Tag Archives: hearing tests

May 23, 2013 · 11:55 pm

Half the Results

It is that time again…after three months of no doctor appointments (give or take a few random ones), today was my annual MRI and hearing test day. I only have half the results as I will find out the results of my MRI next week when I see my team of doctors at Children’s in Cincinnati.

My results are from my hearing test. I had actually prepared myself (maybe prepared is too strong of a word)–hmmm. maybe I should say, “wrestled with my emotions” on this subject weeks ago. It first started when I was on the spring break vacation with my family. I felt isolation. There were the large family dinners with company. In those moments, I felt anger and frustration. There were the nights I laid in bed and talked to God and just asked Him how I was going to live with all this new change. I felt sadness. There were the moments my family signed to me and I understood; practicing a language brought laughter.

I didn’t really have any emotions today going into my hearing test. Well, ok, maybe one slight assertive emotion: I go in and sit in the chair and we start discussing how my hearing has been and changes I have noticed. In the conversation I bring up my well-reasoned and thought out explanation of why I choose not to do the test where they read the word but cover their mouth. I say, “I just make up words.” Not on purpose, but I have no idea what the word is. I just think: that sounded like it started with a “C” and then say a word that it could be. Think of words! My probability of guessing the right word is off the charts! Which is why I always get zero correct when lips are covered. Then we test where I can read lips. A much more enjoyable experience! Sadly though, my assertiveness does not compare to set procedures, so I had to take all the word tests. I am sure the audiologist does not hear cases like mine often, since I am so old compared to the other patients there, so I am thankful she took time to hear my argument. 🙂
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My right ear has stayed the same since February which is good news! The tinnitus today was not that bad, so I am glad for that too as some days it is SO loud, I feel that affects my hearing. I have an appointment next Friday with the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center to get my hearing aid on the right side adjusted to a higher volume of hearing compatibility, because I don’t hear anything out of my left. The audiologist said, “It is not deaf yet,” because I could hear the beeps at two different levels (which I was not expecting). I was shocked! When I asked, she said it was at the highest level…so if you had regular hearing, I wonder how loud it would be! Basically, in order to “hear” something out of my left ear, it would have to be a volume of epic proportion–and at that point I still have my right ear so how would I be able to distinguish left from right?
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I have been going without my left aid most often as it is a waste of battery. I usually just wear it in order to change the settings for the right as my right hand is so numb that changing the settings with it gets frustrating. At the present moment this is what I will continue to do. We did discuss very briefly the fact that cochlear implants is still an option if I choose. I previously had discussed with several doctors and did my own thinking and praying, listing of pros and cons on the subject. Right now, I still don’t have a peace about it, but I also feel that it is time to relook at my list, research and pray again about the subject just to refresh my knowledge. It is one of those situations I often wish that there was an easy answer for–but if the answer was easy, where would my faith be?

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ~Isaiah 30:18-21 ESV

That is all I have today…more to come.

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May 14, 2013 · 7:45 pm

Little Joys!

Have you ever stopped for a moment to listen to the water as it drips out of the faucet? What about the sound your sheets make when you ruffle them as you make your bed in the morning? The sound your fork or spoon makes against the dish; the taps your fingers make on the keys when you type; the brushstrokes when you paint on a canvas; the click of your eye shadow case as you finish getting reading in the morning; or the sound of pages turning as you read a book? Little joys!

Yesterday I got my hearing aids fixed! 😀 Funny is perception. It has only been a mere three weeks since they went from usable to unusable overnight. It seems much longer than that! The hearing aids currently are back to where I had them set before–I have them turned up all the way though, as we did not adjust any of the settings due to my last hearing test being in February. At that point in time, my left ear had gunky-dark fluid behind the ear drum and I received some medicine to see if that would clear out. I had my ears checked once and it seemed to be helping slowly. It was not until after the spring break that the tinnitus (insane ringing in both ears) became increasingly loud. So there is much difference in my hearing since February.

Changing the levels now seemed in wrong timing, because I have my MRI/hearing test next Thursday the 23rd. My regular doctor appointments are the following Thursday the 30th. As far as my hearing test goes, I am thinking my left ear has not improved any even if the gunky fluid is out from behind the ear drum. Even with my hearing aid in, I am not hearing much (though I placed it in first this morning and then shut the lid to the case and heard it clear as day…guess that is a good thing!) I do know, however, that I depend on my right ear/hearing aid the most. It used to be the opposite, but I can tell already that my hearing aids are helping…maybe n0t improving my balance but I have not run into as many walls today as I round the corner–little joys! And, after going three weeks with no hearing, I think I did improve my lip-reading and we started incorporating more sign language at home.

My dad is sneaky. He found this website where you can look up words you need and they give you a video of the sign. Last weekend, we had company and at Sunday’s lunch we had the typical tuna sandwiches, chips and salsa, carrots and grapes and cookies for dessert. I see my dad pull out his phone as the others at the table are in conversation. Not thinking anything of it, I return my attention back to lip-reading but sort of just sit in a daze. (I get bad at that. I stare like I am lip-reading but I am not paying attention at all in my mind! I need to work on staying focused!) Anyway, dad never waved for my attention or anything, he just moved his hands. I knew it was a sign, but since he did not mouth the word, I had no idea what it was. Instead of guessing or pointing aimlessly at the table, I just said, “I don’t know what that sign is.” It was grapes!!!

I should have remembered. I learned it in ASL I. Although dad was trying to be sneaky and not ruin the conversation at hand (I think I did 🙂 ), our table then erupted in sign–from discussion of ASL vs. ESL or SEE to guessing the word being signed (as my dad passed on his phone to my sister who put the website and my memory to good use!) Sometimes these conversations are awkward for me as I feel I should be the one to know all the signs (I don’t), but because our guests both had reference and previous experience to sign language, we were able to work through and remember words with sign together.

During these past three weeks, I now have experienced both sides of the spectrum in terms of hearing and hearing loss. Just the other day I read this quote. I think it sums up my thoughts the best way possible: “Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard, are sweeter.” ~J0hn Keats.

I am happy to hear, thankful to hear, liking to hear…and I think it is because I had none–that I appreciate it more! Little J0ys!!

PS. This s0ng came to mind this morning:

Carolyn Arends, “I Can Hear You”

Leaky faucet dripping in the kitchen
Rubber squealing — watch out in the alley
Mr. Marley’s probably late for work again.
Birdie singing — telling me to get up
Such a soothing sound floating on the wind
I just keep listening

Funny how You speak to me
In such mysterious ways

Chorus:
I can hear You
I can hear You
It’s so amazing how Your voice keeps breaking through
I can hear You

There’s a church bell ringing out the hour
Like an old friend calling through my window
With the laughter of the children playing down below
You’ve got a way of getting my attention
In the rhythm of life, everywhere I go
Somehow You let me know

If I’ll only stop to listen
You’re in everything

I can hear You
I can hear You
I can hear You
I can hear You

Music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtsWtNS-3Og

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