I lost total hearing in my left ear 11 1/2 years ago.  I went to bed one night and when I  awoke the next morning I could not hear one thing.  A friend called me on the phone and I kept saying hello hello and I couldn't hear her.  I changed ears and could hear her then.  I went to my family Doctor and he sent me to a ENT and he told me that it was a virus.  Two years ago I had gone to bed and I always leave the TV on and set it to go off.  My husband came to bed and I thought I heard him say something so I looked at him and he looked like he was sleeping so I laid back down.  In just a few minutes I heard him ask me to please turn the TV down.  I sat up to turn it down and my head felt so strainge then the sound on the TV started going down down down.  I jumped up and told him to get up he had to take me to take hospital.  They had told me before if I had come sooner they may could have helped me.  We went to the hospital and the ER Doctor said I had fluid on my inner ear and my eardrum was real red.  He gave me medicine and told me to go to ENT the next day.  I did and he sent me to specialist .  I had a hole in my eardrum that he closed, but did not help my hearing.  I can hear but can not understand what is being said.  My Cochlear nerve in damaged, but can not tell me how it happened.

I am seeing a ENT at UAB in Birmingham in April. 

Any information anyone can give me I would appreciate.  I am very nervous about this .  I don't know what to expect.  I hate to give up the hearing I have now.  I can read lipe pretty good, but that is not like hearing.  I am not happy with the way I am living now.  Everyone is so considerate and helpful to me now.

Myrna P