Any chance someone has had hearing improvements by a med or another method (operation, allergy shots, etc...)? Quite frustrate as one ear is deaf now and the other is 50% & quickly declining. All over the last 3 years. Have been to a couple of ENT's, still no direction or game plan
My hearing completely returned to normal after taking antivirals for 6+ months. This is not the norm, but does happen often enough to generate this paper: https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/otolaryngology/documents/recoveryofhearinginMeniresusingantiviraltreatment.pdf
Yes, bilateral cochlear implants. My hearing went from over 120 dB down to only 20 dB down (considered low normal hearing range). Best regards, Jim
Tom I took Acyclovir from April to November, fortunate to have no vertigo but the hearing has continued the decline. Changed to Valtex for the last 2 months, maybe long term on this could improve. Definitely frustrating
Jim, are you saying you've had the cochlear implants and if so are you pleased with them? The ENT said this was potentially an option for me
My hearing went from 55 dcb loss to normal (ie 20 dcb loss) in low frequencies. Did not return in nighest frequencies 6000+. The most important thing to me was the elimination of terrible distortion and tinnitus.
I've been taking 2,000 mg Valtex for the last 2 months. Before that, with Acyclovir I took 2,400 mg for 4 months than backed down to 1,200 mg, for the last couple before switching. I believe this did offset the vertigo, but the hearing has been frustratingly depleting.
I personally would talk to my doctor about going back to the max 3000 mg dose for a month or so to see if that helps. If this is viral related, and you're still losing hearing, then the virus has not been suppressed fully. On the bright side, no vertigo means your life is back.
I had some improvement in hearing with Valacyclovir. Not complete, but still helpful. Unfortunately, something else seems to be going on now that is impacting my hearing.
Hi Bill, Yes, I've had my left cochlear implant for over 10 years, and my right cochlear implant for over 5 years now. I am extremely pleased with both of them. As I mentioned, my hearing was over 120 dB down in both ears. With the cochlear implants (CIs) my hearing is now 20 dB down in both ears. The CIs corrected the distortion, recruitment and hyperacusis. I am now able to enjoy music in stereo, and I can use the house phone and my cell phone with either ear without a telecoil. Also with bilateral CIs I have directivity (can tell where sounds are coming from). Best regards, Jim
Regarding cochlear implants. It is important when considering any surgery, to ask before the fact if, post surgery, you will be eligible for a cochlear implant. Sometimes surgeries destroy parts that are needed for a ci and sometimes they dont and sometimes there may be some risk where the outcome is not know before hand.
Appreciate the response Jim, really glad to hear your positive report. As you've seen with my previous posts, its been a frustrating few years, as I'm sure you experienced for many years. The ENT said this is potentially the next option, its great to hear this good report. Cheers
I would like to know if your hearing is 'like it was when you could hear before Meniere's'? I see an audiologist now who has the implants, and loves them but says hearing is still not 'normal'. He's had poor hearing that deteriorated over the years and finally had to have the implants--not due to to MM but just bad ears/hearing!! He seems very happy that he can hear but did tell me the hearing is a bit 'unnatural'. So, my question is: Does your own voice and that of others sound like it did with your ears prior to MM or is it different? Thanks.
Sounds are quite distorted, even from a year ago. Have a hard time with voices, knowing who's talking and music is not always recognizable. Quite often I have significant fullness in one or both ears, it can come on quickly, within a couple minutes and lasts a couple hours to half a day. I had wondered if it could be allergy related, but after testing the Allergist said I didn't have any real significant. He did say I could take shots for 6 months but haven't decided it was worth the commitment. The other is trying to eliminate foods, see if these could be causing the issues?
Bill--I guess I misunderstood your first post. It sounded like you could hear fairly naturally--with music sounding like 'stereo' and it had corrected distortion, hyperacusis, and the phone was clearer, etc. In this post you said sounds are 'quite distorted'. Voices not so good and music not always recognizable. I guess I was really encouraged that this type of implant would really 'fix things' alot better--but now, not so sure. I suppose the main thing is--you can hear! Distorted or not, you can still hear! That's the important thing. Thanks for correcting my misunderstanding of your first post. Good luck and let us know how you are doing from time to time.
Yanksgirl - Were you directing your question to AKJim? He is the one with the cochlear implants. I have heard from a friend that the hearing is different, more robot-y. But I would love to hear AKJim's thoughts?
Yes, actually I posted in error--thanks for catching it. It is Jim that I need to direct the above questions and comment too. Thanks Muff. Hope we hear from AKJim again so we have a clearer picture of how well they work--as to clarity, etc.
Hi yanksgirl and Muff, The degree of success with cochlear implants (CI) is variable. Some, like me, have excellent results, others not so much. My audiologist says I am her star CI user. Initially, when my cochlear implants were first activated, everyone sounded like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. That is totally normal. My audiologist wanted my wife's voice to be the first sound I heard with my CI so she had her talk to me first. My first comment to her was "you sound like Donald Duck." When we first came home from my activation, I heard a lot of new noises that I could not understand. Claudia what is that noise? Oh that is Suzie (one of our dogs) barking. Claudia what is that sound? Oh that is the washing machine end of cycle buzzer. Claudia what is that sound? Oh that is the dishwasher. A faucet sounded like Niagara Falls. A toilet flushing was almost unbearable. Over time with much practice and updated CI maps as my dynamic range improved sounds became a lot more natural. This is a process that continually improves over a four year period. I forced my self to listen all of the time. I kept a radio or tv playing in the background all of the time. Initially music sounded horrible and I couldn't even tell if there was a vocal. Over time I started hearing various instruments. Finally, I started hearing vocals and with time everything improved. Now not only can I hear one of our dogs barking, I can tell which dog is barking. Now everything, music, friends, family, dogs, environmental sounds all sound just like they did before Menieres. I had even forgotten my wife has a Southern accent. Now I can hear it. One of my greatest joys was being able to hear our grandchildren's voices for the first time. The distortion, recruitment and hyperacusis were all fixed by the CIs. I can hear leaves blowing down the street. I can hear my wife on the phone in her office and understand what she is saying. It isn't perfect, but it is pretty darn close, and I'm extremely happy with the results. Best regards, Jim
I had hearing improvement after antivirals. Acyclovir - 3 years Valcyclovir - 6 months Still taking 3000 mg. 1000mg. 3X a day.