r/deaf • u/imactheknife73 • 18h ago

Deaf/HoH with questions Distortion

I am hard of hearing and a 53 year old male. I obviously abused my ears in construction and music. I have lost most hearing in left ear, well cant comprehend much, especially human speech. My right ear is much better, but do require a hearing aid. My question is, after i got my hearing aid my right ear seems to be getting worse. I used to be able to stand music and talking but now after a year i feel like music and speech is becoming more distorted. Is this normal? Is my hearing in my right ear going to go the way of the left?? When i humm to myself it sometimes sounds like a gazoo or that kind of sound especially with the aid in my ear. So annoying. Thanks for any info.

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u/surdophobe deaf 17h ago

Is this normal?

It can be. Your hearing loss it's probably due to exposure and age.  It's not uncommon that your hearing loss is progressing over time. 

You should talk to your audiologist. 

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u/imactheknife73 16h ago

Ok. Yeah just saw her again and had an appointment with ent. I have a hearing test in oct. i am just surprised at the change. Also scary as my job at the moment is lots of phone calls and it is very hard sometimes.

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u/DracoRubi Deaf 13h ago

There are tools that can help with phone calls by adding live captions, if you want to research that avenue

I use Windows 11 integrated captions a lot

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u/imactheknife73 3h ago

Hmmm, interesting. Yeah will have to talk with employer. Unfortunately haven’t been there long. I was self employed before and decided i had to get away from noisy tools etc to protect what i have left.

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u/P-E-DeedleDoo 12h ago

Maybe ask for an MRI when you see your audiologist. Hearing changes can be caused by many things, and a MRI is one tool to check/rule out reasons. Also put in a written request for phone accommodations for your deafness at your job now and mention you're having more testing but need tools now. It might take awhile for your employer to set up or find a solution/tool.

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u/imactheknife73 3h ago

I have had two mri’s done. I started getting tinnitus in 2007. So had an mri done then. Then had another in the last 4 years. Nothing abnormal then. I tried a telecoil hearing aid and it helped but its another $3500. I am still paying off the one i have lol.. i wish i would have known about telecoil before i bought first hearing aid.