I know what profound is!

I had my 2nd Specialist appointment on Wednesday, with a different specialist. Basically, he agreed with the other Specialist that the hearing loss was viral, but he gave it a name - labryinthitis. It's nice to have a name - and it's quite an exotic one, at that! No cause - just a random virus causes it. I asked about whether a hearing aid will help, but the only hearing aids for this just route sound into my good ear, or have to be screwed into my head (yikes) and I think I'm pretty well adjusted to need that. He was very impressed with my balance, and said that most people with such profound hearing loss are unable to do most of the things he had me do. Yay me! I asked about the Tinnitus (ringing), and he explained that my brain should get used to it and tune it out more so that it will start to sound much quieter over time. Looking forward to that!! I'm going back for a new hearing test on Wednesday, because I told him I believe it has gotten better over the past few days - I explained the phone test to him, and how I could make out that there are words being said etc. I think he thought I was a little crazy but he does want to see if my hearing is still "Profound".

By the way, I have found out what Profound Hearing Loss is. Basically it means that I cannot hear sounds less than 95 dB. According to the web, that means I should be able to hear:

• Boeing 737 or DC-9 aircraft at one nautical mile (6080 ft) before landing . . . 97 dB
• Power mower . . . 96 dB
• Rock band . . . 108 - 114 dB

(which all makes me wonder how flippin' loud my phone is!!!)

But not:

• Motorcycle at 25 ft . . . 90 dB
• Propeller plane flyover at 1000 ft . . . 88 dB
• Diesel train 45 mph at 100 ft . . . 83 dB - This is great by the way, since I live (until next week) about a block away from train tracks and occasionally would hear them at night if my window was open - now I just turn over!
• Food blender . . . 88 dB
• Garbage disposal . . . 80 dB

So at least I can explain to people what this all means. Although I do hope that the hearing test next week puts me into the Severe category instead of Profound... this would mean that I can hear sounds from 70-95... then I might be able to hear a Passenger car going 65 mph at 25 ft . . . 77 dB or High urban ambient sound . . . 80 dB (not sure what this is but I think I want to hear it in two ears!)

So as for developments with the ear, that's pretty much it - he also said I need an MRI and will try to get me one at St Joes, since I've now been waiting more than 3 weeks to even get an appointment scheduled at St Michaels (by the way, I called 2 more times this week to follow up).

As for life, work has been busy - but I really am not letting it get to me. I put my out of office reply on my email for 3pm on Friday - so I am officially on vacation! Which means I better get packing... not ready for my move yet! But I'm very excited to be getting into my new house in Oakville - the drive to Vaughan from Hamilton this week was pretty bad - in my last two days, between the Skyway closure, the crazy storm, and an accident on the QEW, my hour-long commute took me an average of 1 hr 45min. But I just kept telling myself this was the last week I would ever have to do this commute.

On other house news - we went for a final viewing on Thursday night, and the sellers are very much packed and hoping to be out of there early Monday (yay!). And I brought a designer, Josette from JAG interiors, who came up with some great unique ideas as far as room set up and colours. I definitely have a great vision to make the house a home now.