Spencer White

I am a 67 year old male who was very healthy and active until contracting lung cancer a little over a year ago. Fortunately for me, following chemo, radiation and surgery a scan indicated that all of the cancer is gone, and I am slowly recovering from all the treatments. Unfortunately, I lost the hearing in my left ear at about the same time, which was diagnosed as sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The loss was accompanied by severe tinnitus, which has become worse over time. I had a little tinnitus prior to this, which was explained to be a result of explosive noises during the Vietnam War. However, the tinnitus I experience now makes the earlier noise seem like a low hum by comparison. The noise is so severe that it affects the hearing in my right ear, makes it difficult to think, seems to effect my balance and also takes the form of loud chirps, cheeps, and other obnoxious chatter. Last, it is literally painful to have noise come to me directly in my left ear; a pen dropped sounds like cymbals, a car passing me on the left is like a freight train, and a small voice spoken in my left ear comes across as a shout.

I saw 2 different ENT's, and each told me that I had experienced a sudden, dramatic hearing loss, and nothing could be done to remedy it. They said that the cause of such a loss was still pretty much unknown; it could be a virus, a broken vein, a nerve, etc., but in their world was incurable. The only suggestion they made was for me to go to an Audiologist and purchase a hearing device which "may" mask the tinnitus.

I look fine, and have a difficult time describing my symptoms to others, including health care professionals. The continued aggravation of this condition is affecting my entire life, and the way I interact with others. Isolation in a quiet place is preferable, and I am afraid that I'm losing touch with my sanity. I have no ideas where to turn for help.