So my husband hasn't been able to hear properly for the past 16 years or so (I've only known him for four). After a severe ear infection he sucked it up and went in to the doctor, who sent us to an ENT.
I've spent years hearing "Huh?" and "What?" and having the tv cranked up so loud that our neighbors below us can hear the evening weather report in their apartment, with the doors and windows shut.
We were expecting to hear the words "surgery" followed by "your insurance doesn't cover it." What weren't expecting is - "You have fluid built up behind both ear drums so bad that they aren't moving. We can fix this by stabbing your ear drum with this long sharp pointy object, sucking the fluid out with this vacuum, and inserting these ear tubes. And all without the luxury of pain medicine! Did I mention that it will take about 30 seconds and we can do it right now?"
So he did it. Handled it like a pro. I watched every agonizing second. Other than trying to squeeze the chair handles in pieces, he didn't move or twitch or make any sounds other than "That hurt like hell!"
Immediate change. He went from not being able to hear anything to being able to hear more than me! The tv is set on barely above a whisper. I've heard everything now from "Why do you have to eat so loud!" to "Shhhh!! Talk quieter!" Every little sound still hurts his super sensitive hearing.
But he's fixed. And it didn't require surgery! So that's fantastic!
I've spent years hearing "Huh?" and "What?" and having the tv cranked up so loud that our neighbors below us can hear the evening weather report in their apartment, with the doors and windows shut.
We were expecting to hear the words "surgery" followed by "your insurance doesn't cover it." What weren't expecting is - "You have fluid built up behind both ear drums so bad that they aren't moving. We can fix this by stabbing your ear drum with this long sharp pointy object, sucking the fluid out with this vacuum, and inserting these ear tubes. And all without the luxury of pain medicine! Did I mention that it will take about 30 seconds and we can do it right now?"
So he did it. Handled it like a pro. I watched every agonizing second. Other than trying to squeeze the chair handles in pieces, he didn't move or twitch or make any sounds other than "That hurt like hell!"
Immediate change. He went from not being able to hear anything to being able to hear more than me! The tv is set on barely above a whisper. I've heard everything now from "Why do you have to eat so loud!" to "Shhhh!! Talk quieter!" Every little sound still hurts his super sensitive hearing.
But he's fixed. And it didn't require surgery! So that's fantastic!
