This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
This past summer, Susan learned — very painfully — how delicate and precious our hearing is.
We were on the plane flying to NYC for BlogHer10. Susan had just flown home two days before from another conference and had been noticing that her ear was bothering her.
But what mom has time to worry about a sore ear when she has two days between conferences to unpack, pack, and cuddle kids?!?
As we were beginning our decent into NYC, Susan started to get concerned. “My ear is really hurting Janice!”
Not taking her very seriously, I replied, “You’re a grown up, Susan! Suck it up!”
But by the time we landed, Susan was in excruciating pain and when we arrived at the hotel, she could barely walk from the agony of what was going on inside her ear.
She took two Advil, two Tylenol, and fell asleep. By morning her ear drum had burst and fluid was leaking out.
Susan spent BlogHer10 partially deaf in that ear and the next nine months unable to fly or hear properly. She still has not regained complete hearing and is incredibly nervous when she does have to board a plane.
In fact, she had to MISS meeting Elton John when she came down with another ear infection just days before her trip to LA. (It was to be her first flight, months after her ear burst in NYC.)
After this experience, Susan and I have a new respect and understanding about hearing damage and hearing loss — and how we so often take our hearing for granted!
Did you know May is Better Hearing and Speech Month?
Hearing loss affects over 34 million Americans, including 3 million children. Hearing loss not only affects the lives of those who have the condition, but also the people in their lives – the children, the parents, the friends.
Join Rayovac this month to help spread the word about hearing disorders. Have you or anyone in your life been affected by hearing loss? We’d love for you to share your story.
Nominate a doctor for Hearing Professional of the Year
To support better hearing and the professionals in the industry, Rayovac is searching for the 2011 Hearing Professional of the Year. The Hearing Professional of the Year nomination gives patients an opportunity to thank and reward their Hearing Professional by recognizing them for making a difference in their lives. Entries can be submitted on Rayovac’s Facebook page now through September 30, 2011.
For more information about Better Hearing and Speech Month and hearing loss go to asha.org.
Please Note: We are Rayovac Sponsored Bloggers. You can find coupons and more at Rayovac’s Facebook Page.
Written by Janice, co-founder of the Mom Blog, 5 Minutes for Mom.
Tweet with us @5minutesformom
Paige says
Do you think if she had gone to the doctor sooner the outcome would have been different?
Idaho Jill says
I have had 3 ear infections since last fall. My eardrum has burst twice. It is the most awful pain imaginable since it is in your head. The 3rd ear infection I got on antibiotics before it burst – luckily. The doc finally put me on steroids for a week just to get the swelling down. I had tubes in my ears until I was 10 years old, and now the infections have started up again (I’m 39). I started thinking about getting tubes again when my doc suggested going to a cranial sacral therapist for eustachian tube manipulation. It’s great, I love it, and it’s working – there is air passing through the eustachian tube, I am hearing better, and it’s soooo relaxing!
Angela a.k.a. CPA Mom says
Because of multiple infections, I’ve got over 6 surgeries on my right ear and I’m profoundly deaf now. I’m going to nominate my ear doctor – because of him, I’m 40 years old and now I can hear thanks to a BAHA implanted on 2/28 and activated today. I’m beside myself with Joy.
Erica Mueller says
I haven’t lost hearing, but I have mega problems with ear infections, and have since I was tiny. Mom would take me to the Dr. for an unexplainable fever, and he’d declare I had a double ear infection, tug on my ears and be totally floored when I said it didn’t hurt. Then, other times, it hurts like, well, ya know!
The last time I flew I had cold symptoms, but no idea I had a double ear infection. I experienced some of the worst ear pain of my life as I landed, and for the next few days my ears hurt a little, but not enough that I thought I should see a Dr. After 2 weeks of cold-like symptoms, I saw the Dr. and she found not only a double ear infection, but lots of dried blood splotches where small blood vessels had burst. She couldn’t believe I wasn’t in horrible pain!
Antibiotics cleared up the infection, but I had funky hearing for about 2 weeks… that feeling of kinda off balance, where am I? coupled with fuzziness that you have when you first land came and went for 2 weeks.
Here’s hoping my children haven’t inherited my ear issues!!!!