I think I’m anxious because I can’t hear well.

I think I’m having anxiety because I can’t hear very well out of my right ear. So I think I hear things that I really am hearing wrong. Then I get anxious about them and dwell on them. Why I’m not hearing correctly, I have no idea. I know I’m asking people to repeat things a lot. People are really patience with me, and they repeat themselves without getting angry at me. So I haven’t really been noticing it. But I think people are talking about me. I can’t hear people even when they are a few feet behind me. I realized I really was having trouble hearing tonight at the movies. These kids were being really loud and I just covered my left ear and I was able to hear the movie pretty good and I was able to ignore the kids.

Should I get this checked out by a physician? I never really thought until now that my hearing could be the source of all this anxiety I’m having.

I don't know if your hearing is the source of your anxiety, but definitely I would have it checked.

I'm so sorry, Mountaindewed I agree with Background Noise. Talk to your physician about this and see how it goes from there. I don't know if this may be the sole cause for your anxiety, though. There may be several other reasons, or perhaps none at all. Nevertheless, have it checked and see what you can do it about. Feel free to PM me anytime. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

See an audiologist about it. I'm 42 and hearing aids helped

I often wonder about my hearing

when I'm alone in front of the tv (with no distractions from outside)), it's turned up really loud

perhaps not so strange, but what is strange is that I stopped watching a programme I liked because it was, " too quiet."

how does it get too quiet. it's my hearing that's got worse. they don't suddenly film it in a cave

Yeah I know what you mean. I just bought a new DVD and I’m having trouble hearing it and it’s turned pretty loud.

It's very possible you may have wax buildup in your ear. Very common. Interferes with hearing. If so, a medical person should be able to remove it painlessly.

Today at work I couldn’t hear my coworker very well who was on my right side several feet away. She was joking around with me like she usually does and I just couldn’t hear her. So I told her I was having trouble hearing and she and this other coworker were joking about my “selective hearing.” I was laughing too. It was funny. But I have been feeling awful lately. In addition to my hearing issues I’ve had loss of appetite, General aches and pains, and I’ve just felt bad. Also today I had some diarrhea. I think I may have some sort of infection related to my ear, or not. But the hearing is a symptom. I’ll probably see a doctor next week.

Very good topic as I live with this too. It is one of the reasons I was having bad anxiety in the workplace - and why it got so bad I quit.

My own hearing trouble is related to barometric pressure and is tonal in source not volume (which is why hearing aids would be completely useless). Pressure affects the frequency of tones and hearing thus varies from day to day.

I too am often asking people to repeat themselves. Pretending to have heard them has resulted in humiliation for having made the wrong assumption. Hence the continually asking. I have noticed myself reading lips or turning to see the source of sounds being made.

What I recommend is seeing your doctor to rule out anything physical that could be impairing your hearing. It could be something as simple as wax build up. Your doctor will determine then if you require seeing an Ear Nose Throat doctor or just a simple referral to an audiologist to test your hearing level. THis should put your mind at ease.

meniere's disease may also be the cause. I’ve been getting dizzy spells where I’ve had to leave work early. I’ve had ringing in my ears and I’ve had balance problems. The balance problems are ridiculous. I’ll just turn around at work and my feet will start to come out from under from me. Then I’ll luckily be able to catch myself. Of course people have to see me almost fall. It looks like I’m coming into work intoxicated. I can’t walk down the stairs in my house without using the hand rails or else I almost fall down the stairs. Even the 3 step staircase I need the handrail. I’m only in my 20’s and in good physical shape weight wise.

The balance and hearing issues sound rough. Do you think it's some kind of ear infection? If it's that bad, I would see a doctor about it soon.

I woke up today and I felt really dizzy. I decided to call into work and see the doctor. The doctor diagnosed me with an ear infection. He also diagnosed me with a sinus infection as well. So basically, all the symptoms I’ve been having these past couple weeks are now medically explained. I can’t hear, am getting dizzy, and am having balance problems, because of my ear infection. And I’ve been having an upset stomach, nausea, and loss of appetite due to the post nasal drip from my sinus infection. I am going to be on antibiotics and ear drops.

It just goes to show that not everything is anxiety. I was told my whole adolescent that my symptoms were all anxiety. As an adult I now realize things can be medically explained.

Excellent, MountainDewed. Glad you finally have a genuine diagnosis!

Hope you'll be feeling better soon.

I think I may have messed up. I used my ear drops. My right ear got completely clogged up. I am now completely deaf in this ear and the pain is bad. I tried getting the wax out with a Q tip, and a lot of it came out, but it’s still very clogged and I still can’t hear a thing in that ear. I’ve been using more drops with no luck. My mom says it’s dangerous to do, but I’ve been holding my nose and then blowing trying to pop my ear. That hasn’t been working. I work in the morning. I don’t know why drops would cause it to clog. But the anxiety about this is kind of bad. Plus I have to tell work something. It’s just a mess. My doctor said to come back on Monday if I’m not better and I think I might have to if my ear isn’t cleared up.

Absolutely go back on monday, M.D. Or before! And it seems as if they should have taken care of the ear wax when you were in there for your appointment!

Yeah it’s still really bad. Plus you can see all the earwax in my ear since there’s so much. I’m cleaning it out with Q tips but there’s just so much it’s very noticeable. One of my coworkers sat next to me in the break room, and then glanced over at me and then got up a few seconds later. Then yesterday another coworker kept looking at my ear. Work knows about mt ear infection since I called into work on Monday. I also told them today that It wasn’t getting any better and that I was completely deaf in my right ear. So I wasn’t trying to be rude if I was not responding to them correctly when they were talking to me. So I doubt I can get in trouble because an infection is visible. It does make me really self conscious though.

Absolutely, MountainDewed. And why should they penalize you??? You are really ill. They're fortunate you showed up at all. And please do be careful with that Q-tip. The last thing you need is to poke your eardrum out (!)

I left work early because I felt awful and everyone was super supportive including the managers. I must have looked/ sounded like crap. I went to the doctor 1.5 hours later. He confirmed my infections are worse and I am not responding to the antibiotics. He flushed my ear. So now I can hear better. And he put me on a stronger antibiotic and added a steroid nose spray as well. I’m hoping to feel better soon. Luckily I’m not scheduled for a few days at work. But when I get back I can tell them all this.

Excellent, M.D. That sounds like better care. Be sure and take it as easy as you can and get lots of rest so all the meds can go to work.

Be better! Or "Be Best" as our First Lady is fond of saying.