Loss of Hearing Question - Ear, Nose & Throat Message Board

froggypond · 09-24-2007, 06:26 PM

Hello everyone! I wanted to see if anyone could give me some insight on disability... Here is my story, my husband who is currently working suffers from hearing loss. He is completely 100% deaf in his right ear and moderately deaf in his left. He has gone through the hearing test and seen all the doctors and they are stumped. They can't seem to find a reason for his hearing loss as they do not see anything in there etc. He has looked into getting a hearing aid but the doctors have told him it won't help due to there not being any sound wave in his right ear. And due to the cost of them we are a little hesitant thinking it would seem to be a waste of money.If we were to get a hearing aid for his partial good ear he would still only hear from the same side of his head only a tad louder. He has found it difficult to work at certain jobs due to noise such a shops. Like I stated he is currently working but finds it very difficult and this is only at a pizza shoppe.Does anyone know what could have caused this and Is there any compensation out there for this "disability"? I looked into filing a social security disability application for him and the S.S.I lady told me that with what he makes they will not approve due to him being over a $900.00 limit is this true? I am not working right now and we depend on his income so he can't quit and wait to possibly be or not be approved.. He also suffers from flat feet, back pain and severe wrist tendonitis if this helps. I would appreciate any suggestions! Thank you!

BigL · 09-25-2007, 06:54 AM

I really dont know if your husband is leligible for disability and to be honest the doctors nor anybody will probably never find out what caused the loss.

BUt if your husband is totally deaf in one ear I would definitely look into getting a cochlea implant. They work wonders and if you have insurance you SHOULD be covered (I dont want to promise you anything).

My mom had profound hearing loss in both ears and received little help from her hearing aids. She finally went through and got the C.I. and it has completely changed her life. She went from being unable to have normal one on one conversations with people in quite and being unable to speak ont he phone to being able to do all of that again and more.

She cannot hear like somebody with normal hearing, but she can now hear again and if she wanted to she could go out and get a job and do just fine. It really has been a God send to my mom.

Let me know if you need anymore help.

I hope everything works out for you and your husband.

Floridagirl77 · 09-25-2007, 11:16 AM

FroggyPond,

I am sorry as I do not know the answer to your disability questions. I don't know if your husband has seen a Neuro-otologist though and wanted to mention that possibility. There are not a whole lot of them out there but they know so much more about the ear than a regular ear, nose and throat doctor. Neuro-otologists only work on the ear and I have found them to be so much more helpful than an ENT. NOthing against an ENT as they are good with your whole ear, nose and throat system. But for hard to diagnose ear problems a neuro-otologist is the way to go.... Good luck to you both.