MY TURN

A New Way to Hear

I'm still getting used to losing the hearing in my right ear. But I've learned to count my blessings-and how to listen with my left ear.

Newsweek Web Exclusive
Feb 15, 2008 | Updated: 11:56  a.m. ET Feb 15, 2008

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  • Posted By: Peachyyy @ 08/10/2008 10:08:27 PM

    I lost the hearing in my left ear after very intensive surgery.
    Everything had to be removed after years & years of ear infections.
    I also have paralysis on the left side and it has been a year now and was hoping for better resultsafter that much time, but nothing has changed. After the ear surgery....I had to have brain surgery because the infection and damage had gone into the brain also.
    I count my blessings I am still her..but I miss my smile more than anything else.
    W/out that smile...I feel sad all the time.

  • Posted By: kategriffin @ 05/26/2008 3:34:26 AM

    Has Ms. Gorman been examined for a Cochlear Implant for that ear? May help?

  • Posted By: jenster80 @ 02/23/2008 9:14:43 PM

    I agree that Gorman is an excellent example to her children and anyone who wants to live and work abroad. She's very fair in her rendering of the situation -- explaining about the national holiday and the various attempts to resolve the problem.

    Like Gorman, my mother-in-law became deaf in one ear at the time of her fourth preganancy. Coicidence? Probably. I'm no medical professional, but have heard a few pregnant women complain of ear discomfort (pressure, fluid changes). I wonder if sudden or temporay hearing loss and disomfort is common among pregnant women?

  • Posted By: jenster80 @ 02/23/2008 8:59:25 PM

    Couldn't agree more that Gorman is an excellent example to her children and anyone who wants to live and work abroad.

    Like Gorman, my mother-in-law is deaf in one ear and the loss of hearing happened at the time of her 4th pregnancy. With all the unusual changes that occur during pregnancy, I wonder if sudden or temporary deafness is at all common among pregnant women...

  • Posted By: worldexplorer @ 02/16/2008 9:23:14 PM

    It appears you experienced Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, which comes on suddenly and can sometimes be corrected to some degree with steriods. I experienced this 4 years ago, waking up totally deaf in my left ear with a ringing sound. I guess one of the tricks is starting the steriods quickly, and i was lucky enough to get right in with one of the top docs for this in the US who put me on high doeses of oral steriods, liquid steriods applied to eardrum 4x/day, as well as anti-virals, etc., resulting in most of my hearing returning over the course of a month. As I'm told, Meneire's Disease is similar, but is a progressive, not sudden, decrease in hearing often in both ears, similar to what Kristen describes below. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to respond to steriods, so there is no treatment. Thought people might like to know in case they experienced the same symptoms since acting fast is crucial.

  • Posted By: Fort Begay @ 02/16/2008 5:20:04 PM

    I applaud Gorman's stoicism, boring as she may be to some. Imagine going deaf while aboard and not racing home to the States for a solution, but adjusting to the outcome and being to laugh wryly about it. If only more people would adapt and thereby overcome. No whining, no theatrics, no superior Americisms. Hats off to you, Gorman. Please continue to teach your four children about humility, adapting, and moving on.

  • Posted By: phiomalibumalibu @ 02/16/2008 4:21:11 AM

    Hearing is very much related to listening. I like the new products at earbud.mobi for my ipod and my blackberry. I think there are special devices also from Japan that pick up vibrations.

  • Posted By: kristin.urban@gmail.com @ 02/15/2008 1:10:05 PM

    Although I have not completely lost my hearing, I have a hearing loss in both ears. The loss effects only the range in which people speak, making it very hard to hear what everyone says. I am also in my 30's and my hearing loss is unexplained. My hearing loss has come with all the fun side effects, ringing in both ears on and off everyday, people who don't understand why you can't hear them, and having to constantly adjust the sound on the TV and radio to hear. I have a similar outlook towards my situation and feel like I've adjusted to it, I really don't have a choice, my hearing loss is now a part of who I am. Thanks for sharing your story, it's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with something like this. -Kristin, Maryland

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