ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on September 25, 2008, 09:45:33 pm
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I cannot not stand the sound of fans- since my AN surgery… and consequently spend half my life walking around with a fashion statement of a florescent orange ear plug in my good ear. Air conditioning and or heating systems are the worst – for me anyway.
I have learned something new this month and a new “neurological word� for sensory overload- particularly auditory.
“Hyperacusis�
A link for those of us on auditory overload :o
What is Hyperacusis?
http://www.hyperacusis.net/hyperacusis/what+is+hyperacusis/default.asp
Anyway Sue from Vancouver USA- suggested I share this here ...for you-all. ;D
Keep moving forward!
DHM
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Ah yes, familiar with the term and the effects. Fortunately for me, the sensitivity has settled to somewhere near normal.
Ciao :)
Lorenzo
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I am sooooooooooo glad I am not alone in this one! Loud noises drive me nuts and everyone thinks they have to yell and turn the TV up. Ceiling fans have never been my friend, a/c I can deal with, (you have to in Texas)
Brenda
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I can't stand the volume up on the TV, and I can't tolerate the ceiling fan on high. I have a terrible time in large spaces, especially when there are lots of different conversations. I do fine in a regular church service, but could hardly stand picking the kids up after Bible School. Same place, different noise levels.
My word recognition falls from 85% at 50dB (normal conversational level) to 64% at 75dB. The audiologist told me this is typical of hearing loss due to nerve damage. An amplifying hearing aid would do me no good. Fortunately I am functional in day-to-day activities.
Sara
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I think what bugs me is I can't figure out what the noise is and where it is coming from, thus increasing my sensitivity.
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For awhile, I also heard distortion in my affected ear when listening to music, but thankfully this has resolved itself and doesn't happen anymore. Avoiding very loud sounds and eating a balanced diet seem to have helped, but I can't be sure if that's just coincidence.
Tumbleweed
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I noticed some slight intensity of loud sounds as my hearing degenerated. I assumed this was due to the fact that all sound now had to enter only one ear and that would, naturally. increase sound intensity. Being SSD, I try to protect my functioning ear when sounds become too loud.
That noted, I can't claim to suffer from hyperacusis. Loud sounds don't cause me pain, just some momentary discomfort, at most. However, I can understand why having this condition could be deleterious to one's equanimity. I'm fortunate - and grateful - that it isn't a real problem for me. In fact, most of the time, I don't hear well enough. That is a separate issue, I know but I wanted to mention it in order to put this hyperacusis issue in some sort of context. However, I do sympathize with those who have to deal with it.
Jim
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This bothered me a great deal but has steadily improved since surgery. In the first couple of weeks, when my dogs barked I cried. Kind of Pavlovian if you think about it.
M
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I have a picture of myself arm in arm with a famous politician with a big old day-glo orange earplug sticking out of my ear.
I have since learned they come in beige, but I was thinking of putting sparklies on it and suspending a few bead dangles and turning it into a fashion statement. What the heck!
;D
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LOL :D ;D :D :D
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Yep, I've got that hypersensitivity to noise in my hearing ear, too. (I also have a bright pink - in support of breast cancer research - ear plug - festive!) I asked my neurotologist about it (the sensitivity, not the ear plug) last week when I saw him and he said it was fairly common and should go away in time. He called it "recruitment" by the way...
I am constantly asking my husband to turn the volume DOWN on the TV, which we both find pretty funny since I am totally deaf in one ear! And, when our dog barks, it is like a spear going into my ear! Ah, isn't life grand???? ;)
Debbi
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deleterious to one's equanimity.
Jim
;) ;D :D
I do love Jim Scott’s contributions as he does expanded my vocabulary- tenfold... since I joined the ANA forum. ;) ;D
“phuminoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoc� is sooh Scotty :-* ;) :D
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Synonym_for_loves_big_words
Ok Ok admit it people who else had to pull up Encarta (or some other dictionary sources) to define Jim’s writing?
Don’t change Scotty- we love you as you are - our illuminative moderator. :-*
DHM ;D
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Thanks so much for the attachment on hyperacusis. When my husband and I read it he said, " it sounds just like you". Even the ear pain that I experience hit home. Earplugs made the pressure in my ear worse, so I wear ear muffs, when riding my bike or going to my grandkids indoor sports. Big brown ear muffs. And I live in Florida. Don't I make a fashion statement!
mema
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Oh, thank you so much. I've noticed that in the past 2 weeks this is what I have, and actually came to this board to see if everyone experiences this that has an AN. Do you know anyone who has tried this? I was going to ask about a hearing aid that might help, but maybe this is what I should try first?
It's bad enough knowing I have this tumor in my head...but to have the pain of sound. I was sitting in the FR yesterday and my son was filling his glass with ice from the ice machine. It was SO LOUD and distinct I couldn't believe it.
Tisha
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Tisha,
Every night, about 10-15 min. after I get in I get the loudest PINGGGGGGGG sound in my ear. My hubby closing a door causes it. A sound on the TV causes it. Him running the bathroom sink causes it. But the weird thing is "IT HAPPENS EVERYNIGHT" Gee! Sounds like a good movie title.
mema
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thanks SO MUCH for posting this!!! after my surgery, every noise and sound is ultra loud and i had to plug my good ear when it gets too noisy. i had a fashionable choice of purple, orange or yellow plugs ;D but at the end of the day, i got to protect my only good ear. but that also means i can't carry a decent conversation :-\ *sigh* the life of an SSD
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I just ordered the "flesh tone" ear plug- but these have not arrived in the mail yet.
These are available here
http://www.hyperacusis.net/hyperacusis/helpful+products/default.asp
In the meantime “florescent orange� fashion statement it is for me… ::)
DHM
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dhm - i read on this site that putting ear plugs is discouraged as it will increase your sound sensitivity. however if the sound is more than 80 decibels, you should put ear plugs - and 80 decibels include sounds like vacuuming, hair dryer, coffee grinding, electric mixer, ie all normal home activities! so should i wear ear plugs all the time and end up with sensitive ears or should i wear plugs if i can't stand the noise and could end up damaging my good ear? ??? just a thought on this rainy day.
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Excellent question... mmm let me read up some more ...
I know that the days I do not wear my earplug my face gets very tight...
I see a neurologist tomorrow, for a consultation, and I am going to pose this very question.
I will get back to you.
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Konnie -
have you considered a BAHA? It's definitely not for everyone, but it's a wonderful option for those of us who are SSD.
Your head should be healed enough from your AN surgery to try the demo. You might want to ask Dr. Wiet about it.
Just a suggestion,
Jan
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jan good suggestion..
I don't know. I guess I'm not sold just yet, or maybe I'm still to vain..
I'm sure their will come a day when i say the heck with it and go for it but i hadn't reached that just yet....
Again who knows Maybe I will change my mind after i go back to work Nov 10th. we will have to see how i do being SSD...
I know when i saw Dr Wiet in Sept he said to wait for a year..
konnie
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I get this too... :o when I lay down to bed at night... either postioned on my back or on my AN tumor side. It often too happens to me only at night, when I am tired, and in response to a banged door or something loud and sudden.
So far now one with "neuro" at the beginning of their title has given me an explanation. :-\
I wonder what on earth it is- this loud ping- and what the cause is... ???
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Konnie -
Dr. Wiet said to wait one year! :o Wonder why that is ???
Maybe he's thinking by then you'll either be adjusted to the SSD and not interested in a BAHA, or you'll be really fed up with being SSD and will definitely decide to get one.
I'm no doctor, and though I've met Dr. Wiet, he's not my doc and I'm obviously not going to second guess him.
I am curious though as to why he said to wait so long. Dr. Battista let me try the demo as soon as my head was "healed" - so I tried the demo 4 months post op and had the implant 5 months after that. Guess it's just something they differ on.
Jan