, and the emotional and practical impact can also vary.
For me, suddenly losing my hearing was not only sudden hearing loss, but also:
Working through grief: Losing our hearing is a loss, just like any other loss in life, and I realised I needed to grieve my lost sound. The psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross described the five stages of grief as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages are not necessarily linear and some people may not experience any of them, others may experience some of the stages, but not all of them, and some may experience them all.
Two graphic images with the captions, "Working through grief" and "Managing tinnitus and noise sensitivity." The first image shows a woman sitting on a couch speaking to a therapist, and the second image shows a man with his hands over his ears.
Managing tinnitus and hyperacusis (noise sensitivity): When I lost the hearing in my left ear I simultaneously gained the intrusive sounds of tinnitus and also hyperacusis. In the early days following my loss, these were two of my most difficult challenges. I had to retrain my brain not to overreact to everyday noises such as cutlery clinking in the sink and dogs barking. I also had to learn to live with the everpresent tinnitus, which over time has faded into the background.
Two graphic images with the captions, "Feeling isolated" and "Managing balance issues." The first image shows a person feeling left out of a group conversation, and the second shows a woman in a yoga Tree Pose.
Feeling isolated: Isolation came in various forms, following my sudden hearing loss. Though I had a strong support network, I still felt alone, at times, as nobody could really understand what I was going through, as they had never experienced it themselves. I also felt isolated in group conversations and in places with busy background noise, such as cafes and restaurants, where I found it difficult to follow conversations.
Managing balance issues: Following my sudden hearing loss, I was later diagnosed with Meniere’s disease and vestibular migraine, both of which cause symptoms such as instability, dizziness, and vertigo.
Losing confidence: My hearing loss was sudden; I had no time to prepare. I didn’t know how to live my life without full sound. I experienced a drop in self-esteem and confidence due to communication difficulties.
Two graphic images with the captions, "Losing confidence" and "Learning to self-advocate." The first picture shows a person sitting hugging their knees, and the second shows a man speaking to a woman, saying, "I can't hear you when you're in another room."
Learning to self-advocate: Since hearing loss affects communication, it also impacts the people closest to me. I found in order to rebuild my confidence, I needed to highlight to loved ones and colleagues my communication challenges, such as difficulties communicating amongst background noise. I also needed to explain my communication needs and necessary accommodations at work, for example, requesting that people address me on my right (hearing) side, rather than my left. Before being able to convey my needs, I first had to understand what they were. It took time to start being my own advocate and I wasn’t always successful in requesting accommodations. I feel self-advocacy is something I will always be working on.
Two graphic images with the captions, "Exploring technology" and "Dealing with listening fatigue." The first picture shows a blue hearing aid, and the second is a girl with red hair and cloud over her forehead, holding a mug filled with a hot drink.
Exploring technology: Hearing technology is ever-evolving. My sudden hearing loss only affected my left ear. Since the loss was profound, a traditional hearing aid wouldn’t be helpful, as there wasn’t any hearing left to amplify. I trialled a CROS hearing aid, which is specifically for people with single-sided deafness - it picks up sound from the deaf side and sends it, via Bluetooth, to the hearing ear. Everyone’s experiences of hearing technology differ, and for me, unfortunately, the CROS wasn't the answer. After 7 years of living with unaided single-sided deafness, I am now on a waiting list for a cochlear implant.
Dealing with listening fatigue: It can be exhausting trying to listen all day with a reduced sense of hearing!
Reaching acceptance: Once I started to come to terms with my new reality, I started to be able to move forward in my life with hearing loss.
Two graphic images with the captions, "Reaching acceptance" and "Discovering d/Deaf identity." The first picture shows a man in front of a mirror, running a hand through his hair, and the second shows a group of 4 young people embracing.
Discovering my deaf identity: Though my hearing loss presents challenges, I also have my hearing loss to thank for so much. For instance, I feel I am a better listener now because I pay so much attention to people when they are speaking, and try to follow not just their words, but also their body language and expressions. My hearing loss gave me more purpose, and I have become passionate about raising awareness of the ups and downs of living with hearing loss through channels including my personal blog, Facebook support group, social media platforms and podcast.
Not everyone’s list will resemble mine, and not everyone will have the same challenges as me, Our hearing loss journeys are personal and unique, and we will experience them in our own way.
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