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Hearing impairment to deafness: is there any hope / way to counteract?

modern buddha

modern buddha

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Okay, this is a very specific thread description so I got lazy and didn't feel like checking the search engine.

I have had hearing impairment (HI) for as long as I can remember, although I wasn't diagnosed as having HI until I was 14. It was at that time that I had my first hearing test done by a doctor. I received hearing aids for both of my ears and at that time, I believe my right ear was a slight hearing loss (~ 20dB loss, no slope) and my pain-in-the-ass left ear was at a sloping slight to moderate hearing loss (~15dB at 500hz, sloping to ~60dB at 2000hz, and ~50dB at 4000hz. Please bear in mind that these are estimates because I do not have my hearing chart from 2004 anymore).

I was re-evaluated in July of 2010 and was diagnosed with having "normal to mild sloping hearing loss in the right ear" and "mild to severe hearing loss in the left ear with asymmetrical speech discrimination". I was aided with new hearing aids because the old ones were fucking dinosaurs, lol.

I noticed a change in the hearing in my right ear after being aided, but stupidly waited to go back to the doctor until I was having difficulty hearing normal speech. I had taken out my hearing aids and was not using them after noticing the change in my hearing capacities, since the aids were not helping much and it felt like they were plugging up my ears more than anything.

I was re-evaluated recently on the 8th of November. My new hearing chart reveals "an asymmetrical mild sloping to moderately-severe hearing loss that is worse in the left ear". In other words, my right ear is catching up with my left. The hearing loss in both ears is sensorineural.

I have noticed since my right aid has been re-programmed that the same thing is happening: I'm still losing hearing and sounds just aren't what they used to be. I don't listen to loud music, wear protection at loud events (no pun intended) and generally don't do anything that would warrant this kind of progressive hearing loss.

My question to everyone is this: is there any possible way I can counteract a sensorineural hearing loss through the use of alternative health? Is there anything that could possibly help the hearing at this point or am I going to eventually have to shell out thousands of dollars for cochlear implants and go through months of therapy to re-learn how to hear?

I really do basically need some near expert advice, so I'm just hoping someone has information on things I can try or why my hearing loss is so progressive. An ear, nose throat specialist basically gave me the diagnosis that I'm going to be completely deaf (also called "profound hearing loss", a hearing loss that is >90dB). I refuse to give up without trying to counteract it, though. He has given me a script for blood work, an MRI and a urinology test to determine if there are any underlying causes of the impairment, but I currently don't have time to schedule the appointment.

Thanks for any information anyone might be able to present me. Peace and love to you all!
 
Simply_Live said:
My question to everyone is this: is there any possible way I can counteract a sensorineural hearing loss through the use of alternative health? Is there anything that could possibly help the hearing at this point or am I going to eventually have to shell out thousands of dollars for cochlear implants and go through months of therapy to re-learn how to hear?

I really do basically need some near expert advice, so I'm just hoping someone has information on things I can try or why my hearing loss is so progressive. An ear, nose throat specialist basically gave me the diagnosis that I'm going to be completely deaf (also called "profound hearing loss", a hearing loss that is >90dB). I refuse to give up without trying to counteract it, though. He has given me a script for blood work, an MRI and a urinology test to determine if there are any underlying causes of the impairment, but I currently don't have time to schedule the appointment.
Click to expand...

Have you had your appointment yet? If so, what did they find out? Without knowing the causes of the hearing loss (it could be an imbalance of the ions in your endolymph for instance, among quite a few other things) it is impossible to even speculate as to which alternative or normal medical treatment/s, if there is one available for you, could be effective. It could be any number of things within your inner ear causing this, but a few fairly common causes are an incorrect environment for (messed up ion concentration), or damage to, the inner or outer hair cells causing them to be functionally defective.

Anyways, you should really listen to your ear, nose, and throat guy, and perhaps get a second opinion. These people are specialists for a reason =). My girlfriend has no middle ear bones in her left ear, and my dad has severe hearing loss from Vietnam, so I know how frustrating it can be to not be able to hear so well. I hope they can figure something out to at least stop the degradation.

If you want to read about how this stuff works here are a few links. No idea as to their validity, but wikipedia is usually pretty decent with regards to anatomy/physiology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_hair_cell#Inner_hair_cells_.E2.80.93_from_sound_to_nerve_signal - hair cells
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corti_organ - corti organ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endolymph - endolymph
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stria_vascularis_of_cochlear_duct - stria vascularis
These are the main inner ears participants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_ganglion - spiral ganglion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervus_cochlearis - Nervus cochlearis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_nuclei - Cochlear nuclei
This is the path the signals take from the inner hair cells to the brain stem.
 
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Thank you for your response. I'm glad someone else knows something about ears.

I've been putting off the appointment because I don't know if I'm covered under hearing on my stepdad's insurance anymore. I've been putting it off for too long though. Guess it's time to put up the money or something.

I'm not going back to the first ENT specialist, though. Guy was a douchbag. When he gave me the diagnosis, he seemed mad at me or something, like it was my fault.

/end rant on ignorant people :P

I'll report back when I can actually go through all of the tests... again. I went through them when I was a teenager, but have no idea where I went, what was found or what they even did. I remember doing a lot of tests, though.
 
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