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Posts posted by Elizabeth-Jane Clarke
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Hiya,
I'm Ejay and a newbie to the forum. I have been partially deaf in my left ear since the age of 15, due to cancer. I now have Meniere's Disease too, diagnosed approx 4 years ago, and both my ears are the same now. I have lost low frequency and some high frequency noises. I also have severe, loud tinnitus ( has got louder and louder over past 30 years). I hear 4 different tones constantly, including pulsatile, and one ear is slightly behind the other so it is like an echo.I have hearing aids, but despite specific setting supposed to help, they tend to amplify background noises too much and not help with conversation. I can hear better in one to one conversation, but if there is background noise or more than one conversation in a room at a time, forget it. However, if someone opens a packet of crisps at the opposite end of a noisy room, it is as if they did it right next to my ear! I use a nebuliser several times a day or my eustachian tube gets blocked and my breathing, swallowing etc., become so loud I cannot hear anything else. Ear pressure means I often feel as though I am underwater, and have vertigo.
I am wanting to learn BSL as I may lose my hearing completely, but also because speech is becoming increasingly difficult too, due to dysphagia caused by nerve damage from radiotherapy. I cannot eat or drink and I struggle with some facial expressions because of trismus and damage to facial nerves, e.g. I cannot puff my cheeks or push one cheek out with tip of tongue. I am sure there must be others such as those who have had strokes, who must face similar challenge with BSL, and I would love to hear how you adapt.
I home educate my youngest daughter, who is 11, and interested in joining the caring profession , so she is also eager to learn. We hope to do as much as we can online and then try to attend evening classes to complete official certified courses.
Hi :)
in Introduce Yourself
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Hiya, I live in Glasgow too.