Temporary Hearing Loss

Three important letters are found in the word “hearing”, and those letters are “EAR”.  Most of us probably don’t spend much time thinking about our ears.  We simply wake up every day and expect them to carry sound waves to our brain. 

However, what happens when you wake up and realize something is decidedly different?  What happens when you have a partial loss of hearing?   Well, today I awoke to find my right ear completely clogged and my hearing in that ear gone.

“Oh no,” I thought.  “Not another ear infection.”

Nevertheless, I trekked to church, attended a lunchtime production meeting, and stopped by the tax office.  By the time my meetings were done, the pressure and pain had begun to intensify.  I became frightened that I was experiencing the same situation which caused my eardrum to rupture a few years ago.   

Finally, I decided to stop by one of the “doc in a box” urgent care facilities to get assistance.  The doctor removed wax buildup deep in my ear.  This provided a welcome relief from the pressure and helped me regain my hearing (yay!).  In addition, the nurse “flushed” my ear, which is a process that affects your equilibrium.  The room was completely spinning.  It was one of the strangest feelings I’ve experienced. 

Luckily, my ear isn’t infected yet.  Fluid is building up.  It can cause infection, but I’m hoping that won’t happen.  If it does, I now have antibiotics to help out. 

As I reflect back on the day, I am reminded again that it’s the little things which make a big difference in life.  The ear is so small and unassuming.  It’s insignificant, yet utterly important.  Without it, your world is void.  There are no sounds of laughter and no singing.

Sometimes, we take the little things for granted — a smile, kind words, and a gesture of love.  They fill the void and bring joy.  Appreciate them.  Nourish them.  Make sure your life isn’t so clogged up with other things that you can’t enjoy them.