The Unexpected Journey: Discovering My Hearing Loss in My 20s
Hearing loss was never something I thought I would have to deal with in my twenties. I always associated hearing issues with the elderly—until I started experiencing it myself. It’s amazing how life can throw unexpected challenges our way, and in my case, the challenge came in the form of Otosclerosis.
The First Signs
I was 25 when I first noticed that something was off. At first, I brushed it off as something simple like wax buildup or water in my ear. After all, I had been swimming a lot in the past few months. But when I started favoring one side to hear better, I knew something was wrong. So, I did what seemed like the logical thing to do: I booked an appointment with my family doctor.
The doctor found something in my ears and referred me to an audiologist. Little did I know, that would be the beginning of my journey.
The Diagnosis
I’ll never forget the day I went in for my hearing test. I was floored. Shocked. Overwhelmed. When the audiologist told me I had Otosclerosis and that I’d need a hearing aid, I was left speechless. I couldn’t understand how this was happening at only 25. How could I possibly have hearing loss at this age?
I walked out of the clinic, my sunglasses quickly going on to hide my tears. I called my parents immediately, practically wailing into the phone, “I need a hearing aid!” Their response, though, was all I needed to hear at that moment: “It’s okay, we’ll help you get one.”
I was so grateful to have the support of my family and my boyfriend, now my husband, Martin, who was there for me when I needed it most. At the time, I was terrified, embarrassed, and unsure of what to do next. But the love and support from my closest people made all the difference.
Looking Back Before My Diagnosis
Reflecting on life before my diagnosis, I realize there were signs, I just didn’t know they were signs. For years, I had this wooshing, train-like sound in my ears, which I now know was Tinnitus. As a child, I never knew how to describe it, so I just thought it was “normal.”
I also had frequent earaches, but I didn’t get the usual ear infections. My mom would take me to get ear candling, which felt great, but now I know it wasn’t doing much for me.
What’s even more unsettling is how my hearing loss started in my left ear, and when I’d lie on my right side, I couldn’t hear well at all. At the time, I just made excuses for it. I attributed it to being congested or perhaps the aftereffects of swimming, never realizing the full scope of what was happening.
If I had known more about hearing health, I likely would have sought help sooner.
The Importance of Early Detection
I cannot stress this enough: Get your hearing checked, even if you don’t think you’re experiencing any issues. It’s crucial to know where your hearing stands, so you can take steps to maintain it before it’s too late. The moment I realized I had missed out on hearing so many sounds, it was eye-opening, but also heartbreaking.
My advice: Don’t wait. Whether you’re noticing something or not, regular check-ups are important, especially when hearing loss can often go unnoticed until it’s more severe.
Looking Ahead
Discovering that I had hearing loss at a young age was a tough pill to swallow. But over time, it turned into a journey of self-discovery and, ultimately, advocacy. My hope is that by sharing my story, I can encourage others to take their hearing health seriously and find support, just like I did.
Stay tuned for more posts on my journey through this process—what I’ve learned about hearing aids, the emotional ups and downs, and how I’ve grown to embrace this new chapter of my life.
If you’re on a similar journey, know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to feel scared, but it’s also okay to take things one step at a time. Healing is a process, and it’s something we can all work through together.
Follow my journey here:
@hardtohearit
