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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
mihorn
907 posts
 

I wrote (3/20) that "the hearing aid (HE) equips a microphone which doubles the harsh sound (noises from mic + speaker). I think wearing the hearing aid makes ear symptoms worse."

As I guessed that many people say "they can hear people talk (w/ HE) but they can’t understand the words." READ 1st COMMENTS. **Search google "hearing aid, can hear it but can’t understand." This is because human can’t comprehend AES (artificial electronic sound) and natural sound at same time. Our brain is adopted and can alternate to hear between AES and natural sound very fast (appx. 10 times a second) since we’ve been hearing AES for all our lives (radio, cell phone, car radio, etc.). Hearing AES and natural sound alternatively requires lots of energy and hard work (causes "the listener’s fatigue."). Heck, non-a’philes can’t even do it. Therefore, non-a’philes can’t listen your audio system. To them your system sounds like the left speaker in below video. 

Natural vs. Un-natural sound 

This is a new filed that no one said before and I just know what I experienced. AES applies to all HEs. Knowing this info, one can use HE more wisely.

Alex/Wavetouch audio

ervikingo
216 posts
 

@arafiq I had SSHL back in December 2020.  Weirdest feeling, finished a teleconference, took off my headset and couldnt understand what my assistant was telling me.  Her lips were moving but I was not processing it correctly.  No other symptom.

Called my ENT uncle and said "go home now, get at least 100mg of prednisone from your and take it NOW.  Only after that go to the ER, not an appointment ER."

I went to the Cleveland Clinic and sure enough no ENT available for weeks but my uncle gave me a prednisone course.  The audiologist at CC measured a loss of over 80% on my left ear.  4 weeks later I measured similar to the right ear except from 6000-7200hz,  It has remained stable but I have significant tinnitus.

I have adapted but have not discounted getting a modern hearing aid.  I tried a very fancy one and loved how my music sounded like.  Just not ready for another device in my life.

Dont give up.  

bartsw's avatar
bartsw
227 posts
 

@arafiq have you had an MRI? What if the auditory nerve is pinched from scarring, blood clot, or something?

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