Help! I'm going deaf.

APBT mom, LPN, RN · Nov 4, 2007

My clinical instructor told me that when she was a flight nurse one of the nurses that she worked with also suddenly started having hearing problems and over the course of about a month was unable to hear people speaking to her. She went and got one of those hearing aids (she didn't know the brand/manufacturer) that fits directly into the canal and said that her hearing was better than it had been before she got this problem. She said that they were pricy about $1500 a piece (this was awhile ago so I don't know what the price would be now) but she continued working for 10 more years without any problems with hearing breath sounds, heart beats,....

They also have electronic stethescopes that can amplify the sounds so you are able to hear. I put some websites below that I found.

http://ablerus.com/store/prodList.asp?idCategory=151&idstore=2&category=Stethoscopes

http://www.hearmore.com/store/ProdList.asp?idCategory=42&idstore=2

I hope that everything turns out alright.

kcalohagirl · Nov 4, 2007

My nurse educator is hearing impaired, and has been since birth. (I'm pretty sure about the from birth thing, but I am more than willing to ask.)

Before she was the nurse educator on my unit (Cardio-thoracic surgery progressive care), she was a floor nurse. She uses an electronic stethescope (she still works the floor once in awhile) and other nurses would help out if she needed to call for orders, since she can't use a telephone.

If you would like, I could speak with her and possibly pass on contact info. She is a huge advocate and role model for integrating hearing impaired nurses onto the floor.

Sabby_NC · Nov 4, 2007

I am sorry to read of your plight but the suddeness of your hearing loss concerns me.

Have they investigated this with tests etc? :uhoh21:

bronxgirl · Nov 4, 2007

hi,

i have not checked this site in quite awhile.. i am still trying to learn how to use it. i am also hearing impaired and have been using hearing aids and all sorts of assistive devices for years.. what amazes me..though is the increase in numbers of hearin impaired people. my daugher is studying audiology.. seems like she has quite a challenging future ahead of her. hearing aids are very costly.. and most insurance companies do not help pay for it.. that is for adults. i think there is help for a school age child now.. maybe one day those rules will change also .. i found though going to a general audiologists that area knowledgable and deal with many different brands of hearing aids work the best for me. they can evaluate my hearing loss and make an individual recommendation vs somebody who just works for miracle ear.on the whole i have found my hearing aids.. and the phone amplifier to be of great help.. also the electronic BP..

hoping to learn this site better so i can contribute more

but as somebody wrote the first step is to get the hearing loss evaluated

morte, LPN, LVN · Nov 4, 2007

sent you a pm

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 4, 2007

14 years ago, at the age of 38, I experience the sudden death of my right ear. In the span of 15 seconds, I lost 100% of the hearing in that ear along with most of the balance function. I also developed severe tinnitus in that ear. As I said, it all happened in 15 seconds. It is officially known as "Sudden Hearing Loss Syndrome" and is believed caused by a routine virus that kills the cells within the inner ear and damages the nerves leading to the brain. There is no treatment. Once hearing is lost, it rarely returns -- though there are a few documente cases.

Fortunately, my left ear was unaffected and I still have about 80-90% of my hearing in that ear. I have some problems though with lower tones, men's voices, etc.

Your etiology may be totally different from mine. You didn't say "how suddenly" your loss occurred. My brother-in-law used to say that he suddenly lost his hearing, but upon further questioning, he admits that it was actually over a period of several months -- and therefore probably has a different etiology.

1. If you haven't yet seen an otologist, I would strongly recommend you do so. You need to know your likely future -- and that means getting a good diagnosis by an expert in diseases of the ear. What are the chances that your hearing will deteriorate even more?

2. You also need to investigate the different types of hearing aids and consider getting the one that works best for you. Find a good audiologist in your area and start exploring the options.

3. There are special stethescopes and maybe someone will see your post who knows about that. I'm sorry I can't help you there because I don't use one. Your audiologist may also be able to help you with that.

4. Do a thorough assessment of your finances. You sound close to retirement. Do you have a plan in place (or at least in mind) should you need to retire a little earlier than you previously had planned?

5. You might want to look at getting any credentials you might need to teach or qualify for jobs away from the bedside. Such jobs (staff education, administration, etc.) can often be handled with a hearing impairment -- and you might be able to handle such a job even after your ability to handle a bedside staff position is gone. Get the credentials NOW and start making that transition before your hearing deteriorates so much that you can't handle the transition.

6. You might find it helpful to talk with other people with adult-onset hearing loss. Losing your hearing as an adult is very different than losing it as a child -- or being born deaf -- and the needs of each group is very different. You might want to check out the websites or local chapters of related organizations. I know of 3 such organizations. ALDA (Association of Late Deafened Adults), SHHH (Self Help for the Hard of Hearing) and the SayWhatClub (and online group for people with hearing loss). Those groups have literature, meetings, conventions, etc. that are geared for the adult who is losing or has lost significant hearing. Note that those groups include some individuals that are "exceptionally needy" and who may not be people you want to get to know too well -- but they also include some terrific people and may have some good tips for you. I am a long-time member of the SayWhatClub, but am not very active.

With a significant hearing loss, you can either choose to withdraw from life -- or learn new ways of living and communicating. As mine occurred at the age of 38, I wasn't ready to give up and go quietly. The choice is yours.

Good luck!

StressQT23 · Nov 4, 2007

Hey I have had a hearing impairiment since birth. And I got throuh nursing school okay, but I had an amplified stethoscope. Here is the site for mine; http://www.harriscomm.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1141_46_242&products_id=1574&osCsid=0edb3e60cc9cdc6e292103d3dc68b478. But I've also heard that they do not make this model anymore, so be sure that they still make it before you order;)

Good luck to you.

Stay strong,

Stacey

bronxgirl · Nov 4, 2007

my audiologist has given suggestions for stethescopes. currently i am working in an adult medical daycare center..so the need for a stethescope is not big..looking back i have seemed to have more challenges with some of my nursing instructors than i did on the job

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2007

I have a hearing loss and use a phillips electronic stethascope. It has been great. I can't hear a thing through a regular scope. I work in an ER so I need a good one. It cost me 200$ and was worth every penny. Have had it for 4 years with no problems. They are fragile and you have to be careful with it. You can never take it off your neck either. It will walk away.