Caroline is 46 and lives in Essex. A few years ago, her life changed forever when she woke up with a blocked ear, tinnitus and vertigo. Although she sought medical support, unfortunately due to delays and misdiagnosis, she was not given potential treatment quickly enough and her hearing loss became permanent.
Now, as new research highlights the importance of doctors treating patients with sudden hearing loss within seven days, Caroline wants to raise awareness about the importance of taking action quickly if you suddenly lose your hearing.
How my sudden hearing loss began
As a counsellor and psychotherapist my job is to listen to people, so being able to hear felt really important to me.
One morning in December 2020 I woke up and my left ear seemed blocked. As I sat up, I had vertigo and I noticed tinnitus, or ringing, in my ear. I was concerned about my symptoms so I spoke with an online GP that evening (due to Covid there were no face-to-face appointments).
The doctor said not to worry, it was probably just ear wax and that I should book an appointment with an audiologist for ear wax removal. I had no reason to doubt this advice, so I contacted an audiologist, although due to the restrictions, the soonest appointment was around six weeks away. Over Christmas I managed the best I could.
Misdiagnosis and consequences
In January 2021, I was seen by an audiologist who told me there was no wax build up. They advised me to speak with my GP again, who quickly referred me to an ENT consultant. I had an MRI scan which came back clear, and I was told my hearing loss was permanent and that the cause was idiopathic, or unknown.
I sought a second opinion from a specialist, who said I should have been given steroids more quickly and that it was now very unlikely I would recover my hearing.
I left feeling disheartened and angry as no one could tell me why I had lost my hearing and the misdiagnosis meant I’d missed the window for potential treatment. If I’d have been prescribed steroids sooner there’s a chance my hearing might have recovered.”
Adapting to the change
Coming to terms with my hearing loss was a really difficult time for me. I found it extremely hard to adapt. I would focus my attention on my hearing loss, and I would often wonder if I had misheard something someone said. During times of silence, I really noticed my tinnitus, which was usually a low-level hissing sound.
I lost a lot of confidence and started to avoid social situations. My main support was my partner and my son who were amazing. At first, I found it challenging to tell people I had hearing loss, and I felt embarrassed if I misheard something.
Sudden hearing loss was a condition most people hadn’t heard of, and it seemed like a lot of people didn’t understand why I was so troubled by the loss, as I still had one ear with full hearing. I’m sure that before my hearing loss, I wouldn’t have realised how much this can affect someone either.
Managing my hearing loss in daily life
It took some time for me to move forward and get back to work and socialising again. Fortunately, I work with clients in a quiet environment on a one-to-one basis, so my hearing isn’t too much of a problem. When I go out to restaurants or places with a lot of people or background noise, I’ve learnt how to position myself so that I can best hear what they’re saying. If I’m walking down the street with someone, I encourage them to walk on my right side otherwise I am constantly asking them to repeat themselves.
Finding gratitude
I’ve got much better at letting people know about my hearing loss. I still have difficultly locating where sounds are coming from because everything sounds like it comes from my right side as this is the ear that I have full hearing in; sometimes this can feel dangerous when I’m outside alone or crossing the road.
My hearing loss has reminded me that we never know what might happen in life and I try to remember to be grateful for the good things around me and live each day as fully as possible. I’d advise anyone who has a sudden change in their hearing to seek medical attention straight away. Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency, it’s essential you and your doctor act quickly to potentially save your hearing.”