Though the medical side of my sudden hearing loss was treated thoroughly, the emotional impact wasn’t even acknowledged. Nobody in the healthcare system asked me how I was doing emotionally.

When I had exhausted all the treatment options for my sudden hearing loss, and there was nothing left to do than to go home and live my life with hearing loss, I felt completely lost. Since my hearing loss was sudden, I had no time to prepare for it. I didn't know how to advocate for myself. I didn’t know the best place to sit in a restaurant to have a chance of understanding a conversation. I didn't know how to express what I was going through, and even though my loved ones were supportive, they just couldn't understand how it feels to suddenly lose a significant amount of a sense that enables us to interact with the world, to feel safe in our environment. Who was I as someone with hearing loss? How could I just get on with my life? I didn't even know where to start.

Learning to live with my hearing loss

With time, I worked through the grief I felt for my lost hearing and also, with the onset of tinnitus, my lost silence. I started to understand how my hearing loss impacted everyday life, and began to know the accommodations I needed that would help enable effective communication in the workplace and when socialising. With acceptance of my hearing loss, my confidence gradually came back and I even started to embrace my identity as someone with hearing loss. 

It took time and resilience, and a few things helped me along the way. I wrote a blog to share my story and found that writing down my thoughts was a cathartic experience and an important part of my rehabilitation. I was lucky to have a supportive partner who closely lived through the experience with me. I also found support connecting online with others living similar experiences.

A need for more support

During my rehabilitation, I discovered how difficult It was to find helpful and reliable information online apart from the occasional article on hearing loss associations and charity websites. At the time of my loss, I struggled to find anything that encapsulated the whole sudden hearing loss experience - both the practical and emotional impact. There was also limited support in learning to live with a new hearing loss, and some of the forums I joined were so negative that I ended up leaving. 

In connecting with others over the years, I identified a need for more support for people moving forward following a sudden hearing loss and began to create some resources to do just this.

Support for people affected by sudden hearing loss

I now provide support and information in the following 4 places:

1. My blog: My Hearing Loss Story

My blog tells my personal story of SSNHL and how it has impacted my life. I  also write about living with other associated conditions, including tinnitus, noise sensitivity, Menieres Disease and vestibular migraine. Most recently, I have been approved for a cochlear implant for single-sided deafness, and have started to document my journey. 

Link to blog: https://myhearinglossstory.com/ 

2. Facebook support group

The My Hearing Loss Story Facebook support group is for people with all types of hearing loss and is a space to share stories and offer each other support and advice. There are currently almost 2K members in this group, many of whom have experienced a sudden hearing loss.

Link to group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1422427341250724 

3. Sudden Hearing Loss Support website

I created the Sudden Hearing Loss support website with support from independent audiologists, hearing health charities and organisations, and hearing aid manufacturers. All the informative content has either been written by a specialist or checked by one. Here you can find information and support for living with sudden hearing loss.

Link to website: https://suddenhearingloss.support/

4. Personalised coaching service

My love of hearing health advocacy, making connections, and supporting people on their hearing loss journeys, along with my teaching background, led me to decide to train as a transformational coach—with the aim of offering people individualised support moving forward with their hearing loss. Now, as a fully qualified coach, I support clients with things such as self-advocacy, confidence-building, and discovering their d/Deaf identity. 

In creating these resources and provisioning these services, my hope is that no one affected by sudden hearing loss will feel alone in the experience.

Link to coaching website: https://www.carlysygrove.com/ 

LOOKING FOR PERSONALISED SUPPORT FOR SUDDEN HEARING LOSS?

Do You Need Support for Your Sudden Hearing Loss? Let Me Help You.

During our coaching sessions, I provide a secure and non-judgmental space for you to explore your thoughts and emotions regarding your hearing loss. Through thoughtful inquiry, I strive to understand your current situation and help you overcome any challenges that may be blocking your journey towards a more positive future. 

To determine if hearing loss coaching is right for you, please arrange a complimentary discovery call. During this call, we can talk about your objectives, the topics you'd like to delve into, and how we can collaborate to bring about positive changes.

“I did three sessions with Carly Sygrove after being diagnosed with SSHL and extremely intrusive tinnitus. The first few months of this situation were the most challenging that I ever faced and I believe my sessions with Carly helped ease my anxiety and put me on a path to acceptance and habituation to my “new normal.””

- Steve, US