June of last year was a very difficult month for me. I was tired from a long year of teaching and was up to my neck trying to get my students ready for their end of the year exams. My mother, who lives 1100 km away from me, fell in her home and was hospitalized for ten days. My daughter had just been accepted into a competitive figure skating program and we were adapting to her new schedule that involved a lot of early morning practices 80 kms away from our home. And on top of all that, we added a new puppy to our family. I was on overdrive with very little sleep and it took it’s toll on me.
It was during the last few days of school that my right ear started hurting. Sore ears are nothing new to me. I have been suffering from earaches and ear infections since I was a little girl. I average about 4 ear infections a year along with numerous other ear aches and pains… enough for my doctor to refer me to a specialist. As a self proclaimed expert on my own ear infections, I don’t go see my doctor every time my ear begins to hurt. Normally the irritation just goes away on its own and the pain is controllable with an over the counter pain reliever. I just assumed that if I left my ear alone, took some antihistamines and pain relievers, my ear would heal itself and everything would go back to normal in about a week.
When I received the news that my mother had fallen, I finished out my last week of work and drove to stay with her after her release from the hospital. It was during the 11 hour drive from Quebec to Prince Edward Island that I started to relax, knowing that my summer vacation had just started. However, what all teachers know and will tell you is that the minute a teacher begins to relax, that is the minute he or she will get sick. So during my drive to Prince Edward Island, my ear went from bad to worse.
While helping to take care of my mother, I tried to ignore what was happening in my ear. One evening I couldn’t take it anymore, so I went to the hospital, was told I had an ear infection, got some antibiotics, and figured that things would be back to normal in a few days.
Upon returning home to Quebec and finishing my antibiotics, my ear did not seem to get any better. In fact, it got worse. One morning, I woke up to see blood covering my pillow and the inability to hear from my right ear. I went to see the doctor and was told that my eardrum had burst, was prescribed stronger antibiotics, and was sent to see the specialist right away.
The specialist did a variety of tests, including a hearing test, and it was determined that I was suffering from sudden deafness, also know as intermittent hearing loss. The audiologist told me that while there was significant loss in the right ear, she was hopeful that my hearing would return to normal. The specialist agreed with her, set me up on a long term medication regiment, and sent me on my way.
For a while, my ear was doing very well. I could hear clearly, didn’t have the sensation that my ear was blocked, and was able to be in a silent room without hearing constant ringing in my ear. It was wonderful! But, as I said before, I am very susceptible to ear infections and I find myself once again struggling with the feeling of fullness and the inability to hear properly from my right ear. Apart from taking my medication, there is nothing really that I can do to make the situation better. I have accepted the fact that this inability to hear from my right side is possibly permanent and I am learning ways to cope with it and adapt to it.
For the moment, I am not using hearing aids but I know that I will have to in the future. Currently, I do hear some noises, but mostly everything comes across as muffled when directed at my right ear. My family and students have all been educated on my sudden deafness and they use the strategies that I have taught them to make sure that they are heard and understood properly. I ask that people approach me from my left side now, and that when they speak to me they face me directly. You will see me turn my head towards the right so that my left ear is closer to the speaker. My students know that in order for me to hear properly, only one person can speak at a time and if the class gets too noisy, they know that it makes the inside of my right ear vibrate uncomfortably. They really do their best to make me feel comfortable at all times and they don’t seem to mind when I ask them to repeat themselves or speak louder for me to hear them!
So what is next for me? Only time will tell. I am being monitored by the ear specialist every few months to track the progress of my hearing, or lack thereof. I have accepted this as my new norm. I am not complaining. I still have my health, my family, and I am still able to teach. If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this… please do not take your hearing for granted. If you are experiencing earaches, feelings of fullness in your ears, ringing sounds that do not go away, or any other abnormal symptom, please see your doctor right away. Our jobs as teachers are challenging enough without having to add hearing loss!
If you are a teacher and is struggling with hearing loss, I would love to connect with you! Please leave me a message in the comments below or send me an email through the contact sheet on the blog! I am sure you would be able to provide me with some great insight!
Have a great day!
Talita says
Hey
I have bi-lateral hearing lost in my right ear. I have between 8% – 10% hearing. I picked up a virus while teaching and the damage was permanent, within 24hours. It was an absolute shock. I still remember the day the audiologists told me. I just burst into tears. I knew at the time a hearing aid wouldn’t be possible as I just couldn’t afford it. My family and friends had to adapt but mostly it was me. I still have to remind people to speak slowly and clearly. Sometimes it’s really hard and I find it embarrassing and frustrating but people always understand and it’s really up to me to be brave and day sorry can you please repeat that.
Last July I received my first hearing aid. For the first time in ten years I could hear on a phone in the right ear. It was honestly the most incredible, emotional experience. I had totally forgotten how noisy the world is. I might just add now that I teach kindergarten. So noise in the classroom is a given. Adjusting the sound of my hearing aid has be a complicated path. I have an incredible audiologist who helps me so much! My kids at school try their best to keep the noise level down but it is kindergarten so I am learning to adjust as well.
I have to admit like any teacher I rely on self medicating and dead or alive I am at work and I’m there for my kids. But when it comes to earache I’m paranoid! When a teacher at work has the slightest indication of a sore ear I scare them with my story and send them to the ENT. I have my ENT on speed dial and especially when it’s my hearing ear if there is the slightest of pain I’m in his office.
It’s scary and until it happens you don’t realize how much you use your sense of hearing. But what was amazing was how quickly my body naturally adapted to support me. God is great! He has given us incredible bodies!
I Heart Grade 3 says
HI Talita,
Thank you so much for your comment! It is nice to know that there are other teachers out there in the same predicament as me – although I wouldn’t wish ear problems on anyone.
This whole thing is rather new to me. Just when I think I am gaining my hearing back, something like a stuffy nose or a common cold while bring the complete deafness back. I never know from one day to the next what my level of hearing will be. It’s rather annoying and unfortunate, but it is now a part of my every day life.
It truly is amazing how our bodies are capable of adapting to whatever life throws at us!
Have a wonderful day and thanks for taking the time to reach out!
Monica