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Posted on: Thu, Apr 24 2008 12:02 PM

Posted by: Tickmeister Posts: 21

Is there anyone else here like myself? I noticed my hearing getting worse in my teen years, but doctors said I heard fine and was just imaging things??  In my thirties I decided to pursue doctors again with the first audiologist saying again nothing was wrong then a year later I found another audiologist who ran tests involving hearing with background noise and she discovered I had hearing loss in a few of th high frequencies. So I got hearing aids through Voc Rehab since insurance of course considers them cosmetic!  I just got a 2nd set of HA's this winter have my first ones started having electronic troubles after getting popped in an electrical storm! Now I'm told my HL is now in the moderate range after my latest test though no doctor has ever figured out why I'm lossing hearing.

I feel totally alone. I grew up in the hearing world and find that the deaf world sees themselves very separate from the late hearing impaired. I have difficulty at my jobs with people not understand I cannot hear on the phone without a headset because my BTE's do not pick up sounds from a regular handpiece. Also they can't comprehend how difficult it is to hear on the phone when the whole office is filled with people screaming, laughing and goofing off.

I also have been diagnosed with Central Audiotory Processing disorder and feel totally alone because no one in the general public or most doctors for that matter understand it. I don't think my OT that Voc Rehab provided me even understands it and that there is a "delay" of my brain translating sound into a meaning.  Does anyone else have CAPD?

Posted on: Thu, Apr 24 2008 12:29 PM

Posted by: bonniethesurvivor Posts: 1,117

 I too have moderate hearing loss that has become progressive over the years, and have discovered that it is very difficult to function in both the "hearing" and the "deaf" worlds.  The "hearing" world does not understand moderate hearing loss because you can understand some things, and for a multitude of reasons, the "deaf world" had developed a culture that is all its own.

I can understand the reasons behind "deaf culture," particularly the historic backgrounds to it.  But there is a definite difference between being Deaf and deaf.  I have still found, however, that a number of "deaf" people have helped me with pointers for dealing with my problems. One is to learn to sign now, while I can still hear fairly well, so that I will have time to develop this skill (something I had already started to learn to be able to communicate with other "disabled" folks) should my hearing levels decrease.

Another suggestions is to simply and courtesously ask people to repeat themselves if you can't hear them:  "Would you mind repeating that," or "can you say that in another way," might be particularly good for you if you get some frequencies and not others.  Can't offer any help re CAPD, but wanted you to know that you're certainly not alone on the hearing issue. Also, you may qualify for the hearing disabled telephone systems, about which I know nothing, but your Voc Rehab people may be able to help you there.  Good luck!   Bonnie 

Posted on: Thu, Apr 24 2008 5:54 PM

Posted by: Musician83 Posts: 63

I also have a mild-to-moderate hearing loss in both of my ears. It's not due to CAPD, though. Mine was either the result of my brain hemorrhaging a few days after I was born, my first bout with labrynithitis (sp?) or all of the ear infections that I had as a child.

Trust me, you're not alone.

-Musician83