TheSolitaryMan
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- Feb 25, 2011
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I'm really struggling to get on with people on my Uni course, but it's not just due to my own half-hearted introversion.
I was always shy back in secondary school, always have been a shy person, but when I actually do talk I can get on well with almost anyone.
Unfortunately one and a half years ago I went to bed one evening perfectly fine and woke up missing 50% of the hearing in my left ear. I also have constant tinnitus in that ear.
The docs couldn't tell me what was wrong, only that a scan of my head came up fine. They said it could suddenly get better again and "most cases do", but so far I've had no improvement.
Fast forward from that, and nowadays I basically can't interact socially in any kind of crowded environment without becoming really embarrassed at mishearing things constantly. It's even a struggle when working with people.
People I know assume I'm just dopey or not concentrating (even once I've explained my problem to them - they forget). People I don't know just get the impression I'm mocking them or something.
I feel like no one my age (20) actually understands my problem. It seems to be associated with idiots who listen to really loud music all the time, or old people.
I get really down sometimes, because I can't even make friends now. I can't imagine ever really having a romantic partner like this either - if they try to whisper to me I can't hear and anywhere I can meet people is inevitably crowded to hell.
For some reason people think it's all kind of a big laugh - you'll tell them about it and they'll be like "Eh? I can't hear! Heheheh." Really pisses me off.
*Sigh*
I guess I'm venting, it feels like there isn't much else to do. I want to be the guy who does fun, exciting stuff with other people, but even trying to hold a conversation now is just horrendous sometimes.
Anyone else got a similar problem? Or if not, any ideas on how I can try to live a little?
I'm thinking of going to nightclubs more - no one in those places can hear properly anyway
I was always shy back in secondary school, always have been a shy person, but when I actually do talk I can get on well with almost anyone.
Unfortunately one and a half years ago I went to bed one evening perfectly fine and woke up missing 50% of the hearing in my left ear. I also have constant tinnitus in that ear.
The docs couldn't tell me what was wrong, only that a scan of my head came up fine. They said it could suddenly get better again and "most cases do", but so far I've had no improvement.
Fast forward from that, and nowadays I basically can't interact socially in any kind of crowded environment without becoming really embarrassed at mishearing things constantly. It's even a struggle when working with people.
People I know assume I'm just dopey or not concentrating (even once I've explained my problem to them - they forget). People I don't know just get the impression I'm mocking them or something.
I feel like no one my age (20) actually understands my problem. It seems to be associated with idiots who listen to really loud music all the time, or old people.
I get really down sometimes, because I can't even make friends now. I can't imagine ever really having a romantic partner like this either - if they try to whisper to me I can't hear and anywhere I can meet people is inevitably crowded to hell.
For some reason people think it's all kind of a big laugh - you'll tell them about it and they'll be like "Eh? I can't hear! Heheheh." Really pisses me off.
*Sigh*
I guess I'm venting, it feels like there isn't much else to do. I want to be the guy who does fun, exciting stuff with other people, but even trying to hold a conversation now is just horrendous sometimes.
Anyone else got a similar problem? Or if not, any ideas on how I can try to live a little?
I'm thinking of going to nightclubs more - no one in those places can hear properly anyway