Steve EasterbrookAug 2, 2024
Two years ago, I experienced Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL), and am now almost completely deaf in one ear. This year, one of my colleagues had the same thing. Now I see there's a study out showing a strong correlation between COVID and SSNHL.
I guess that explains a lot. But, shit.
BTW If you find you suddenly lose hearing in one ear, get yourself to a specialist *immediately*. You have a 24-36 hour window to save your hearing before it becomes permanent.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00338-9/fulltext
Show threadSteve EasterbrookAug 3, 2024
What’s it like to suddenly lose hearing in one ear, you ask? The other ear works fine, right?
First, it’s a hidden disability. Nobody notices, unless I tell them, which can feel awkward and embarrassing. Took me a long time to get over that.
With only one ear, I’ve lost all ability to detect where sound is coming from.
That means I can’t filter out background noise. I can have a perfectly normal conversation in a quiet environment. But if there’s background noise it gets hard rapidly. 1/n
Show threadStarbeamrainbowlabs
@steve Oh gosh! Yeah, I'm #ActuallyAutistic and filtering background noise is hard enough with hearing in 2 ears. You have my sympathy!
Aug 3, 2024 at 2:25pmWeb
Show threadSteve EasterbrookAug 3, 2024
@sbrl
That’s a good point. Having raised an #ActuallyAutistic kid, I’m pretty sure I am too. Noise was always a problem even before my hearing loss. I wonder if there’s a compounding effect.
Show threadStarbeamrainbowlabsAug 3, 2024

@steve I would not be surprised if it was a compounding effect.

I wonder if someone has done study on this before?