Although by now I am very used to living with the constant ringing in my ears that is my “friend” tinnitus, every once in a while I wish it would go away.  Far, far away.  I don’t get upset or depressed about the constant noise, thankfully, but I sure can understand why some folks do.  The ringing is relentless and ever-present; it never stops, and it can distort other sounds (including speech) so they are difficult to identify and understand.  To cover up or “mask” the ringing, I always have the radio or music playing in the background.  A few days ago I was listening to NPR and was delighted to hear a story about tinnitus featured.  I listened attentively, as this was something I could really relate to.

As I was listening to the story (a link is included at the end of this article), I found myself hoping that I would learn there was a new cure or therapy on the market.  Honestly, I was surprised by that.  I don’t think of myself as someone who wants a cure to my hearing problem, because I don’t really view it as a problem for most of the time.  But there are those moments, I am realizing, when I would like the constant ringing to stop.  And it doesn’t.  It just doesn’t stop.  So I can’t run away from it, I can only do my best to find ways to live with it.  According to the story I heard, there aren’t any amazing new cures out there, although some folks find relief (acceptance?) through the use of meditation.  I haven’t tried that myself (I’m not good at sitting still and clearing my mind, as those who know me can attest), but I would be willing to give it a go at some point.  For now I have put the notion of a cure behind me, and I am firmly back in the “I am not going to let this bother me” camp again.  Let the bells in my ears ring all they want; sometimes I don’t hear them at all because I am outside listening to the birds and the wind in the trees instead.

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/138163304/tinnitus-why-wont-my-ears-stop-ringing

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/07/18/138166813/rethinking-tinnitus-when-the-ringing-wont-stop-clear-your-mind?ps=rs

Since joining the MCD team in 2006, I have had the opportunity to meet with a variety of folks from all across the state, many of them experiencing hearing loss that occurs later in life.  I’ve given them information about equipment and technology that can help overcome their communication difficulties, and counseled them on requesting accommodations that state and federal law ensure.  I constantly caution care-givers and service providers to be aware of the impact that hearing loss has on adults and their relationships, and offer resources that help improve their service delivery.  I guess it is fair to say that I have become immersed in this world, which is ironic because I am gradually becoming hard of hearing myself.  My audiologist suggested I have damaged my hearing by exposure to loud sounds, which in my case was most certainly music.  In addition to that damage, I also have tinnitus.  In both ears.  The right one is OK, but the left one is pretty bad.  The constant ringing tone never goes away, which not only drives me crazy sometimes (actually it can keep me awake at night), but it also “covers” speech sounds which can make it difficult for me to figure out what someone is saying.  Listening to the radio (I am an avid listener of Public Radio for two reasons: I appreciate the programming without commercials, and by turning up the volume I can drown out the tinnitus ring) can be a challenge sometimes, because I can’t make out key words crucial for understanding the narrative.  Like so many others like me, I simply walk over and turn up the volume.  Unlike many others though, I don’t upset my spouse in the process.  My husband is Deaf, so he isn’t bothered by the radio, no matter how loud I set it.  We’re lucky we don’t have neighbors close by too.  At some point I will probably start using a personal amplifier system, also known as an Assistive Listening Device (“ALD”), for watching TV.  When I do, you can be sure I will write about the experience!  Because one thing I really, really want to do is to help people manage their hearing loss, which includes being open, honest, and unapologetic about it.  My hope is by doing so, the stigma of hearing loss will go away, and owning hearing loss and hearing aids will be as “acceptable” as having myopia and reading glasses.  Anyone care to join me??