I sure would like some opinions. My daughter is 22 and has been wearing hearing aids since the age of 7. She finally is considering the surgery and has it scheduled for August 9. She has no problems with hearing aids and hears well with them. She ice skates and is worried about balance after the surgery. She also plays violin and is worried about the music sounding different. The recovery time and the side effects from surgery is also a concern. Does anyone have any advice?
I sure would like some opinions. My daughter is 22 and has been wearing hearing aids since the age of 7. She finally is considering the surgery and has it scheduled for August 9. She has no problems with hearing aids and hears well with them. She ice skates and is worried about balance after the surgery. She also plays violin and is worried about the music sounding different. The recovery time and the side effects from surgery is also a concern. Does anyone have any advice?
I had the surgery to fix damage from a fall, I'm 47. In my case it was, well, not 100% successful but again mine was damage repair and not for otosclerosis. As for the balance issue, I have had zero balance issues since my surgery. The first day or two I was a little unsteady on my feet, but I was back at my desk job 4 days post-op, shopping at the grocery store on day 5. Some people are a bit unsteady but it normally lasts just one or two days. I had no dizziness.
My son is 17 and contemplating the surgery, he's had a unilateral loss in his left ear for 5 years that we know of. I think it goes back further than that. He has an aid but barely wears it as his loss is only one sided, his right ear hears perfectly. He does say that he can hear better overall with the aid in, but he likes the way things sound in his good ear better. Things will probably sound different to her at the very beginning, but at her age her brain will adjust very quickly to hearing without the aid.
__________________
Lele, I do not advise landing on your head! It can seriously screw up your hearing! Fell New Year's day 2011, had surgery 5/12/11 to fix the ossicular chain dislocation, I have a new stapes now.
I waited more than 21 years from my initial diagnosis of otosclorosis in one ear only to actually having a stapedectomy done (8 days ago). I was evaluated by 4 different ENT doctors over the years, and never felt comfortable having the procedure done until I saw the 5th doctor a few months ago. This doctor performed my operation. I was very concerned about complications...frankly the loss of hearing in one ear was more of a nusiance than a serious impediment. But the worst case scenarios, along with talking to doctors I felt didn't have enough experience, caused me to hesitate. I would much rather be hard of hearing in one ear (even deaf) than have lifelong problems with balance, taste, etc. I had my initial follow up appointment today, and was relieved that everything appears to be on track. To be honest the first couple of days after the surgery were pretty scary, but I have felt better each day. None of the worst case complications have arisen. It will still be several weeks before I know exactly how much hearing I have regained, but I am optimistic. You might think that given things have worked out well for me so far (knock on wood) that I would say "I just wish I had done it sooner!" But in fact the opposite is true. I am glad I waited until I was ready, and until I found the right doctor (I will say that I wasn't looking continuously for doctors for 20 years, and I am sure I could have found a highly trained surgeon I was comfortable with 20 years ago, but at that time I wasn't mentally prepared). So, in terms of advice, I can't really give a recommendation as to what your daughter should do. I can say that if she is serious about having the procedure, make sure to get the very best surgeon you can...do your homework and find someone who has extensive experience in successfully performing stapedectomys. I have been told that there is a high correlation between successful surgical outcomes and the frequency with which the surgeon performs the procedure. I looked for, and found, someone who has performed thousands of stapedectomies, not a doctor who has performed a few hundred. I also insisted on the entire procedure being performed by the specialist, and not being operated on by any residents, interns, etc (I don't know if this was even a possibility, but I wanted to be absolutely sure). Anyway, not sure if this helps. Best of luck.
I waited more than 21 years from my initial diagnosis of otosclorosis in one ear only to actually having a stapedectomy done (8 days ago). I was evaluated by 4 different ENT doctors over the years, and never felt comfortable having the procedure done until I saw the 5th doctor a few months ago. This doctor performed my operation. I was very concerned about complications...frankly the loss of hearing in one ear was more of a nusiance than a serious impediment. But the worst case scenarios, along with talking to doctors I felt didn't have enough experience, caused me to hesitate. I would much rather be hard of hearing in one ear (even deaf) than have lifelong problems with balance, taste, etc. I had my initial follow up appointment today, and was relieved that everything appears to be on track. To be honest the first couple of days after the surgery were pretty scary, but I have felt better each day. None of the worst case complications have arisen. It will still be several weeks before I know exactly how much hearing I have regained, but I am optimistic. You might think that given things have worked out well for me so far (knock on wood) that I would say "I just wish I had done it sooner!" But in fact the opposite is true. I am glad I waited until I was ready, and until I found the right doctor (I will say that I wasn't looking continuously for doctors for 20 years, and I am sure I could have found a highly trained surgeon I was comfortable with 20 years ago, but at that time I wasn't mentally prepared). So, in terms of advice, I can't really give a recommendation as to what your daughter should do. I can say that if she is serious about having the procedure, make sure to get the very best surgeon you can...do your homework and find someone who has extensive experience in successfully performing stapedectomys. I have been told that there is a high correlation between successful surgical outcomes and the frequency with which the surgeon performs the procedure. I looked for, and found, someone who has performed thousands of stapedectomies, not a doctor who has performed a few hundred. I also insisted on the entire procedure being performed by the specialist, and not being operated on by any residents, interns, etc (I don't know if this was even a possibility, but I wanted to be absolutely sure). Anyway, not sure if this helps. Best of luck.
Thanks so much for your reply. This information will be very helpful. I will pass it on to my daughter. I had not thought of the possiblity of interns, etc. I would only want the specialist to perform it and I will check to see how many he has performed. Very good advice. I am glad you are doing so well. Thanks again!!!
I had the surgery to fix damage from a fall, I'm 47. In my case it was, well, not 100% successful but again mine was damage repair and not for otosclerosis. As for the balance issue, I have had zero balance issues since my surgery. The first day or two I was a little unsteady on my feet, but I was back at my desk job 4 days post-op, shopping at the grocery store on day 5. Some people are a bit unsteady but it normally lasts just one or two days. I had no dizziness.
My son is 17 and contemplating the surgery, he's had a unilateral loss in his left ear for 5 years that we know of. I think it goes back further than that. He has an aid but barely wears it as his loss is only one sided, his right ear hears perfectly. He does say that he can hear better overall with the aid in, but he likes the way things sound in his good ear better. Things will probably sound different to her at the very beginning, but at her age her brain will adjust very quickly to hearing without the aid.
Thanks so much for your reply. I appreciate the information. I will pass it on to my daughter.
I sure would like some opinions. My daughter is 22 and has been wearing hearing aids since the age of 7. She finally is considering the surgery and has it scheduled for August 9. She has no problems with hearing aids and hears well with them. She ice skates and is worried about balance after the surgery. She also plays violin and is worried about the music sounding different. The recovery time and the side effects from surgery is also a concern. Does anyone have any advice?
Hi!
I had my stapedectomy on 20th June after thinking about it for a long time.I decided to have surgery because my CIC hearing aid did not improve my severe hearing loss in left ear because moderate hearing loss in right ear does not help me in hearing better and I do not have a hearing aid for that.People around me do not know that I wear hearing aid in my left ear because it is not visible from outside.But when I started missing too much,then I was left with no option but to have a stapedectomy.
Even after this surgery, I am not sure whether my hearing will significantly improve or it will always stay there and I will not need a hearing aid.
Your daughter is very young and is wearing hearing aids and does not seem to have a problem with them and can hear well so why not wait a little longer for surgery because you can have surgery anytime in life but if the operation is not completely successful,then either she will have to continue with hearing aids with added fear of prosthesis developing problems and then the process cannot be reversed but now if hearing worsens,hearing aids can be changed or even at some point of time when doctors will start saying or assuring that now the surgery has become perfect and chances or failures have been eliminated, she can have surgery.You wanted an honest opinion so I have given mine because this is a very complex operation and does not guarantee success and at times results in more problems.
Being 13 days post-op of Stape. surgery, I would say wait till she is older and perhaps isn't as worried about ice skating and playing the violin. It is a prosthetic devise and not like the original equipment you are born with. At least a hearing aid can be adjusted from outside of your body.
Ihad my surgery 2 weeks ago today. The first week I was very dizzy and off balance. Went back to work 3 days after my surgery but struggled very much to make it through the first couple days back. After the 5th day of feeling exptreme dizziness I was begining to think that it was permanent. After the 7th day the dizziness and unsteadiness went away almost completely. It takes about a month to completely heal from this surgery so the hearing will be off for at least that long (so as my Dr tells me). Right now everything is muffled and I can hear myself talk louder, but my hearing is still better than before. I hope that this helps out with decisions.
What did you decide about the surgery of your daughter.Because she is to underto surgery on 9th of August? I have a hearing test after my stapedectomy on June 20th.Do wish me well for the hearing result.I pray that your daughter's surgery goes very well.
Fell New Year's day 2011, had surgery 5/12/11 to fix the ossicular chain dislocation, I have a new stapes now.
