Now Hear This

"YOU'VE LOST ABOUT 60% of your hearing in your right and it's permanent." "What?!" I stared at the audiologist.
So he repeated himself, louder this time. He thought I couldn't hear him, which I suppose makes sense given that his entire job is assessing hearing problems. But I had heard him. I was just in shock. I was relatively young45 years old and healthy. I am a fitness instructor. A wife, and mom of five kids. How had this happened? How am I supposed to live my life with one ear? I burst into tears.
Losing my hearing overnight
Right before Thanksgiving 2023, I got what I thought was a minor head cold. No fever, no pain, no cough-just some congestion and stuffiness that made my right ear feel as if it was underwater. I told people it was probably just a sinus thing as I instructed them to "talk to my good ear." I figured it would resolve on its own eventually.
It didn't. One month went by, then two, and I still couldn't hear well, but because of holiday busyness I didn't get it checked out. It wasn't until the end of January, when I went to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor for an unrelated issue, that I thought to mention it. As soon as I did, the doc looked at me in alarm and told me to make an appointment for a hearing test the next day.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Reader's Digest US.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Reader's Digest US.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

MOOSE ALERT! (THAT'S NO BULLWINKLE)
We thought we were prepared for any wildlife encounter. But not this one.

KEEPER of the FLAME
His best friend died a hero's death in Vietnam. Six decades later, he won't let us forget.

WELCOME HOME!
The best part about leaving? Coming back.

HOW NATURE HEALS
Getting outdoors is as close to a cure-all as you'll find. It's fast and free, with few (if any) side effects.

Paying Attention to Adult ADHD
New awareness and diagnostic tools are helping more of us understand how our brains work

News FROM THE WORLD OF MEDICINE
WHY IT'S SMART TO GET THE EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL

My Forever Tree
A beloved sugar maple slowly succumbed to disease. Today, she lives on in a new form.

New Ways to Relieve Pain
Don't resign yourself to a life of discomfort. Here's how to stop hurting.

THE SQUATTER IN MY HOUSE
YOUR HOME IS YOUR CASTLE-UNTIL SOME STRANGER INSISTS IT'S THEIRS

Serving Some Tennis Facts
A GRAND SLAM isn't just a four-run homer in baseball or a breakfast order at Denny's. It also refers to winning tennis's four major tournaments, two of which are about to start: the French Open (May 25 to June 8) and Wimbledon (June 30 to July 13).