My Own Little Public Service Announcement

**sunburninaz** · 04-01-2010, 12:54 AM

On the 2nd anniversary of my “little adventure”, I just wanted to post a quick PSA.

Should you, or anyone you know, ever experience a sudden loss of hearing (mine occurred overnight but I’ve heard plenty of stories of people experiencing it at all times – while talking on the phone, while waiting at a train crossing, etc.) get in to see an ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat) doctor or an otologist AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This is possibly a condition known as “sudden sensorineural hearing loss” and requires immediate attention. There is roughly a 5 - 10 day “window of opportunity” to start treatment (typically steroids) during which there is a better chance (maybe 50%) of regaining the hearing than if you wait. Many general practitioners (mine included) will try to treat the hearing loss as a simple ear infection or allergies and, in doing so, you lose valuable time in the window of opportunity – and that’s IF you can get an appointment on short notice (I couldn't). GP's simply aren't qualified to treat this. At the very least, if you must go to your primary care physician, bring up the possibility of SSHL (and don’t wait a week for an appointment!)

While I had never heard of this condition, it is far more common than even doctors I’ve spoken with knew. The loss of hearing is typically in one ear (90% of the time) though it can occur in both. It can be sudden or occur gradually over the span of several days and it should be considered a medical emergency. I should note that some people will regain their hearing without doing anything, some will regain a portion over time and some will not regain any hearing (despite treatment). The chance of recovery seems to be related to the degree of hearing loss experienced. In any case, it is still my recommendation to get to a specialist to give yourself every opportunity for recovery.

Hopefully, if I keep getting this information out there, maybe one of these days it will give someone a better chance at regaining their hearing should they experience this condition. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

One more thing: TURN THE VOLUME DOWN! While moderate to severe tinnitus (ringing in the ears) usually accompanies SSHL, I've found that I also have alot of ringing in my "good" ear - a direct result of too much volume and not enough protection while participating in loud activities (even mowing the yard!). Take it from me, you don't want to deal with this. I'll lay odds that many of you already have some degree of it - go into a quiet room and listen. What do you hear? My tinnitus sounds like the steam whistle from a boiling teapot - and yes, it's a 24/7 thing. TURN THE VOLUME DOWN & protect those ears!

**SULTAN1C** · 04-01-2010, 05:39 AM

Thanks man!

Will keep it in mind!!

MK

**PeepingScott** · 04-01-2010, 08:19 AM

Doug,
A nice reminder, yet an unfortunate one too. Since you first brought this up, I've noticed that I have that constant ringing in my ears. Maybe both ears, can't tell for sure, but it's all the time. Some evening it's more noticeable...during the day I don't notice it because of work and just higher sound levels during the daytime, but the calm eve's...it becomes more evident...
Soooooooooo...thanks for bringing it up, I probably would have never noticed this irritation if it weren't for you!!!!

Good advice, thanks for bringing this back up to the forefront...

**wishihad** · 04-01-2010, 10:10 AM

Thats good to know thanks for posting this. I had to take a class some years ago when i was first getting into the Carpenters Union. And they talked about haveing these little hairs or something in your ears, that stand up and stimulate when there is alot of noise. Then they lay back down when you are sleeping. Or the other way around? cant remember. They used an example>> When you are driving home from work and the ear things are standing, you have to have the radio louder, thats why alot of times when you get in your car or truck the next morning, the radio seems to be quite loud. Because those ear hairs or whatever they are have relaxed. And trust me after 8hrs of saws, nail guns, compressors, and all that, you get ringing in the ears. Ear plugs would work. But then you cant here what people are saying. Its a cant win type thing.

**jet threat kevin.joesdiecastshack** · 04-01-2010, 10:19 AM

wishihad wrote:
Thats good to know thanks for posting this. I had to take a class some years ago when i was first getting into the Carpenters Union. And they talked about haveing these little hairs or something in your ears, that stand up and stimulate when there is alot of noise. Then they lay back down when you are sleeping. Or the other way around? cant remember. They used an example>> When you are driving home from work and the ear things are standing, you have to have the radio louder, thats why alot of times when you get in your car or truck the next morning, the radio seems to be quite loud. Because those ear hairs or whatever they are have relaxed. And trust me after 8hrs of saws, nail guns, compressors, and all that, you get ringing in the ears. Ear plugs would work. But then you cant here what people are sayin my car radio was screwyg. Its a cant win type thing.

and all this time, I thought my radio was turning itself up in the morning
thanks for the info guys
Kevin

**rdln66** · 04-01-2010, 12:54 PM

Good message Doug. Thanks for the earful...Er..The sound bite..ahh.. The helpful INFO!.

Hope you have full recovery.

Being in the farming industry,there is plenty of instances where LOUD equipment is in use. Luckily for me,I started wearing ear protection at a young age.

Even then,I still have some slight hearing loss,and it never comes back.

Frank

.

**Phildirt** · 04-01-2010, 04:39 PM

Hey Doug, I remember when you first brought this up and I've kept it on my mind ever since. As we all get a little older we need to pay closer attention to things and deal with them as they come along. This post is a great reminder. Similarly, everybody should keep an eye on their blood pressure! Hypertension is truly silent, and you don't know damage is done until too late. As of last month I'm "on the list" awaiting a kidney. First sign of trouble was Dec. 2006, and dialysis started this past July. A little blood sample given to the doc can prevent a lot of hassle. -p

**Iamredliner** · 04-01-2010, 09:54 PM

Talk about timing! I am now part of this doctor's clinical research. I have had chronic tinnitus for 32 years. I just wrote this and later some other notes to get this doctor some funding for his work. I have personally "heard" what is was like before I damaged my ears.....read on....

______________________________________________

From: Miles, Susan A

Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 2:12 PM

To: Kalapach, Bruce E

Subject: RE: Tinnitus Suggestion for news

Bruce, that’s fascinating. I forwarded your note to Community Relations and ESH for consideration.

_____________________________________________

From: Kalapach, Bruce E

Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 7:07 PM

To: Miles, Susan A

Subject: Tinnitus Suggestion for news

Susan:

I am not sure whom I should be directing this inquiry to but I have to start somewhere. Please feel free to advise me on who might be the right contact if not yourself.

I am a 52 year old engineer in the Facilities department at the Fort Worth Aeronautics site. I have worked here since 1982. I have a severe case of Tinnitus (phantom ringing in the ears) ever since an accident with a gun when I was 21 years old. I have suffered with this for 31 or 32 years now. There is a definite hearing loss associated with the accident. My mind has learned to ignore the phantom ringing at times, but other times it is a horrible nuisance. It is present 24-7. What's worse is that it always seems worst when it is quiet. Sleeping is a chore.

I am very sure that this affliction is present in many people that work for Lockheed Martin as well as the rest of the world population. Lockheed is full of ex-Air Force and other military personnel that have problems with this. Not to mention all of the factory workers that have been subjected to high volume noise for years prior to all of the latest Safety awareness training. Also, A remedy for this has never been found.

I recently sent my daughter to college at West Texas A&M University (Canyon, TX just outside Amarillo) where she started as a freshman. After awhile I had signed up for the newsletters that come from that University. One of the newsletters described a breakthrough in the treatment of Tinnitus by a Dr. Leslie W. Dalton Jr., Ph.D. He has proven to me and others that the damage is NOT in the inner ear as physical damage but rather it is damage to the auditory portion of the brain instead.

After receiving this announcement I immediately contacted the persons responsible for conducting an upcoming learning session to take place at the campus. I wanted to donate my services towards further research in this area. After the learning session on Wednesday, March 10th, I went in for lab testing on March 11th. This is where I witnessed something I never thought would be possible again in my life. After extensive testing, he had me hooked up to some specially built earphones and "forced" my brain to change where it did its' hearing, much the same way that when people have a stroke, they must learn to walk, talk, etc. with a new section of their brain since the old portion is now dead. I was in tears when he let me hear again with the clarity and precision that I had 32 years ago. No phantom sound. I was no longer hearing everything through a "muffled tube". It was truly miraculous. I witnessed it "first hand". Me. Then, he had me take the earphones off and while he and my wife Lee Ann were talking he was waiting for me to react as I still was no longer hearing the phantom ringing. After approximately 25 seconds, the ringing returned. It sort of "rushed back in". I told him and he said that 20 to 25 seconds was typical for the brain to realize that the old "avenue" of hearing was still alive and well and then it "switches back" to the old section of the brain that has the damage in the form of the phantom ringing.

As if this wasn't enough, he has established a connection with this affliction and Autism. He has started to experiment with treatment of Autistic people and has had some remarkable results. Some of these people have "heard" certain things for the first times in their lives. He is using the same or similar system of changing the portion of the brain that does the actual translations of the auditory nerve signals as what he used on me. Some of his goals are to miniaturize the equipment he used in order to be able to use an IPOD or such to generate the necessary input to some ear buds or something for the short term fix. He wants to strive towards a permanent "Brain switch" so that I could teach my brain to continue "hearing" with a different portion of my brain permanently. He calls this "plasticity". That would be the long term goal.

He has spent over $350,000 of his own money on his research so far and has gone personally bankrupt at least twice. He keeps on going. I would place him in his middle seventies as far as age is concerned. He wants younger people to be able to pick up where he "leaves off" when he can no longer pursue this quest. This is why he has associated himself with the University in order to have access to these young adults. I am seriously trying to find out if Lockheed Martin is interested in providing grant money for this research of which I personally will be a part of. The benefits would be immense and the quality of life would be restored for those of us suffering from this disorder. The strides towards a cure for autism would be even a greater benefit. I am now officially part of his clinical research on this subject matter. He cannot start again until this coming fall because of lack of funding.

Thankyou for your attention. I am extremely excited over what the possibilities may be for the future.

Sincerely,

Bruce E. Kalapach

Facilities Sr. Staff

I am attaching one of the emails from West Texas A&M University advertising the learning session that I attended.

Here is the link……..I'm not sure how long this will last so I will include a .jpg of it also.

http://www.wtamu.edu/news...14_2010&utm_medium=email