Dr. Stephanie Galarneault lost her hearing due to a rare tumor. After struggling with traditional hearing aids, her ENT told her about Oticon Medical’s Ponto™ System. In this post, she describes her experiences so far, which we appreciate her allowing us to share.

The Impact of an Unexplained Hearing Loss

Originally, I thought my poor hearing was the result of a disastrous (and yet very fun) water tubing accident with my sons! Of course, hearing is always important.  That said, I am at a stage in life where I communicate constantly. I listen to students in college classrooms. I listen while enjoying a Happy Hour with colleagues and friends.

I listen at parent meetings for my kid’s school. Most importantly, I listen to my children and husband as we navigate our busy family life in a giant old Victorian house.

The Search for Effective Hearing Aids

Eventually, an MRI revealed a vestibular schwannoma—a slow-growing tumor that is crushing my hearing nerve. I tried regular hearing aids for well over a year but could never get comfortable. I tried everything to make the hearing aids work—heat, cold, massaging muscles, physical therapy. No matter what I tried, I always ended up with extreme fatigue and discomfort after wearing them.

Audiologists kept encouraging me to keep trying. Eventually, my ENT neurosurgeon mused out loud, “Hearing aids should really not cause discomfort—unless you have (temporomandibular joint disorder) TMJ.” Bingo! Mystery solved. I do, in fact, have TMJ and wearing traditional hearing aids was always going to be uncomfortable.

Life After Getting a Ponto

The biggest benefits for me are that I can wear my Ponto device all day, every day, and there is no significant discomfort.

I was excited before my surgery—hopeful that the new approach might help with hearing. It is terrible to miss out on communication, especially as a Communications professor! It is also exhausting for our brain, constantly trying to figure out meaning when it is only pulling in a limited amount of data. I get really tired by the end of each day. Ponto helps with that.

The surgery went well. It was quick and easy. Healing and upkeep were fairly easy processes.

Anyone who has significant hearing issues knows the feeling when the switch is flipped and suddenly, we can hear. That moment is incredible, awe-inspiring and emotional. My son videotaped me hearing well for the first time in a very long time. The video does not disappoint (watch at end of post).

I remember that, for me, one of my primary feelings was relief that I did not have to work so hard to understand everything. It was as if a great task that my brain was managing was suddenly gone. It freed up so much more energy for regular life!

Inside the college classroom, it is helpful to swing between listening to a single speaker, to speakers while groups are working/talking, and to several speakers at the same time. The Bluetooth®-enabled wireless streaming might be my favorite part of this new device. I listen to audio news stories and audio books through the Ponto almost every day.

I find the size to be comfortable. Once every few weeks, the spot around my abutment feels tender and sore. A dermatologist prescribed Fluocinonide (.05% solution). It works amazingly well. Within an hour I can no longer feel irritation. It may not occur with everyone, but it certainly did with me. I would also love to highlight how simple topical treatments can bring almost total relief.

I love being able to listen to an audio book while I walk. I also enjoy being able to hear the yoga instructor when I take classes! Traveling with Ponto is also extremely easy. At the airport, I warn TSA agents but have only been flagged for the metal abutment once. That just resulted in a quick swipe with the metal detector bar. I feel so much safer traveling all around the world knowing that I can be more present and aware in my surroundings.

While my hearing is still not perfect, I have found that if I pay attention to where I sit, I can now manage situations better than before.

I think many/most people do not notice my Ponto System. I do talk about my hearing loss in college classrooms, largely because I want to normalize (and personalize) hearing loss and the benefits of using accommodations to be able to actively participate.

Dr. Stephanie Galarneault has a Ph.D in Organizational Communication from Purdue University and is a Lecturer in Communication Studies in the College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

To learn more about Oticon Medical’s Ponto bone anchored hearing system, please visit our website: https://www.oticonmedical.com/us/