I am going deaf. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to cope with this emotionally?

I am a 32 year old single mom. I have a diease called meniere's. It is bilateral. Over the past few years I have been losing my hearing. My dr says eventually their will be severe permanent hearing loss. And there is really nothing I can do to control the disease. I might consider cutting the nerve in the right ear once the hearing is really bad. Atleast then I will have some relief from the dizziness.

I am scared. Sometimes I panic when my hearing goes out and I am in a social situation. I haven't told anyone yet that I have this. I am afraid I might lose my job. And I can't cover up what is happening to me anymore.

Does anyone have any ideas for helping me accept this and cope with going deaf?

Meneire's can be a truly frightening experience, as I'm sure you know. There are several sites that offer good information regarding the disease and the knowledge will help you. You should speak with your audiologist regarding local resources. They may have other patients with the Meniere's who are willing to share their experiences with you. If you can find your "triggers" for the attacks (salt, stress, lack of sleep) and avoid them, it will help.

You cannot lose your job due to hearing loss. You are protected by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). However, you must inform to be protected. In fact, if you require special devices such as a amplified telephone to do your job your company may be required to provied it for you (depending on the size of the company).

You need to speak with your family and close friends about what is happening to you. Once you have a support system, I'm sure you will feel better.

It will take years for the hearing loss to become so bad you would be willing to lose it all together. In the interm there are so many choices in hearing aids and assistive devices! In terms of cutting the nerve for relief of the dizziness, it is possible to only destroy the balance portion of the nerve and perserve the hearing portion. Meniere's does not destroy the nerve, which could be used by a device called a cochlear implant. This option would involve surgery and would come much, much later.

Try joining a support group and take a beginners sign language class now to help you prepare. good luck.

Just think.
They're improving technology all the time.
Keep positive, Mate
Even if you end up losing your hearing, it could be worse.

I don't know really but i would try to learn sign language starting yesterday and enjoy your hearing while you have it. Make recordings of yourself saying things to those you love while you can hear yourself I'd rather go dearf than blind because at least you can see that there are no bugs gettin into your food. can you send me a personal email and let me know the symptoms . at first my left ear was hearing like amplified and now it feels like it is kinda eaten away inside and it is especially weird when i chew gum. I think you will qualify for SSI.

Hello Sadez, Your situation is pretty interesting. Beethoven went through exactly what you are going through except at an earlier age and he was a famous composer. After he became deaf though he continued to compose some of his most brilliant symphonies! Hang in their, and find a hobby that you really enjoy that will take your mind off of it.

I don't know much about the subject, but I have a couple of friends (sisters) who were both born deaf. Recently (in the last year or two) they have been fitted with a new type of hearing aide. A small unit is implanted in their skull just behind their ear. They have a normal looking hearing aide which has a little magnetic piece that is placed over the implanted unit in their skull.

The older sister (who is totally deaf) told me that it was so dramatic for her hear for the first time in her life! The flushing of the toilet really surprised her! And she says that at night she just can't stand all the noise - and so pulls the magnet off and is as peaceful as can be. They are developing this stuff all the time so I'm sure you'll be ok.

You have gotten some great answers. I'd suggest looking your local phone book, you should have an agency called Deaf Action Center or something similar. They should be able to refer you to other adults who have lost their hearing. I would too learn sign language asap. Many community colleges have excellent classes. I studied sign language interpreting and loved it. YOu'll find the deaf world very warm, inviting and great people to be with. You may not even realize there is a whole Deaf community in your area with whom you can socialize with. However, be forewarned, many many who were deaf since birth do not like it when people think of deafness as this horrible disability. They just feel it's who they are and makes them unique (as do I) But once you start learning sign language you will find them very helpful. You may also find many oral Deaf adults who learned to speak and sign and can help you learn sign as you go.

You should be upfront with the people you care about. No need to shout it from the hills but at least tell your close family and friends.

The other answerer is right, read up on the ADA bc if you are fired bc of your hearing that is illegal. (what do you do?)

It might be interesting for your children to learn sign language also. I love teaching kids sign language, its' a very useful second language.

I do not know the mechanics of your disorder but a good ENT should be able to tell you if you are a candidate for a hearing aid or a cochlear implant.

You can find the support you need online. Google "Meniere's Support Groups". Or your ENT may be able to help.
Best of luck,
Amy

You may not lose all your hearing. I've had patients with Meniere's disease for 30 years and they have only a little hearing loss. So..there is hope.

As for the nerve severing. *IF* it ever comes to that for the imbalance, there is a much less invasive proceedure available. Its called gentamicin ablation or intratympanic gentamicin. It involves a small hole in the ear drum and a strong antibiotic (gentamicin) is placed directly on the balance portion of the hearing apparatus. This antiobiotic is very toxic for the balance organ and destroys it. This helps with the severe vertigo suffered by Meniere's patients.
A support group would be very helpful for you. If you cant find one locally, I am certain you can find one online.
Good luck...and keep the hope.

Make some deaf friends. Learn asl or see or whatever. Things like that.

bless you heart don,t be a fr aid .i found out in 1993 i was deaf doc gave me to years be for i would not be able to hear at all now i can,t hear in myleft
ear and my right ear is mostly gone .they told me was born deaf and was not detected until i got older . it is ok to be afraid but you can still live a normal life just like be for you well a just i promess. what kind of job do you .don,t panic this well not do you no good .take one step at a time talk to some one that well stand by you and help you . don,t be a shsmed after a while it won,t bother you hang in there please this does not make you less than a person you are the same preson you have all ways was it never bothered me people don,t treat me no driffent and they won,t you hang in ther all this is is a big shock to you right now . like i said find a friend that can help you thouh this or family god bless you

My heart goes out to you. You are not alone. You may want to check out this organization: Association of Late Deafened Adults (www.alda.org). Their main page has a link to join a chat list - you can meet other people who are going through exactly what you are experiencing. There are also local chapters all around the country. I wish you all the best.