Sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus has no cure - I'm getting hearing aids

Hi, whoever wants to read this is welcome and it's just my story so that maybe someone going through the same will feel a little better :)

I had sudden hearing loss about 2 years ago and have been stubbornly resisting getting hearing aids. I put myself through the misery of misunderstanding my friends and colleagues for 2 whole years and stubbornly thought that it would eventually get better, or that I could "fake" hearing and get by reading lips. Instead I was just making a fool of myself smiling and nodding or laughing inappropriately. Sounds familiar to any of you? Yeah, sadly that little act doesn't fool anyone. If anything they start thinking you're a weirdo or that you've lost your mind.

In my mind, I blamed it on stress, improper eating, etc, etc but the reality of it is for some reason I'm more sensitive to noise than others and exposure over time slowly took its toll. And then I was given Antibiotics for an illness and that pretty much was the turning point that made the condition noticeable. What I've come to realize is that no amount of exercise, meditation, alternative healers, proper eating, supplementing, fasting, relaxation, etc, etc will do anything (b/c I've tried all of those). Nerve cells do not regenerate! Plain and simple, there is no "willing your body" to repair itself and I've been in denial about this for 2 years.

And you know what I realized? I'm torturing myself for nothing! I'm fed up of not being able to learn a new language. I'm fed up of not being able to socialize! And I'm TIRED. Going through a whole day of nothing but focusing and intense concentration just to UNDERSTAND plain spoken English is exhausting. And as "embarassing" and "old" as I thought I would look in those hearing aids is NOTHING compared to the way I've been embarassing myself around other people by misunderstanding what they say.

So yesterday I finally gave in and went to get some hearing aids (I need for both ears). I'm picking them up next week and will let you all know how they are, what they're like and how I feel wearing them. The ones I picked are not at all obvious, even if I wear my hair up, I can still strategically hide them. Because yes, I'm embarassed about having them. But the technician (who also had some) told me I'd get more comfortable when I saw how great they were and how much better the quality of my life will be. It's going to hurt my wallet though - $6500 for the pair!!! But you know what? I think it's worth it if it means I can be happy again and have my energy freed up to focus on other things.

I'm looking forward to turning a new page, and to start LIVING again and enjoying then things I thought I never would (like people whispering secrets in my ear! Getting a joke! Making a comeback!).

So, next week I will post another story about how it is wearing them and all the stuff I'm going through.

Have a great weekend! Tweet