volcom61913
New member
I have unilateral (one sided) severe hearing loss. I've recently found out that I have TMJ. I've been working with a Physical Therapist to loosen my TMJ muscles. As part of this process she pointed out to me that I speak out of one side of my mouth. My TMJ is worse on the side side I don't speak out of. Turns out that I'm speaking to my good ear and shifting my jaw that direction and not using the muscles much on the side of my "bad" ear. She recommended that I practice trying to speak from both sides at the same time. I'm 39. Trying to learn to break a habit I've had since I was born with is a daunting prospect. I'm not sure where to start. I haven't been able to find out much on one-sided hearing loss and speaking toward that ear. Everything I can find is directed towards children in school.
Anyone out there have or know someone who has hearing loss in one side? Do they also have the tendency to speak towards that ear or is it just me? How do they compensate their speech with the hearing loss?
I'm thinking maybe I need to find a good speech therapist. Problem is that I don't have a lot of money and what I do have I'm using to pay out of pocket for the TMJ issue. I'm not sure I can affort PT and speech therapy. I also recently found that the new technology hearing aids would help my "bad" ear enough I could recognize speech now, but I need to come up with $4400 for them. Having some hearing in that ear might help, but it will be a while before I'm able to fiscally take that approach. Any advice would be appreciated.
Anyone out there have or know someone who has hearing loss in one side? Do they also have the tendency to speak towards that ear or is it just me? How do they compensate their speech with the hearing loss?
I'm thinking maybe I need to find a good speech therapist. Problem is that I don't have a lot of money and what I do have I'm using to pay out of pocket for the TMJ issue. I'm not sure I can affort PT and speech therapy. I also recently found that the new technology hearing aids would help my "bad" ear enough I could recognize speech now, but I need to come up with $4400 for them. Having some hearing in that ear might help, but it will be a while before I'm able to fiscally take that approach. Any advice would be appreciated.