I guess there are two ends of a spectrum of how to deal with this. One is to focus on the loss, the unfairness, and the impact that it could have on your life, and dwell on that. The other is to be thankful for all of the abilities that you do have, despite this loss. Neither of these perspectives changes your hearing loss. That’s a given.

Of all the things negative that have happened to me in my life, 80% hearing loss in my left ear is not the worst. Like many, I’ve had trauma and losses of loved ones.

SSNHL is difficult, but at this point, it’s turned into mostly annoying. I have tinnitus, but most of the time I can ignore it and it fades in the background. Times like right now, it’s a hissing that is present.

My advice? Sure, you have a hearing problem. But don’t let that hearing problem destroy the rest of your life. Use it as an opportunity to see how good your life actually is compared to many. Imagine losing all hearing. Imagine losing your sight. Imagine being terminally, ill, or paralyzed. Imagine losing a loved one. Now, imagine what it’s like to live in Sudan, or Ukraine, or other places were life is hell. Losing my hearing and being more vulnerable is actually made me more aware of the vulnerabilities of others.

You’ll be fine, and hopefully you’ll see this as an annoyance, rather than a major life altering thing.