I SURE DIDN’T SEE this coming! It started out like any ordinary morning. However, it didn’t take long for me to notice my right ear seemed plugged, like the feeling of fullness in the ear following swimming. As I tried the usual yawning and tipping my head to the side, I became alarmed to note something else too: I couldn’t hear on that side—not a sound!
All that we call normal can change suddenly. Most of us go along day by day expecting to meet appointments, accomplish routine tasks, and enjoy association with friends and family without interruption. Of course, we know subconsciously that good or bad surprises can occur at any time to anyone, but we mostly choose to downplay such thoughts, believing that the bad things happen primarily to others. After all, we are healthy, living a good, clean lifestyle, and have no genetic propensity to debilitating disease. Right?
But life on this earth offers no absolute guarantees. A natural disaster, the sudden death of a friend or relative, loss of job or property, the breakup of a friendship or marriage, loss of a pet, or a sudden medical diagnosis are just a few of the hard hits that can sweep us off our feet, initiating confusion, stress, anxiety, and change to quality of life and familiar routine.
THE BRAIN’S DILEMMA
As a nurse I realized that the sudden loss of or change in any body function should be regarded as a red flag, a warning that needs immediate attention and investigation. In any crisis, the brain’s conflict sensors jump into action and can be thrown into chaos as they struggle to interpret and deal with disruptive stimuli. The flight or fight signal goes into action, causing an increase in heartbeat, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Alertness is enhanced, as are levels of stress, anxiety, and fear.
In my situation, I found myself alarmed and confused. My right ear wasn’t working. I felt dizzy. What was happening? What should I do?
SUDDEN HEARING LOSS (SHL)
SHL happens to around 70,000 people a year in the United States. People normally have one ear that hears better than the other, and in the aging process gradual bilateral hearing loss is quite common. But the sudden loss of hearing ability in one ear (or sometimes both) without warning and for no obvious reason is not so common, and the associated risk of permanent damage therefore renders it an emergency. This loss of hearing is attributed to the hearing organ of the inner ear—the cochlea.
Among medical professionals, the cause of sudden hearing loss cannot be diagnosed with certainty. However, some possible contributors may include:
1. Blocked blood flow
2. The disruption of fluid balance in the inner ear associated with Meniere’s disease
3. An autoimmune inner ear disease
4. A ruptured membrane in the inner ear
5. A viral infection to the inner ear causing swelling around the auditory nerve
6. A mini stroke
7. A tumor
8. Head trauma
Many people delay in seeking medical evaluation, thinking the cause may be related to a head cold, buildup of wax, or water in the ear. Attempts at self-treatment, such as using ear drops or trying to clean the ear, only cause detrimental delay in getting the all-important early potential hearing-restoring medical treatment needed before it’s too late.
Following emergency tests and evaluations, the patient is referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for treatment and continued evaluation. Medications include treatment with an antiviral course of pills and corticosteroids taken by mouth or by injection over several weeks. At each followup appointment the hearing is tested by an audiologist in attempts to determine if hearing ability is being restored. However, appropriate and timely treatment isn’t always fully effective, and ultimate results can vary depending on the individual’s overall health, time when treatment was initiated, and degree of hearing loss.
THE REST OF MY STORY
Evidence of God’s care for me during this crisis includes my husband being home to take me to the emergency department for immediate evaluation. In addition, my daughter-in-law, who is an ER physician, attended to me there, seeing that all the appropriate procedures were initiated and cared for. Tests were inconclusive about the reason for my sudden hearing loss. It was determined the cause was likely a viral infection, believed to be the most common cause.
During weeks of follow-up, ENT doctor appointments, and taking prescribed medications, the hearing tests showed slow improvement to my ear. Now it is a waiting game of several months to determine if more improvement is occurring. Things I have learned through this experience include:
1. God knew what He was doing when He gave us two ears. We need both ears to balance what we hear, both in quality and clarity.
2. With one ear not working, voices, music, noise of groups, and even the ringing of a cell phone can all sound unnatural, distorted in clarity, and sometimes uncomfortable in volume or confusing in location of sound.
3. I have been amazed at how people I know and associate with have hearing issues of one type or another, something I never focused on before.
4. I’ve learned how important position is to someone who is struggling with hearing. Faceto- face conversation works the best.
5. Some of my friends’ and family members’ voices are very soft, causing embarrassment to me (and possible annoyance to them) when I must ask them to repeat what they have just said. Am I conscious of the volume of my voice when conversing with others?
6. I’m becoming more patient with myself when I make mistakes due to hearing misinterpretation. Seeing the humorous side of incidents is good medicine.
7. Although this experience has included a journey of adjustment, I’m thankful for my good left ear and for every little bit of improvement to my right ear. It is God who heals and restores, who leads and comforts, and who is true to His promises. I offer Him my praise and thanksgiving for His faithful presence in the valleys of life.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
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RESOURCES:
https://community.thriveglobal.com/5-unexpected-life-events-andhow-to-react-to-them/
https://www.bustle.com/p/how-to-deal-with-unexpected-life-changeaccording-to-psychologists-18567643
https://www.accountantsgrowthclub.co.uk/16-ways-to-cope-whenlife-changes-suddenly
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/now-hearthis-dont-ignore-sudden-hearing-loss
https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/center-hearing-balance/conditions/sudden-hearing-loss
https://www.nextavenue.org/how-to-cope-with-sudden-hearing-loss/
