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Sudden Hearing Loss and Impact on Music Enjoyment

This post is partly a cautionary tale and partly me looking for advice from fellow audiophiles who might have been through something similar.

At the end of January this year, I had a sinus infection that seemed to affect my left ear. One morning I woke up and noticed that my ear felt muffled and my hearing wasn’t quite right. At first, I assumed it was just my sinuses acting up. I tried wax-removal drops and even did some irrigation, but nothing improved. My doctor then prescribed a course of steroids, thinking it might be related to fluid buildup.

Unfortunately, things got worse. I gradually lost almost all hearing in that ear, and there was a lot of distortion as well.

I eventually saw an ENT specialist and an audiologist, and that’s when I learned that this was most likely Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). Apparently, if the correct treatment is started within about 72 hours, there’s a chance the hearing can be saved. After that short window closes, the loss is often permanent. I really wish I had known that earlier when I first contacted my doctor.

So if anyone reading this ever experiences sudden changes in hearing, please don’t wait—get to an ENT immediately. The treatment window is extremely short.

Now that I’m starting to come to terms with this, I’ve begun researching options like hearing aids and cochlear implants. That leads me to my question for anyone here who has experience with either.

As audiophiles, we tend to listen to music a bit differently—we focus on details, tone, timbre, soundstage, and all those subtle nuances. For those of you using hearing aids or who have undergone cochlear implant surgery, how has it affected your ability to enjoy music? Does music sound very different? Were you able to reconnect with it in a meaningful way? As you can imagine, this is both stressful and sad that I won't be able to enjoy the one hobby that has become such an important part of my life.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Feel free to share here, or send me a DM if you’d rather keep it private.

arafiq
arafiq's avatar
arafiq OP
1,790 posts
 

@jasonnewell Thank you for sharing your experience. Although, your underlying causes are a bit different than mine, it is still very relevant, especially for us audiophiles.

Your case is actually what I and my doctor was hoping for initially. Sounds like an outer or middle ear problem due to some kind of blockage such as fluids. These cases have a much better outcome in terms of reversing hearing loss.

In my case, it's an inner ear problem that affected my hair cells and killed them. In mammals, these cells do not regenerate unlike fish or other species. The only option is to get it treated asap, preferably within 72 hours to have any hope of recovery. I lost that window as neither I nor my doctor was informed.

Having said that, both cases are extremely dangerous and can lead to permanent hearing loss if not treated in time. Just that yours has the potential of a much improved prognosis. Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope all audiophiles are reading my thread and taking notes :)

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,386 posts
 

I’m >65 yo and my ear problems are cured with the natural sound.

LOL laugh

Mike

arafiq's avatar
arafiq OP
1,790 posts
 

@ditusa Yeah I saw the guy's posts and thought maybe best to ignore them. But, given that so many people follow audiogon discussions, I think it will be a disservice to not address it for the sake of future victims.

First, I find it disingenuous that this guy has a financial stake in spewing his nonsense. He's misleading people with unscientific, unwarranted, unscrupulous BS not backed by medical science. Unless, he has actual proof, e.g., before or after audiograms showing how he cured himself by listening to 'natural music', whatever that's supposed to mean, he is full of it.

I sincerely hope that anyone reading his posts ignore them with ultimate disdain. This guy has zero credibility.

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,386 posts
 

@arafiq, I agree! Sorry about your diagnosis

Mike

phd
1,342 posts
 

It's a very unfortunate situation but hearing loss is becoming more common with some aging audiophiles. Ironically these folks cannot enjoy the very thing they love on the level they used to. On one thread I questioned a seasoned audiophile (many years in the hobby) moving to an integrated amp. I questioned him about this move, and he said that he can no longer hear the difference between the new integrated and his main rig.

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