Just lost my hearing in one ear- now what?

PurpleLVN · Mar 31, 2011

I am so sorry to hear about your hearing loss. Would you be interested in working in a clinical setting? Research nursing? I think there are a lot of different opportunities you could look into.

Or hey-I'd tell mgt and my coworkers my new predicament and they SHOULD step right in and assist with the tasks you may find more difficult to perform. You are not totally disabled-just hearing impaired. I wouldn't give up!! Good Luck!!

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 31, 2011

I would think that hearing loss is not a barrier to providing effective care as a nurse in most situations. If you make your management aware of things, I have to believe that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) would provide protection against any subsequent job discrimination. If they have not been made aware of your condition however, you would not be able to claim coverage under the ADA. Also, be aware that the ADA does not provide blanket protection and does necessarily cover all physical conditions/problems.

This is a sensitive area of law and I'd urge you to consult a labor lawyer before proceeding on any course of action.

snow_bear · Mar 31, 2011

First of all, I don't see being hearing impaired as having a "weakness" or something that should be kept hidden. It is what it is and there's nothing you can do about it. You will need to make some accomodations, but you CAN function with less than perfect hearing.

I am more than "half-deaf"...I'm completely deaf in one ear and have no hearing in the high frequency ranges in the other. I'm not eligible for hearing aids b/c of the nature of my hearing loss. I'm also at risk for sudden hearing loss which will leave me completely deaf...I'll cross that bridge when and IF I come to it.

I know I'll need a more expensive, specialized stethoscope; but other than that, I don't see how my impairment will be an issue as a floor nurse if that's where I end up. I'm more interested in the OR, but have some concerns because of the face masks.

My hearing impairment never been a problem for me anywhere else and most people are surprised when they learn how bad my hearing is as I have adapted so well to compensate for it.

caliotter3 · Mar 31, 2011

If you do not want to deal with this in your present setting, the best thing to do would be to start looking for a job where you would not be required to use your hearing to assess patients. Personally, I would attempt to use a special stethoscope and not give up the job until I determined I really was hampered beyond help.

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2011

http://www.harriscomm.com/index.php/equipment/stethoscopes.html

I don't know if these work, but obviously your's is not an uncommon problem.

Mulan · Mar 31, 2011

I worked with a hearing impaired nurse in the past, on a medsurg floor, she used some kind of special stethoscope, had no problem.

BluegrassRN · Mar 31, 2011

I worked as the office nurse for a mostly deaf ARNP. She only had about 10% hearing in each ear, due to abx she received at age 3.

She read lips and had a special stethoscope. It wasn't a problem at all. I did tell her I was going to get her a remote controlled cattle prod if she didn't start positioning her chair in the room in a manner that enabled her to see the blinking light on the phone, though. She totally wouldn't be able to see if I was trying to page her from the upper story that a patient was ready. I would have to run down the stairs to tell her. She told me that was how she used her hearing loss to her advantage, she hated getting caught up on phone calls. Oh, she was spicy.

ladybuglouRN · Mar 31, 2011

I don't think being hearing impaired changes how you are as a nurse. It is something you have to deal with, grieve, and then move on. It should not and will not define you unless you let it. I speak from experience and believe me, it is all about how you approach the situation. Good luck!

DayOhioRn · Mar 31, 2011

I have been deaf in my right ear all of my life. It has not affected my ability to take care of my patients at all, and I have been a nurse for over 13 years. I use the same stethoscope as the other nurses on the floor,and if I have any question about lung sounds, I ask someone for a second opinion. In my opinion, while it is a life changing event, you should NOT be embarrassed or hide the fact you have lost your hearing. You should be up front with others about it. Although I have a hearing problem, other that the occasional missed phrase that makes people laugh with me, it has never been an issue where I work. I have found that if you are up front and don't have and issue with it, the people around you won't either!

I promise that while the loss of hearing is a pain in the neck at times, it is not career ending!

Linda

JM RN · Mar 31, 2011

I use this. It is for hearing impaired. Good luck!

http://ultrascopes.com/about/ultrascope-models/

spicy1RN · Mar 31, 2011

Hi, I understand what you are going through. I had sudden acute loss of hearing over a 2 week period 3 years ago. Within the course of 48 hours I went from having 50% hearing loss to totally deaf in both ears. It was a neuro-sensory hearing loss caused by a viral illness.

Having been a nurse for over 20 years, I didn't know what I would do. Fortunately, I was immediatly referred to a wonderful EENT who is a surgeon that performs cochlear implants. I had bilateral cochlear implants within 2 months, and now, almost 3 years out can hear almost normally. I have struggles in loud, noisy areas, and if multiple people are talking at once it is challenging.

I still work as a nurse. I do not work in a bedside patient care setting, and did not before I lost my hearing. I do have a colleague who is a bedside RN, with bilateral complete hearing loss, who also had cochlear implants. She has a special stethescope for use with the implants.

This is a protected ADA disability, however, if you are unable to safely assess patients, they do not have to keep you in a clinical position. I know from my expereince that employers are required to make "reasonable accomadation when requested". What is reasonable is something only you and your employer can decide.

Don't give up, there is hope. Having the implants was the best decision. Sitting in total silence for over 2 months was one of the hardest things I have ever gone through.

Best of luck to you!

Spicy1