I Get to Keep Listening to the Music

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What is the worst thing that can happen to a music lover? Of course: hearing problems. A couple of months ago I thought that’s what I was facing. I went to the audiology clinic and the ENT clinic at the VA for a weird “phantom” noise in my ear. That turned out to be tinnitus (it’s speculated that Van Gogh had either that or Ménière's disease, causing him to cut his ear off [if he heard the constant, loud weather radio tone I’ve heard a few times, I can’t say I’d blame him!!]). The follow-up appointment was today. There is hearing loss, but nothing out of the ordinary. The doctor classified it as “mild” and “age-related” (in other words, a lot of people in their late 50s hear about the same way I do). Tubes won’t help the tinnitus, given that there’s nothing structurally wrong with my ears (that’s always a good sign!), so they’re going to try hearing aids. Say what? (Yes, I said that to my doctor, and apologized immediately: “I’m sorry, I know you hear that 20,000 times a day.”) I have an audiology appointment next month where we go through the process of getting hearing aids. It may not work, but I don’t have anything to lose....except the ringing in my ear. Best of all, I can keep on listening to the music!!!!! Thank God!!