I have experienced hearing loss since I was 19 years old and was told I had Meniere’s disease and there was nothing to be done. I was told to live with it and make sure I moved close to hear.

I had severe dizzy spells which were incapacitating. However, I went on with my life and adjusted to make accommodations on those days I was not feeling well.. I got married, moved to Texas and had three children.

That brought a new set of issues with dizziness and nausea… and less and less hearing. It was hard to hear my babies crying so I relied on my husband to let me know. I did not realize it, but I started to withdraw from life and made excuses to not connect with people. I could not hear on the phone or in person. So, I would make excuses to not go places.

I did hesitate to seek care thinking it would not help. We moved to Alaska and I chose to go to an ENT for evaluation as teaching in a school was hard. I had my fourth baby and realized I need to be involved in activities with my family. The doctor, again, diagnosed me with Meniere’s and I was fitted this time with bilateral hearing aids. They worked for a while, but the hearing was changing.

I have severe/profound hearing loss in both ears and at the age of 49, the diagnosis of Meniere’s was reversed and it was recommended I get a cochlear implant in the ear that had NO hearing now.
So, in Oct. 2011 I was implanted. Now I wear an N6 in my right ear and a ReSound Quatro rechargeable in my left. I love it.