Hello Out There. I Am Able To Hear Again
Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008
by Joe Mac Millan
Do you have any idea of what it is like to be profoundly deaf, and suddenly hear again? This, in layman's terms is exactly what happened to me.
Forty years ago, I couldn't hear my little children properly. I first noticed I was hard of hearing when I didn't seem to mind if they were noisy, but others did.
At that time, many hearing aids were sold by well meaning people with little or no professional training. One kind gentleman came to our home, did a little test and sold me a hearing aid. An impression of my ear canal was taken and shortly thereafter I was hearing a hearing aid in my right ear.
New technology resulted in better and better hearing aids. To my sorrow, my hearing loss could not keep up. A new and better aid would be fitted and help for awhile but soon, I had to try to understand words by reading lips.
During a vacation trip to Arizona in 2007, I went profoundly deaf overnight. Doctors told me an inner ear virus caused it. Returning home I was checked out by an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. An MRI showed nothing unusual.
I was accepted into the Cochlea Implant Program at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. The audiologist confirmed my deafness. A balance test and cat scan was performed. Everything aimed toward the implant.
I met with Dr. Chen, the head of the program. He told me I had otosclerosis, a condition in which spongy bone hardens around the base of the stapes. That's one of the three little bones in the ear. He suggested that a common 45 minute operation could be performed to replace the bone with a platinum and plastic prosthesis. I should gain some hearing. If it doesn't help, we do the implant.
The operation was carried out and a few days later I could hear a few sounds. Twelve days later I heard the water during my shower for the first time in many years. My husband was helping me unload the dishwasher and the clanking of dished and cutlery was.. deafening.
The doctor was very surprised nobody had never mentioned otosclerosis before to me. When something such as deafness slowly progresses, it never occurs to a person that it may be repaired. We go to the local hearing aid clinic, get tested, and leave with the latest and best aid available.
If I were to suggest to anyone with a severe hearing loss problem, a line of action to take, it would be to go to the finest hearing center in your area. Go on line and learn all about hearing problems, and the parts of the ears. If you don't do this you may go through life as I did. Withdrawing from social contact and friends all for the sake of a simple operation.
I don't have perfect hearing as yet. In another few weeks I will be fitted with a new hearing aid and that should do the trick. The fact I am able to hear my husband and family talk directly into my ear is a fantastic start. I can't wait to hear those dishes rattling as they come out of the dishwasher. It's music to my ears.
Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many years. They have camped, hiked and skied the mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take a look.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)A wondeerful and inspiring story for those who may be losing their hearing aws well as any of us may yet incur.
Thank you for your kind comment. Happy to report Irma now has 80% voice recognition with her new hearing aid.Kindest regardsJoe and Irma
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