Don’t neglect hearing issues, even if they’re unrelated to MS

I underwent cognitive testing in May, and it was extremely thorough and more involved than I expected. I saw the notes on the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare website soon after, but the psychologist called me to discuss them in depth last month. I breathed a sigh of relief when she told me that I was completely cognitively intact and had established a baseline, which will allow us to measure any changes in my cognition going forward.

Then she switched gears and asked how long it had been since an audiologist had checked my hearing.

My immediate response was to chuckle and wonder aloud why everyone keeps asking me that, but the reality is that I know exactly why. It only takes a short conversation with me to realize that I have some hearing loss. Before my last deployment with the Army, I needed a hearing waiver, and the VA noted almost a decade ago that I had both hearing loss and tinnitus. Following an in-depth audiology exam last week, I finally decided to do something about it.

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Jan. 4, 2017 Columns by Debi Wilson

Tinnitus and MS: An Annoying Combination

Addressing my hearing issues

I have several bad habits, but since my diagnosis with multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the worst has been dismissing other health issues. I either assume that if it’s not MS, then it’s not important, or that everything is caused or made worse by this disease, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Neither rationale is a good reason to ignore an aspect of my health, but I have the distressing tendency to do it anyway.

According to the National MS Society, only 6% of MS patients report auditory issues such as hearing loss or tinnitus. I have lesions on my brain stem, but I don’t know if they affect my hearing.

I received the hearing waiver in 2009, about the same time I experienced my first noticeable MS symptoms. Based on auditory tests, my hearing has not significantly worsened since I started taking Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in 2017. While the idea that these things might be related is compelling, they’re likely just coincidental.

The philosophy behind Occam’s razor tells us that the simplest answer is probably the correct one. The simplest answers to my hearing loss and tinnitus are genetics, years of exposure to loud noise, and some less-than-stellar hearing protection. My hearing issues may not be related to MS, but they affect my quality of life, and there is something I can do about them. I will follow my audiologist’s recommendation and get some hearing aids.

Although I probably needed them years ago, I never seriously considered getting a pair, and I haven’t kept up with the technology. Apparently, they’ve come a long way since I last paid them any attention. The ones I’m getting are rechargeable and use Bluetooth, so I can make and receive phone calls, listen to music, and improve my hearing all at the same time. They won’t do much for my tinnitus, but I’ve lived with that for so long that I’m used to a little background noise. I’d probably even miss it.

Until there’s a cure for MS and, perhaps just as important, a way to reverse the damage it has caused, I should be concerned with improving my day-to-day life. I’m getting better at addressing aspects of my health that aren’t related to MS. I will miss being able to use “Sorry, I didn’t hear you” as an excuse when I forget to do something, but I’m glad I’m finally addressing this.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.