A temporary loss.

I woke up this morning unable to hear out of one of my ears. Which has been known to happen before, because sometimes my ear canals just get blocked with *ahem* gunk. Perhaps three times before now, not very often. The first time it happened I was in university and it turned into a bad ear infection, but I’ve not had that happen since. Even when you can identify the root problem, it is still pretty disturbing to wake up without most of your hearing. You would think if only one ear was sealed then you would have 50% of your hearing, but I estimate that I really only had about 20% this morning. Meaning, everything was muffled as though I had a double helping of ear plugs and a head injury at the same time. Like not being able to focus your eyes, like being underwater.

Worse still, I’m staying downtown in a hotel for union meetings and so don’t have my normal at-home cupboard of pharmaceutical supplies which meant I had to get up right away and run to the closest drug store before my meeting started. There was simply no point in attending anything until I was able to hear again. I think perhaps this was the most acute experience of temporary hearing loss I have ever had as not only was I basically deaf, but then I had to go and run an errand that involved navigating transactions (the pharmacy then morning coffee) and walking several blocks.

And I’m sure you are thinking, “how would the fact you couldn’t hear make walking to the drug store that much harder?” – but you would be surprised at how much your hearing directs navigation not to mention the overwhelming confidence issues when you’ve suddenly lost one of your major senses. I’m sure if this was a permanent affliction, I would adjust – it’s just what people do – but in my first flailing hour this morning I sure didn’t feel up to the task.

On the other hand, even with impaired hearing I was able to do what I needed to. I was able to dress, walk to the store, find the ear syringe I needed, get coffee, help a confused fellow out in the coffee shop, and finally take care of my poor stopped-up ear. If I had woken up blind – that wouldn’t have been the case. Not only would it be that much more horrifying because I have never experienced a temporary loss of sight before, I would have been able to do little more than stumble around in the unformed dark, perhaps managing to dial the hotel operator for help. Who ever thinks that for no immediately apparent reason you could just wake up without the ability to walk or talk or hear or see? But it happens. Bell’s Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, strokes, aneurysms…. viruses even.

It’s a shudder isn’t it? The quickness with which “normal” life can turn into something else. But at least I am hearing fine now.