Lost my hearing on left side 12/18/25. Handling using a phone
I'm a teacher and others were sick at school, on 12/18/25 I started to get dizzy and nauseous around 10 am. I blew it off as I have hEds, Achalasia, gastropersis and so much more. By 2 pm I couldn't hear from my left ear. I made an appt with my PCP for a few days away, it got moved to 12/31. I considered urgent care, but with my health history I figured I'd waste $150 on a "it's anxiety" visit. In the end it took till May of 26 to get into an ENT. I was diagnosed with profound to severe hearing loss. We tried steroids and the tests showed improvement to severe to moderate, I can hear words better, supposedly. I am 25 hours into trialing a hearing aid. The tiny bit in the ear hurts and is causing a bit of nausea and I cannot use a phone on that side.
The phone is a HUGE issue for my job. I am a special education teacher for in-person AND remote students. I spend a lot of time working with students over the phone. I have to document the conversations carefully, and I write with my right hand. I can't hold the phone with my shoulder, I'll dislocate something. (I tried today, didn't go well). A cochlear implant is on the table, I just don't know what to think or do. I fear I'll lose my job if I need any more adaptations. Our HR lady told me she wasn't sure I should be allowed to use my forearm crutches while I waited a year for my hip replacement. Not because she needed a docs note for ADA reasons, just that it would be a 'problem'. She made FMLA for my hip surgery a nightmare. Now I need things rewired in my classroom so I don't have to have deaf side facing students while I use my podium, I need other teachers to use the wearable mics, etc etc. I am worried about struggling to use a phone as well.
I'm rambling, but who went with implant and how did it go for you. And hints on using a phone, it's already been hard today.
Thanks