During my freshman year of college, one morning I woke up and everyone sounded like they were talking underwater. The incident was not debilitating as I got used to it over time. However, I did go see an audiologist and I had what was called “sudden hearing loss.”
That was almost thirty years ago. What I had turned into a case of Tinnitus which is a constant ringing in the ear. I have also been able to live with this too. In the mid 1990’s I investigated the possibility of a hearing aid and there was nothing available. Since then, I have checked in every ten years to see if there had been a leap in technology that would help the hearing loss.
In 2011 I tested a hearing aid that essentially amplified sound. I got to test the device for a month. The device helped, but not enough to justify the cost. Twelve years later I decided to check in again. Last week I had an appointment with the audiologist.
You know when you get news that you already pretty much knew but it was still a bit of a shock to hear anyway? Well, what I learned is that my hearing had gotten worse. Not a major jump but enough to where it was disturbing.
What I have in my left ear is called Profound Hearing Loss which means I am not able to hear anything below 91 decibels. This qualifies me to be legally deaf in my left ear. The dig came when I learned I had some hearing loss in my right ear as well. So, I will be looking into hearing aids as there has been another technological leap.
Still, there is the case of the truth that I knew was there all along, but that truth being confirmed bugged me. Why is that? I think it is because there is still that small chance of “maybe it got better” or “it is still the same” until it is verified thus leaving no room for doubt.
Knowing for sure is eventually a good thing in that a person is not living in any uncertainty. However, getting to the point of knowing or learning the actual truth is good but can take some significant time of adjustment. The product of that process leads to contentment.
There is also that temptation to remain in the not knowing for sure phase on purpose. The saying “ignorance is bliss” can be inviting at first. Examples of this can be putting off a doctor’s visit when something does feel quite right. Another example is being in a relationship where one is putting up with toxic behavior because this is better than not being in a relationship at all. Putting forth the effort to start the process where the truth will be found takes courage.
Say a person goes to the doctor and they find out they have cancer. Part of facing that truth is realizing there is hope. Cancer can be beaten though the process is hard with chemotherapy and radiation. The same can be said of the couple who learn there is a problem in their relationship. Hope comes in seeing a counselor on a regular basis. The process is never easy, but always worth the fight.
Back to the hearing loss. There may be a solution when I will be fitted with a hearing aid on May 22. The audiologist I saw said my left ear has not been fully active in 30 years and this type of hearing aid will sort of buildup that muscle, even though ears do not have muscles. I thought the work stopped when a person gets a hearing aid. The process is months of trial and error and adjustments made on the hearing aid that will be crafted for my ear.
A bit of a silver lining is that my insurance will pay for all it, which is very rare as some insurances just pay a portion. So, that is some hope.
If you are looking for a therapist near you then a Google search is a great way of finding one. I happen to be a therapist in Charlotte, NC but am licensed to counsel anyone in the state of North Carolina. In Google, try looking for “psychotherapist,” “find therapist,” “therapy near me,” or even “counseling charlotte, nc.” If you feel like you have hit a wall you are not able to get past, call me at (704) 458-6298 or email me at jeffhelms@clearerthoughtspllc.com.
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