Nurses who are deaf, partial hearing loss?

[Aneroo]

Help!

I am about to go into my third year as an ER nurse.

Last Thursday, I began having ringing in my right ear, instant 50-75% of the hearing in that ear. Later developed debilatiting vertigo.

My concern- if the hearing loss is perm, how will it affect my job? How can I do a good assessment if I cannot half hear?

We're still trying to figure out what in the world is causing this (possibly a tumor in my inner ear canal, have another f/u MRI this week).

So no medical advice, I just need to hear that it is possible to continue to be a good nurse despite hearing loss.

[LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I have a hearing deficit. I have learned to read lips, and I just use my good ear with my assessments. My biggest problem is when I'm at my desk and hear someone say "Help" it is hard for me to determine from which direction the cry is from.

[TazziRN, RN]

The biggest problem I have is hearing pump and monitor alarms, but I just make sure the volume is up.

[jolleygirl]

I am newly dx w/wegener's and the first s/s I had were ear infections that lasted three months, even w/tx I ended up w/significant hearing loss. I am back to work, I have a hearing aid in my r ear, and slowly have some improved hearing in the l ear, but can not communicate without the hearing aid. I work in a drs office, and i think I'm doing pretty well, have to remove the hearing aide for each b/p. (I may purchase a new steth, but not sure it will be much help as i seem to hear b/p's pretty well.)

You can do it. Good Luck

[crissrn27, RN]

I am newly dx w/wegener's and the first s/s I had were ear infections that lasted three months, even w/tx I ended up w/significant hearing loss. I am back to work, I have a hearing aid in my r ear, and slowly have some improved hearing in the l ear, but can not communicate without the hearing aid. I work in a drs office, and i think I'm doing pretty well, have to remove the hearing aide for each b/p. (I may purchase a new steth, but not sure it will be much help as i seem to hear b/p's pretty well.)

You can do it. Good Luck

Will your doc accept palpated BPs? Might save some time, and perhaps some damage to your hearing aid. Of course I mean in very stable pts with no hx of BP changes..........then if something is off, you could take your hearing aid out and do one.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I use an amplified stethoscope, Phillips, 200$. I sometimes have trouble knowing which direction the pumps are sounding off from but my fellow nurses help. Sometimes have trouble hearing doctors from cell phones when they call in orders from their cars, but muddle through. Sometimes have to tell patients that they need to speak up because I'm deaf in 1 ear. The only trouble I've ever had is I can't let my steth out of my sight, it would disappear.

[TazziRN, RN]

The problem with palp'd BPs is there is no diastole. It's great in a pinch but for monitoring you need both numbers.

[jolleygirl]

I asked for a digital b/p set when problems first started, and they did get me one (kind of a cheapy) but I use it as back up. My Doc's are actually great, and they understand if I write down unable to hear for b/p they will re check.

[soon2bnycmhnp]

Hello, just want to add my part I have a severe bilateral sensor neural hearing loss of a Db of 75 in the both ear.....

I just got accepted to CUNY for Fall of this year I would be going to HOSTOS Community College in BX NY....My Major is Nursing....I cant wait to get started, i am looking for all the advices from you guys who are / already have trodded the same ground as i am about to go down....Peace out ....

[Marvie]

WOW, msdobson, that is certainly a very rude thing to say.

[Mechi]

Hello I am knew to this post but I am very happy to find nurses like me .I am Hard of Hearing for 7 years ,severe in the left and profound on the rt I wear bilateral hearing aids .I don't know why maybe a contamination with a drug called Ribavarin for RSV to treat a cardiac kid while she was in the croup tent ,at the time we did not wear head cap or mask to avoid the crystal to damage our life. I don't know if it is hereditary ,no body could find out so I gave up and started to adjust my new life I also lost my speech and learning was a road to my success I was tri -lingual at the time so I learned both again , Spanish the easy one because is low peak and English the harder one because is high one ,my french is in my head but difficult to restart. I have been a nurse for 20 years ICU and ER it was not easy because people never know what's wrong with you remember we have a SILENCE DISEASE nobody see your defect except when you do not answer their questions if they are on your wrong side. I learned to speak out and be an advocate for my rights in the hospital.Everybody in my unit will be introduce to me and will know my defect so they can approach me the right way ,I have been an advocate to the patients so the nurses will know if the patient is deaf of hard of hearing ,so they will not hear the intercome or call thru a wall when they call a nurse for help,nurses do not know the problems in geriatric population and when they are in the floor the pats can hear if they do not see the nurse at bedside ,so a sticker is placed in the chart for everybody to know the pts defect and how to aproach them,falling pts are common due to hearing lost and poor nursing approach to listen to them.

I am advocate in the community with fire rescue and ER triage nurses to let them know if a pt needs to come to the hospital either from home or street they need to make sure her device is with them or children's cochlear device must be around the accident ,It shoul be placed in triage notes as dentures ,the cost goes from 3000$ to 100.000$ and insurances do not cover it .If a pt gets out of surgery the device should be placed ASAP,nobody should be assessing the patient without their device or the nurse /MD will assess confused or agitated .This happens in many hospitals .

In a Emergency situation like bomb or fired etc nurses should recognized the handicap pts situation to help and translate their needs or even explain what's going on.When NY disaster happens many elderly were asking what" going on ,we turn the TV on with CC to read.

Education is the key to all,human resources should start educating nurses and healthcare personnel during orientation and explain the importance and liability on how to treat disabilities the legal implications to their career and the ADA employee and pts rights .

I am also a member of AMPHL .org (americam medical profesionals with hearing lost)and my state association.

You don't need to be afraid to speak out and be respected with dignity your colegues are nurses ,so they should be more caring toward your as same as their pts or they are in the wrong field,legal rights should be protecting you .If you need a change of phones in your floor with amplification etc let your manager know by law they will give you anything to get you to your daily professional life at the hospital.

President Clinton is hard of hearing and he was our president so you need to be proud you became a nurse.

I know we suffered so much and some of us have been very humiliated ,but we need to become one voice to live a productive life as much as we can.

Mechi

[lipstickgirl]

new to the forum thing.. I am a nurse of two years, I live in Florida and would like to know if there is any kind of financial help of receiving an electric type stethoscope. Any informations would be greatful:thankya:

[Mechi]

Association of Medical Professional with Hearing Losses (AMPHL)

You need to contact them and ask for help I am sure they will know better.I suggest you to become a member in this organization .It will decrease your fear as a new hard of hearing professional . You are not alone anymore hope to help you in anything you need you can write to me ok