Hi,

Over the years i have been exposed to what some may consider an excessive amount of noise, such as motorcycles, snowmobiles, chainsaws, hunting, skeetshooting, to name a few. All without protection because i was young and didnt know any better. I do have a loss in the left ear which starts at 15-20dB at 500hz and is 40dB at 1000, 2000, and 4000hz. My right ear is is better in that it probably only has about 15-20dB loss, but drops quickly to 50db at 4000hz.

So, i guess, with the little reading i have done, this is considered unilateral loss? One thing i have noticed is that i have a very hard time understanding people in cars, restaruants, and even outside. It is almost like white noise, in that peoples voices just seem to drown out completely. But yet, when i am having conversation with someone in a room, i have absolutely no problems understanding.

Another thing i have noticed is that when i use a walkman the sound is very bassy with slight distortion in the left ear, but the balance appears to be equal surprisinly. But with my left ear i cant hear a tv in another room whereas with the right i can hear it and even make out words.

So, am a little confused here. Afterall, one ear is still okay except for that loss at 4000hz, but that is outside of the speech range, right? So technically one ear is good. Can a bad ear affect perception in a good ear? I know nothing about audiology except for what i have read, but nothing really describes my characteristics.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jake

Yes all of this can affect what you hear from your good ear. You need to see an audiologist for a complete hearing evaluation if the one you had isn't current and see about getting fitted for a proper hearing aid to help with these problems. Be sure to see an audiologist for all of this though as they have the training to best diagnose and treat your hearing loss. And remember if the hearing aid they try you with just doesn't seem right or you don't like it so to speak TAKE IT BACK and try something different. Do not settle for something you are not happy with.

Thanks mlgable. I really appreciate your response to my questions. I guess my next questions are what will the audiologist do? What kind of tests? If they would suggest hearing aids, would it be one or two, given what i described above? I realize that only an audiologist can answer some of those questions, but i would like to kinda get an idea of what to expect. I really dont know what they consider to be "a problem", or if it is worthwhile for me to seek help just yet. If i would decide to do something, is it best to see my Primary Care Physician first about this? I would imagine that is the case because of referal purposes.

Thanks,
Jake

Jake,
You need to see an otologist (eye ear nose throat man usually) but make sure he's a hearing specialist and not a nose-job man. He will send you to an audiologist and get the results and interpret them.

Order of business (presumably with an HMO)...line up an ear man on the phone and find out if he's who you wnat. Get his insurance number and ask if HE or YOU should arrange the referral to an audiologist. If you, then ask him the insurance number of the audiologist.
Then, armed with that info, go to your PCP and get the referrals to either or both and call the ear doctor and finalize an appointment (see HIM before and after the test). If you don't follow the procedure exactly,you might get stuck with some pretty stiff bills.

It's fresh in my mind because I went through it last week...LOL. But I will be going the surgery route so it was important first to find the ear doctor who does stapedectomies- what I need!

[This message has been edited by zip2play (edited 04-25-2003).]