Patient Stories

Eight years. That is the time that I spent dealing with a hearing loss difficulty and had to seriously consider abandoning my profession (lawyer). Also I had to constantly worry about acoustics when I met with friends and family. My hearing loss was profound. I spent over $16,000.00 in hearing aids which helped a bit, but was never a solution. My main problem: I had fluid in both my ears that would not drain. I was under the constant care of an ENT who tried varying procedures to drain the fluid including the placement of a tube, its removal, the sealing of the hole made by the tube, then several hypodermic syringes inserted into my eardrum to withdraw fluid. I had many infections that came about as a result of the hole. In despair, I considered going on disability and was always conscious that my constant refrain “What did you say?” was annoying to everyone.

Two months ago I learned about the EarPopper. The audiologist at my ENT provider knew of Dr. Shlomo Silman, co inventor of the EarPopper and had heard of a device that he had a part in developing along with Dr. Daniel Arick. Having tired everything from surgery to hearing aids, I went on the internet to find out what I could. I downloaded the EarPopper Prescription form from the website, filled out the necessary information with my ENT physician and faxed it to Micromedics to obtain the device. I was told I had thirty day to try it out. Approximately three days later UPS delivered my EarPopper. I took it home, read the instructions, and tried it. The first night nothing happened. My initial reaction was, well, I have thirty days and will use all of that time to give it a try. I had nothing to lose.

The next morning I was sitting down with a cup of coffee. I had the device. I followed the instructions, took a sip of coffee, swallowed as instructed and consequently heard a noise in my right ear (the most afflicted ear). I felt no pain and then somewhat reassured tried it in the other nostril and heard a similar noise in my left ear. I had no idea that anything had happened because I was sitting in a quiet kitchen. I tried a little test to see if my hearing was functioning. I tapped my thumb and index finger together next to my right ear to discover if I could hear that sound. I hadn’t heard that sound in my right ear for 8 years, now I heard it! I tried it in my left ear and heard the sound twice as loud as I had the morning before. I walked quickly into the bathroom and asked my wife to talk to me. She did and I could hear her! I said, “Wow I can hear”. I still wasn’t sure if it was my imagination and turned on the television. I had to lower the sound.

That day I took a chance. I put my hearing aids in their case and went to work without anything. The rest is history. My hearing aids are in storage, I fear nothing concerning hearing. I have appeared in court and have been able to function easily and without fear of missing words.

To say that this device has changed my life is not an understatement. Eight years. One relatively inexpensive device.

My hat is off to the inventors and Micromedics. This device is painless, easy to use, and is a miracle. It should be in every audiologist, general practitioner’s and ENT’s office!

Very Truly Yours,
Thomas A. DeClemente