Hearing

DebbieJ said:

I'm using subtitles on my TV now :-)

Beau Chapeau said:

hmm, thought about that, but put off with the thought of the cost.. 

It’s a side effect of cancer treatment and you are entitled to a free nhs one. NHS use the modern ones that cost the earth privately. Just get yourself on the waiting list . 

definitely worth looking into then.. 

My hearing aids are NHS and they are good. They are quite small and I control them from my phone so easy to adjust them to different conditions. Well worth asking about them. 
I realise now I was very lucky to get seen quickly.  My consultant is in ENT and the audiology department is next door. I was wearing my hearing aids by the time of my next ENT appointment two months later. 

Hi Rachael. My hearing was not great to start with but after treatment it deteriorated so much I needed hearing aids.  It’s moderate to severe now. While in treatment it felt as if i had my head in a bucket of water.

i decided to go private and got the Phonak hearing aids and had them within 6 weeks of ending treatment. Super happy with them. Not cheap but it’s made such a difference to my quality of life. I get 5 years of twice yearly checkups and adjustments plus should something  happens I get a replacement 

Hmm seems like they downplay this hearing loss as a side effect! Although I suppose this is a self selecting and small sample.Yes, a bucket of water! I've been saying I feel like my head is stuck in a goldfish bowl! 

R

Only when I asked was I told it would affect my hearing but they also felt it can and would improve. I have tinnitus as well and the hearing aid has not improved it 

I had hearing loss in my left ear after surgery for a maxillectomy. I was totally deaf in that ear but apparently due to fluid. My surgeon put in a grommet and after a few weeks I could hear again in that ear. I got off very lightly compared to most. That ear still tends to block up from time to time so I have to be careful not to get water in it. A bit tricky as I enjoy lap swimming but am using ear plugs and a wrap to hold them in place and that seems to work O.K.

Lyn

Rachael S said:

Hmm seems like they downplay this hearing loss as a side effect!

It was highlighted on my consent form for treatment. 

Hi Sophie, This sounds like me! Straight after the maxillectomy there was a lot of swelling but hearing was fine, then a few weeks later, before radiotherapy started it just sort of started clogging up, and they thought a blocked eustachian tube. It has got worse over the course of the radiotherapy. So maybe it will get better, or maybe not. Will just have to wait and see! I've never had any sort of issue with my ears in 51 years, so all a bit novel! Glad to hear yours improved! 

R