Don't you think an MRI is overkill?

I got a letter from the ENT today, asking me to give him a call. I do, and he tells me that he's going to mail me a prescription for an MRI. He doesn't say anything about what he thinks may be wrong, only that the unilateral hearing loss means that an MRI is the next step in figuring out the problem.

I called my parents and ranted about how an MRI seems ridiculous. I mean, I just have some ringing, and I can't even tell that I have hearing loss. I doubt an MRI is going to do anything. I decide to wait a couple of weeks before making the appointment.

(In the interest of full disclosure, this post was actually written on 1/28/09.)

Press the button when you hear the sound

I went for my first-ever hearing test today. I guess I've probably had one or two while I was growing up, but this one seems like the real deal. I go into a soundproof booth, and then the testing guy puts microphone things in my ears and hands me a button. I press the button when I hear the beeps, which range in tone and volume. Then he says a word and asks me to repeat it. The test doesn't take very long, and he shows me the results: I have hearing loss in my left ear, but my right ear is fine. On my way home, I got somewhat upset, thinking, "Of course I can't hear EVERYTHING, the ringing is in the way! Which came first, the hearing loss or the ringing? Are they connected? I don't understand what's going on."

(In the interest of full disclosure, this post was actually written on 1/28/09.)

Something just isn't right

I finally decided to go to the ENT. The ringing hasn't stopped, and so, for my peace of mind, I am going to get it checked out. Dr. W is young but seems to know what he's doing. He instructs me to go for a hearing test.

(In the interest of full disclosure, this post was actually written on 1/28/09.)