Today has come for the appointment. It’s been five years since the last one like this but the process and feeling around it were all too familiar. Six months ago I succumbed to yet another ear infection. Now 31 years of age and born with an abnormally susceptible ear to water, I have had more ear infections in my left ear than I could count. Beginning when I was less than a year old was my first infection. The type of infection was nothing more than a bad case of water in their ears with no other symptoms. However in my case it was the number of infections that was alarming. Even after seeing three specialists and five procedures the problem still remained.

Six months ago I was in the ENT office when the doctor made a rather startling discovery. A hole had been punctured in my ear drum from a piece of titanium from a surgery five years ago. How that occurred was anyone’s guess.

Other than the first surgery, none of them made any noticeable difference in my hearing. Only until two years ago when I had a hearing aid for the first time was there a significant difference. When that was first installed it took several months for my brain to recognize the additional hearing and utilize it. Once it did I no longer had to strive to hear and listen, but could spend more time understanding and responding.

Since this latest infection that hearing has gone away with the aid in. Now I sit in the waiting room with the surgeon running behind as I ruminate in my thoughts. Will this be a blip on the radar screen? Will I have to have my ear reconstructed, again?