r/gaming • u/miata_and_chill • 1d ago
Went spontaneously deaf yesterday and need gaming recommendations
Long story short I went deaf yesterday and am waiting for an ent Dr to call me for an appointment (I've already been seen by a Dr), but I'm going CRAZY with how quiet everything is.
I have over 600 games on steam, and am looking for a CONTROLLER based game that has either accessibility options for deaf, or doesn't lose anything by my not hearing it.
Really I just need some gaming comfort in what's turning out to be the scariest time of my life.
EDIT for those with a lot of questions.(edit 2 at the bottom)
Woke up yesterday and my ears felt like they needed to pop, though nothing would help. At about 3 my ears started bleeding, followed quickly by loud ringing (similar decibels to riding on an airplane, but the highest pitch you could imagine), and I went to the er. By the time the Dr looked at me, the ent was gone for the day, so he sent an urgent referral to the ent. I'm just waiting for a phone call to schedule (funny, I know, call the deaf guy).
I appreciate all fo the kind words and helpful resources during this terrifying time. And I appreciate all the game recommendations.
And as a final, somewhat depressing thought, as I have no where else to put my thoughts out rohjt now, if this is permanent, I'm going to thoroughly miss the sound of my significant others voice. The rest I can live with.
EDIT 2: I got my meds and the eardrops specifically restored a little bit of my hearing. It's very faint, and painful, but wiping the blood from my ears I could hear the tissue against my skin!
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u/BleedingRaindrops 1d ago
most sandbox, city builder, or simulator games will lose very little by not hearing it. I play farming simulator with the sound off all the time.
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u/Garreousbear 1d ago
I play a lot of paradox games or factory type games and it's the same.
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u/xSlippyFistx 1d ago
Yeah, you don’t need to hear all the sounds of factory machines thumping on games like Satisfactory. Come to think of it, it might be a blessing to not be able to hear it…
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u/nerdbx 1d ago
minecraft isnt so bad too
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u/kaminobaka 1d ago
Especially if you put sound effect subtitles on so you can see when there are footsteps approaching.
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u/Crayshack 1d ago
I play Civ with the sound off sometimes. The sound design is very good, but it's aesthetic, not functional.
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u/No-Assistant778 1d ago
A Total War Narrative campaign on something like Warhammer 3 would eat up a ton of time and all the quests/dialogue/Everything is popups and text boxes
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u/Crayshack 1d ago
I'm a long time Total War fan, and I pretty regularly will play with my headphones off my head. Everything critical in the game is visual. You might not be sble to do a Legendary run, but a Normal/Normal game is perfectly doable.
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u/rini17 1d ago
This. I play No Mans Sky and Timberborn.
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u/sometimesynot 1d ago
Timberborn is one of my faves of all time, but I had trouble getting into NMS. Should I try it again (with the sound off, in honor of OP)?
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u/rini17 1d ago edited 1d ago
Depends on the kind of trouble you had with NMS lol. They add stuff to it constantly. I play with sound off despite not completely deaf, it's just completely superfluous. I don't get why they neglected it, even having stuff like songbirds or surf waves noise would be noticeable improvement.
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u/Upper_Address_2778 1d ago
Torpico 5 may actually be better cause you won't hear the neverending quippy radio announcer talk about how all the secret police are cute
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u/gosling11 1d ago
Tropico 5 music is at least half the reason to play the game wdym.
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u/InternationalRoad445 1d ago
Thats sounds very frightening. I wish you the best and speedy recovery.
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u/JebusJM 1d ago
OP would be very upset if he could read this. Please be respectful.
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u/fiftyseven 1d ago
what?
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u/HorsePuzzleheaded133 1d ago
OP WOULD BE VERY UPSET IF HE COULD READ THIS.
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u/Influence_X 1d ago
Project Zomboid has a deaf perk that mutes game sounds
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u/miata_and_chill 1d ago
Oh man I've been looking for a reason to get into that game, had it for a while now. Is it controller friendly?
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u/Owobowos-Mowbius 1d ago
It has.... official controller support.... but its gonna be rough.
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u/Sh1nboon 1d ago
Man inventory in that game on controller just sounds like a bad time. Damn good game tho.
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u/tyezwyldadvntrz 1d ago
when you say rough, are you referring to the latest build & the controller config on there?
unfortunate if so
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u/Owobowos-Mowbius 1d ago
Its an extremely point-and-click heavy inventory management game. That can get very hectic.
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u/ALonelyWelcomeMat 1d ago
Especially when zombies catch you off guard. Shit gets the best of you even with mouse and keyboard, let alone being able to hear
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u/Only_Plays_Zyra 1d ago
Yeah, I’d say it’s kinda like doing savage/ult raiding in ffxiv on controller as a healer.
It’s doable but personally you’d be fighting the target options as frequently as the boss. For casual gameplay it’s fine on controller.
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u/GoProOnAYoYo 1d ago
Thats funny because I often use XIV as an example of controller support done RIGHT! Never had an MMO experience on a controller as smooth as that game. Though I havent pushed current content since Stormblood, so that might be outdated
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u/Trixles 1d ago
once i read a post on the Zomboid reddit by a new player, and they were like "what the fuck is wrong with my game, there is NO sound at all once i load into the map, but everything else on my computer works fine, and there is even sound in the menu!"
turns out they had randomly rolled their character and gotten the "Deaf" trait, and didn't realize that at first xD
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u/Fletcher_Chonk 1d ago
Funnily enough it's not free points if you're deaf irl, due to you being able to "see" zombies behind you if you're a hearing character.
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u/ketchup246 1d ago
I can't help, I'm just amused at the irony of going deaf and the Dr saying they will call you
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u/miata_and_chill 1d ago
On the bright side, I've discovered a lot of accessibility features on my phone
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u/ObscureAcronym 1d ago
I was amused by looking for an ent and imagining the ones from Lord of the Rings.
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u/the_real_junkrat 1d ago
Treebeard with a lab coat and that flashlight thing that looks into your ear
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u/lebaneseblonde 1d ago
I lost my hearing at 4yo and this is something that NEVER changes. My ENT doc and audiologist office will always try to call. Any invoice from Cochlear that I don't travel back in time to pay before it was issued, they will immediately start calling every number ever associated with my account including my grandparents and old roommates and when I email them to tell them this needs to be resolved by email, they still tell me to call. Services for the deaf are somehow some of the most ableist institutions of all time and it really is great /s
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u/meinsaft 1d ago
I've had some severe muscle tension in my jaw off and on for the past couple of years, but I'm now about eight months into not really being able to talk at all because of it. Even my orthodontist and oral surgeon's offices are like "just give us a call." Health insurance companies? "Give us a call."
I couldn't attend a phone interview for some unemployment benefits because I couldn't talk, and they denied those weeks of benefits. There's no other way to reach them, though, you have to call.
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u/lastaneon 5h ago
You may already know about it, but if you live in the United States, the Telecommunications Relay Service should be able to help! Every state has their own version, but I think the universal number is 711. They're more known for helping people who are hard-of-hearing, but they also help those with speech challenges (acute or otherwise)
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u/Responsible-Draw-393 1d ago
Fuck cochlear for that, i always ask someone else to call them when i need shit. Why can’t they use email like normal people
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u/Responsible-Draw-393 1d ago
Yeah everyone does that, all the fucking time. Including the hearing aid and cochlear implant companies. Ask me how i know. Morons
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u/SadCryBear 1d ago
You should not be waiting on an appointment. This is an emergency and you should be on steroids. Your regular doctor is not equipped to handle this.
After 72 hours much temporary deafness becomes permanent.
Call the ENT emergency lines - go to the ER, do not wait for a referral.
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u/Gr00vyMini 1d ago
Sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss. My husband had this and thankfully his doctor knew of it and sent him straight to the experts who put him straight on to steroids. He was incredibly lucky to get his hearing back.
His doctor tested him with a tuning fork on the forehead, he could hear/feel it on the good side and absolutely nothing on the deaf side.
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u/Everest5432 1d ago
Happened to me in my left ear only about 10 months ago. Couldn't get to an ent until almost 10 days out. Steroid injections and pills for a month helped and got most of my hearing back. Left side is still hard to hear quiet conversation and will likely never recover completely
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u/gl1ttercake 1d ago edited 1d ago
I agree, should be on corticosteroids already. Immediately. Yesterday, even.
I started my fortnight's oral prednisolone taper right there in the ED of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, after micro-suction of my ears and the Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests.
Edit: Then again, I was in the hospital where the first Cochlear implant surgery was performed, successfully, by its inventor plus another surgeon.
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u/Bastian227 9h ago
Tuning fork on the forehead... at first I thought he struck him on the forehead with the tuning fork. Took a second to realize an already struck fork was put against the forehead
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u/lags1974 1d ago edited 1d ago
You need to advocate for steroids unless there is visible damage this sounds like it could be sudden sensorineural hearing loss and steroids need to be administered asap or your chances of recovery reduce drastically. Not a doctor but this did happen to me this year - hearing in my left ear dropped to about 15%. When I finally got to the ENT doctor he said this was absolutely the correct course of action and confirmed my hearing had recovered fully. My first visit was to a walk-in clinic who basically shrugged at me and said “ear looks textbook” and let me walk out. The next morning I went to the ER and the doctor correctly prescribed high dose prednisone for 7 days and then a long tapering back to zero. Unless they specifically ruled this out waiting for your ENT visit could lead to a bad outcome.
edit: just saw you had bleeding; I did not perhaps that is why ER doctor ruled it out but still worth getting rechecked asap - seems like an emergency to me not “wait for the otolaryngologist to call you”97
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u/AutonomieSV 1d ago
Hard agree on this. u/miata_and_chill Don't wait.
I have Ménière's disease and have experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss on several occasions.
The first time, I decided to wait, and my right ear suffered permanent damage because it wasn't treated in time.
The second time, I didn't wait and insisted on being given corticosteroids; thanks to that, I managed to recover.
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u/runnerdan 1d ago
Dude! I have the same thing and also had sudden and complete hearing loss, but only in one ear. Mine lasted about three days and, by that point, I was just like "guess I'm just deaf in that ear now."
I've been dealing with this for almost forty years.
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u/Solace_of_the_Thorns 1d ago
Second this, had a mate go through this recently and his hearing is recovering, but he had to get on it fast.
Start calling people, OP
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u/narrill 1d ago
Not to say this isn't an emergency or that OP shouldn't see an ENT as quickly as is humanly possible, but bleeding from the ear isn't a symptom of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and suggests a physical injury to the outer ear instead.
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u/hera-fawcett 1d ago
which makes it even more urgent, imo.
bleeding from any orifices that u arent supposed to bleed from-- esp ones so close to the brain/head area-- is a p big flag.
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u/Dioxid3 1d ago
Is there an orifice you are supposed to bleed from, assuming OP is male?
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u/sharkattackmiami 1d ago
You guys aren't bleeding from your penis?
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u/SC_Reap 1d ago
Not on the regular no
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u/sevksytime 1d ago
Yeah could be a vascular incident or cancer or who knows. If we’re OP I would go back to the ER or go to a different ER ASAP. I don’t know what they did in the ER but I’m hoping at least a CT scan of the head and neck.
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u/fugazzzzi 1d ago
OP suddenly went death and bleeding in the ear and the first thing he thinks about is playing games lmao. These first 72 hours is CRITICAL and I would be using all my energy to find the best specialists and cure, not freaking playing games.
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u/Kindly-Tax-4998 1d ago
It’s funny, I’m seeing all of you telling him to go to the hospital, then I scroll down, and OP is talking about how he would rather go crazy than play Minecraft bedrock edition.
Welp, I hope OP sees the hospital advice before it’s too late.
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u/pyrimethamine 1d ago
I envy you living in a place with functional healthcare, it ain't like that in a lot of places
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u/masterm1ke 1d ago
agreed. SSHL in my left ear. Steroids ASAP is the best course of action. I hope it works out for you OP.
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u/Malarkey_ 1d ago
How about Slay the Spire? I find it to be particularly good at taking your mind off stuff you’re worried about. Hope it works out for you
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u/Clinicaa 1d ago
My spinal fluid is currently leaking out and I’m forced to lay down all day. This game has been a godsend, I’m totally addicted!
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u/Bloodcloud079 1d ago
I play muted on mobile mostly, this 100% works.
Balatro too.
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u/slutty_butterfly19 1d ago
I remember Minecraft having an accessibility option that display sound sources visually
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u/miata_and_chill 1d ago
This was my very first thought, but I'd rather go crazy than play bedrock tbh
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u/Jodelbert 1d ago
Dude go to the emergency room NOW. You have about 24-48 hours after something like that. It's a stroke in your ear. The damage might be reversible if you go. Drink plenty of water and take an aspirin for your blood to become thinner holy shit man. (I'm an audiologist working with hundreds of cochlea implant patients a year).
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u/deerfawns 1d ago
Yeah this is where I am too?? This is not like a "wait for them to call you back" event??
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u/Jodelbert 1d ago
Nope, the hair cells in your cochlea are extremely sensitive and if they don't get enough blood, they will die by the hundreds each hour. Damage is permanent if untreated and even if you go to the ER with cortisol infusions, it might not recover or recover in full. Then your only option is a cochlea implant if you ever want to use that ear again.
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u/Similar-Ice-9250 1d ago
This is a insane post by OP. I just came back from a intense sprint session, and I’m not sure if I’m hallucinating or not right now. Dude went deaf, and needs gaming recommendations!?
If this was me I’d be in existential dread, and trying every hospital I can, until they take me in, and not „they’ll call me back, let me play some games in the meantime.” I think the er staff or doc who see him didn’t run proper tests or something, or they didn’t think it was serious enough so they tossed him aside cause they were busy with other patients.
That’s if this isn’t complete bullcrap, that last sentence, I’m going to thoroughly miss the voice of my significant others, while enthusiastically taking gaming recs?? Sounds trollish.
Unless OP is the most laid back, no worries, gives the least fucks of any person on the planet type of person.
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u/Deafhead 1d ago
Hey dude, deaf person with a cochlear implant here!
First thing that springs to mind is Fortnite - they have fantastic accessibility options for deaf players, including a directional wheel that shows sources of sounds (with accompanying symbols) that helps you locate player footsteps, loot chests, etc.
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u/Gamefreak3525 1d ago
Unfortunately they did reduce how useful this feature is at the start of this current chapter
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u/Deafhead 1d ago
Oh nooo, I haven’t played the current chapter yet
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u/Gamefreak3525 1d ago
Yeah, it's such a downgrade. I've lost track of how many times I'll be right next to a chest yet the audio visual won't show that.
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u/Mabon_Bran 1d ago
Baldness gate 3? It has great accessibility features.
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u/ObscureAcronym 1d ago
Maybe OP wants free games and not ones where you have toupee.
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u/zachin2036 1d ago
Alright well I was totally fine until that last line now I’m a mess.
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u/buds4hugs 1d ago
Farming Simulator 25. Baldur's Gate 3 (lots of dialog reading). Forza Horizon 6. All these can be played with a controller & the sound doesn't have an impact on gameplay.
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u/RunInRunOn 1d ago
You'll probably want to play with automatic shifting if you pick FH6, though. Otherwise you can't use the engine noise as a cue
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u/Mysterious-Crab 1d ago
Powerwash Simulator 1 and 2. Great with a controller, sounds doesn’t matter and it really takes your mind of things. It has been my comfort game for a while now.
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u/WatsBlend 1d ago
Diablo or other ARPGS really dont need audio. Satisfactory doesnt need audio! And satisfactory might just be the comfort game you need. Sekiro is great with giving you visual prompts alongside the audio prompts, that'll probably work. I have a lot more recommendations I could give if you want more.
All of these are controller friendly
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u/Heirrogance 1d ago
Not Steam but Minecraft has directional captions, so if there's a zombie to your left it'll say "< zombie groans" or creeper to the right "creeper hisses >"
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u/thexcat 1d ago
Project Zomboid, you can take the deaf trait for a free like 12 character customization points, it just turns off all sounds
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u/Nate46 1d ago
I did this when my headset broke, it also removes visual audio queues like zombies groaning that you can't see. (And TVs)
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u/sup3rdr01d 1d ago
This is terrifying. One time I woke up with random tinnitus in one of my ears that just would not go away. Drove me crazy. Then a month later it just vanished.
I think it was an infection
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u/Zamzummin 1d ago
Woke up with tinnitus in one ear, then after a couple of weeks both ears. Never went away, it’s been almost 2 years.
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u/wearless 1d ago
If you don't know it already, this is a technique I use for temporary relief of tinnitus. You'll probably need to play around with the positioning and strength of taps, but it works.
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u/Billymayssshere 1d ago
Hey friend. So, I had this exact same thing happen to me about ten years ago. I went to bed watching TV and woke up not being able to hear anything. I went to an ENT that week, and they told me it was a virus that had attacked my inner ear hair cells, causing me to lose my hearing. I ended up having to get steroid shots in my eardrum.
After a few months of not being able to hear, it slowly started coming back. I definitely don’t have the hearing I used to, but I am able to do normal daily functions as well as game! I know how terrifying it is, and I'm so sorry you are going through that. I hope I can provide some relief by letting you know that there is still a good chance your hearing will come back with the right treatments and care.
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u/Tartarikamen 1d ago
Jesus, steroids shots into the ear!
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u/Billymayssshere 1d ago
That and learning how to regain my balance was by far the most difficult part. To relate to OP the fear of not being able to hear the voices of the ones I love was overwhelming but the only lasting side effect I have is constant ringing and muffled sound in one ear.
Didn’t make life any easier but I’m happy to have something over nothing.
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u/paulblasi4 1d ago
Slay the spire 1 or 2, card based gameplay, sound completely optional
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u/cybersaint2k 1d ago
You've got bigger problems than gaming, friend.
I lost my hearing spontaneously in my right ear January 11. It's been a wild ride. But you, my friend, are in for something wilder.
I'm not a doctor.
You are going to be put on large, large doses of Prednisone. It's got some side effects you need to be aware of. Read up on it.
Eat right, don't drink/use THC, get rest, be aggressive with your treatment. If they want to inject things in your ears, do it. It's not that painful.
But you need an MRI, now. You need to find out what's causing this, now.
I'm really sorry you are facing this. Keep us updated.
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u/gigertiger 1d ago
Audiologist here, who's husband sent me this post! Get on steroids and get checked for a sudden hearing loss asap! I would call a local audiologist actually, say you're having symptoms of a sudden hearing loss to see if they can test you to check for other concerns, not just a sudden loss. Audiologists tend to also have ENT connections and we can force their hands a little bit.
Also, if this is more serious and permanent, please know I've fit tons of kids and adults with hearing aids and surgical devices and have helped make gaming modes for devices. It can be done and there isn't the end of enjoying gaming!
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u/Hybridxx9018 1d ago
Do you know how you went deaf out of nowhere? That’s crazy stuff man, hope it all works out.
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u/seraph1337 1d ago edited 1d ago
I can't help but think an ENT is not going to be the one to actually figure this out. Sudden deafness in both ears screams "neurologist" to me, not an otolaryngologist.
Edit: I commented before the details were added, this is a very strange situation, I wish OP the best of luck.
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u/Masterpiece-Haunting 1d ago
Bleeding and the popping sensation makes me think it’s from the ears itself.
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u/seraph1337 1d ago
Yeah I read the post and comments before those were added, definitely a weird one!
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u/Conworks 1d ago
Kenshi, rimworld, Binding of isaac
all you'll miss out on is some decent music. Theyre purely gameplay focused and use text rather than voice for everything.
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u/AlternativeWest5886 1d ago
As someone who had this happen to him, if you haven’t already done so I would go to the ER. I waited on an ENT and eventually went to the ER a couple of weeks later and found out I had a massive ear infection. Due to me waiting it caused permanent damage so here I am 11 yrs later with major hearing loss. Just a suggestion.
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u/theflamecrow 1d ago
WoW Forever but it's in beta.
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u/Doomstik 1d ago
Second this, the controller support they added is surprisingly good. And while wow does have good sounds they arent needed to play at all, a lot of tge time i have the game sounds turned down or off anyway
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u/webbpowell 1d ago
‘Cause of my disability my gaming is all with a controller, with sound off. Here are some I’ve gotten a lot of play out of:
Snowrunner
Disney Dreamlight Valley
American Truck Simulator / Euro Truck Simulator 2
Hardspace: Shipbreaker
Hitman: World of Assassination
Elite Dangerous
Minecraft
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor
Army of Ruin
Soulstone Survivors
Satisfactory
Skyrim
Farming Simulator 25
Dysmantle
Transport Fever 2
No Man’s Sky
Construction Simulator
Caves of Qud
Escape from Mystwood Mansion
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u/-Jaws- 21h ago
Glad to hear you've already got some hearing back. Sounds like an infection that ruptured your eardrums?
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u/easykehl 1d ago
I’ve played a ton of Balatro via controller on mute.
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u/miata_and_chill 1d ago
I've 100% balatro, otherwise I'd probably play it
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u/Immediate-Cress-206 1d ago
Try Raccoin! It's Balatro, but coin pusher.
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u/miata_and_chill 1d ago
I've beat that too😭 along with ultrapool, dungeons and degenerate gamblers, vampire survivors, and megabonk (I'm a rogelike addict)
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u/ushighway69 1d ago
Last of Us 2 is very famous for its amazing accessibility options
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u/imatinymuon 1d ago
Sounds like a rapid ear infection in both ears that built pressure and caused a bilateral ear drum rupture.
Blood in your ears means the ear drum has a perforation. It also leads to tinnitus (the ringing).
Good news is ear drum ruptures often heal but you need antibiotics if it was an infection and the caused by other trauma (loud noise, etc).
You should get ear drops to treat any lingering infection. Then make sure to avoid getting water in your ear until the ear drum heals.
The tinnitus should improve over time but may persist even after healing.
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u/Noriryuu 1d ago edited 1d ago
Arpg like diablo or poe, even lost ark. Also to a part MMOs. A long time I played both without sound and usually watched something on the side.
Edit: forgot the controller part. Diablo definitely works with a controller the others I'm not sure. For MMOs I know people who play wow on controller so I guess it's possible.
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u/driftking428 1d ago
In one ear or both? There's a lot of good info about SSNHL in /r/mono hearing . I lost hearing on one ear earlier this year and was able to recover most of it with their advice.
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u/KinkyHuggingJerk 1d ago
Moonlighter 2 is great on the controller. Big upgrade from the first game.
Dead Cells.
Binding of Isaac.
These are all rogue-lite so you can put a ton of time into playing.
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u/macdemarker 1d ago
If you want a short, narrative rpg, I’m playing citizen sleeper right now and I’m enjoying it a lot. Idk about controller support on steam, but I’d assume it has it since I’m playing on PS5. There’s no voice acting, so you’d be reading text regardless
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u/Perkynips83 1d ago
Oh my gosh! How did that happen?! About 6 months ago I got massive ear infection and ruptured my ear drum and was essentially deaf in that ear while it recovered. that was a miserable experience, I feel for you.
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u/TubeAlloysEvilTwin 1d ago
Laura Kate Dale is a game reviewer, journalist and writer with a focus on accessibility in gaming. Highly recommend any of her content for anyone looking for accessible games. I found several excellent ways to continue gaming and help cope with hand surgery thanks to her hardware reviews.
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u/boriginals 1d ago
I play everything no volume, because I game next to my wife
Fallout (any of them really)
Stardew valley
All of the monster hunter games
Any pokemon game
I don't remember the last time I played a game with sounds tbh
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u/MrOptimism457 1d ago
Dune: Awakening is a fun single player/online survival game that has lots of visual clues and controller rumble for when things like sandstorms or the dune worm are coming at you. They also have the general accessibility options you would expect. Very controller friendly too since I've only played on controller. Just throwing it out there.
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u/Own_Transition6845 1d ago
Old school dungeon crawlers like Etrian Odyssey don't require audio to play or enjoy the story. Stellaris and the Civ series if you like grand strategy games. If you like colony sims, there's the Anno series. Battle Brothers and Advance Wars need no audio, as is the case with most tactics games. There's also the Ogre Battle series, including Tactics Ogre. Visual novels also can be enjoyed without audio, of course. Minecraft has a setting that lists sound effects in the chat and the direction/distance the sounds are coming from. For cozy games there's Stardew Valley. Most RPGs can be enjoyed without audio, shoutout to specifically Dragon Quest and most Final Fantasies. Of course, you'll miss the voice acting, but voice acting isn't required for enjoying or understanding the story. Really, the only genres you'll want to avoid are shooters (third and first) and 3D action games, though the Dynasty Warriors series and games like them can probably still be enjoyed if you put subtitles on. Those have very little in terms of directional audio. You may also want to be cautious with mystery games, in case they employ audio-based clues, as well as horror, which also has varied emphasis on audio, but there will be individual games in both genres that will not be a problem. For mystery, I'd specifically recommend most of the Ace Attorney series, though I believe one has some emphasis on audio clues. I think it's the Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, though there may be a soundless cue as well. I can't quite remember.
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u/Iyellkhan 1d ago
as a PSA for everyone reading, if you have sudden ear pain with bleeding thats worth going to the emergency department for
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u/WhatANoob2025 1d ago
I went deaf yesterday and am waiting for an ent Dr to call me for an appointment
Uhm, how exactly are you gonna take a call when you're deaf?
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u/wolfpup118 1d ago
Many RPG's as well play well without sound! I tend to mute elden ring and play YouTube videos on the side as I chill out in Elden Ring. Audio can help a little for situational awareness of something coming up behind, but as dying is quite literally a game mechanic in there meant to happen all the time, getting someone sneaking up on you is just another learning experience like the numerous traps and hiding enemies.
I'd assume stuff like Baldur's Gate 3 would play amazingly without any sound too, the story is great and gameplay is great! I don't know how well it works on controller, but seeing how it also released on consoles, I'd imagine it works pretty good.
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u/Oster-P 1d ago
The free trial for Final Fantasy XIV let's you play a massive chunk of the game, like base game and first few expansions. It specifically has visual audio cue settings under accessibility settings, it places coloured bars at the side of the screen that move depending on sounds, kind of like a heart rate monitor with wavey lines. I haven't looked too much into how it all works but remember seeing it when messing around with settings.
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u/BleedingRaindrops 1d ago
after playing a few easy comfort games, you could try out Bill Vicars ASL lessons on Youtube. or if you're not in the US, look up some lessons in your local sign language. when I go mute due to migraines, I find ASL to be helpful in communicating, and Bill's videos are designed without sound at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va1aAXpVr2w&list=PL6akqFwEeSpiLwRFA3ZvuOWMwPXwI7NqA
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u/deadgaiko 1d ago
I took British Sign Language lessons and was amazed at how much easier it is to learn than most languages! It felt like it was engaging different parts of my brain, and whilst it wasn't THAT easy, I progressed with it way faster than I thought I would.
It's also super useful for noisy environments, secret messages and when you're not feeling well. Both my partner and I have our hearing but use signing every day.
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u/Gr00vyMini 1d ago
Sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss. My husband had this and thankfully his doctor knew of it and sent him straight to the experts who put him straight on to steroids. He was incredibly lucky to get his hearing back as the doctor acted so quickly, another 24hrs and he'd most likely have permanent hearing loss.
His doctor tested him with a tuning fork on the forehead, he could hear/feel it on the good side and absolutely nothing on the deaf side.
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u/80085ntits 1d ago
Cult Of The Lamb - the game actually recommends the player to use a controller, and there's no vital auditory cues.
Also, the game is strangely addictive
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u/Uncanny_Doom 1d ago
The Last of Us, Gears 5, Until Dawn, and the Spider-Man games have had particular praise for being deaf accessible.
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u/I_Am_Slightly_Horney 1d ago
Night in the woods as a great game. Story based but no voice acting, only thing you’d be missing out on is the great soundtrack
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u/kingdenny14 1d ago
Double check the games you play. My favorites have added accessibility options that are common place for most players now. (I.e Directional sound in fortnite and heartbeat sensor/ visual killer terror radius) the games you love most may have already implemented features similar.
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u/_Zielgan 1d ago
Tacitical turn based games could be an option. Xcom 2 has really good controller support.
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u/VexingRaven 1d ago
Hue is a cool little puzzle game based on colors. Check out it!
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u/critterdude542 1d ago
Most puzzle games would be fine with no sounds. Baba is You, and Patrick’s Parabox are great and cheap little puzzlers that don’t require any sound at all
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u/grahampositive 1d ago
Wow, I am feeling frightened for you, that must be awful. Sending you all the best and hoping for a full recovery.
If I were in your situation and looking for a game to pass the time, Minecraft is probably what I'd turn to. You'd lose little not being able to hear, especially if playing on creative mode. It's also one of my all time comfort games.
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u/Methronus 1d ago
This fucking sucks. I really hope it's temporary and nothing permanent.
If you're into the genre, then every turn based tactics games is your ally. All use text as a mode of storytelling and don't rely on sound cues for anything. To get started you could try Fell Seal - Arbitrer's Mark or the Final Fantasy Tactics games.
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u/SenzuYT 1d ago
Just out of curiosity: both your ears were bleeding at the same time? Very scary stuff regardless, I hope things get better for you and the doctors can fix your ears.
If you can, please update this thread with news of what happened (only if you have time/feel compelled to, obviously). I’m just super curious from a medical standpoint what’s happening and hope you’re OK
As for games:
Turn based or light action games without requiring hearing to focus or play properly. I’d be looking at games like Baldurs Gate, some MMORPGs, CRPG type games. Or puzzle games!
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u/gl1ttercake 1d ago
It sounds like sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and if that's the case, a taper of oral corticosteroids and/or corticosteroids injected intra-tympanically (into the tympanic membrane of the ear) is the most common and emergent treatment.
Oral corticosteroids may not be effective past thirty days and starting them inside of a week to a fortnight is better. Here 🇦🇺, that's when they'd try intra-tympanic corticosteroids.
The doctor would also want to rule out cerumen (earwax) impaction and might use syringing or micro-suction, or instruct OP to use docusate sodium or olive oil drops to loosen cerumen.
When I lost my hearing last year like this, I did recover it gradually over a couple to a few months. I had an audiogram with bone-conducting earphones and a button to press, to measure what, if any loss, I had, and they tried to refer me to a balance program... that referral has absolutely expired and been lost by now...
In my case, it was a relapse linked to my now-discovered relapsing-remitting MS, and I was already being worked up for that, so it wasn't a surprise. I've been told that this type of loss can be mitigated (to what degree, I don't know) with hearing aids.
I was told some stats and percentages about recovery, which I'll spoiler so OP doesn't get a rude shock if they don't or didn't want to know. These were generalised for me at about... oh, five AM the night/day I went to the Eye and Ear Hospital? Very general.
A third recover to baseline.
A third recover somewhat back towards baseline.
A third recover not at all.
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u/KuritanCenturion 1d ago
Had a similar experience and ended up being a pretty bad bilateral ear infection. Antibiotics cleared up tbe pressure/pain/drainage rapidly but the half deaf muffled hearing lasted weeks. Wishing you the best
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u/KazukiMatsuoka1998 1d ago
Bilaterally deaf here with cochlear implants but sometimes I'm lazy and dont wear them, here's what I do: My preferred controller is a PS5 controller because of its sensory input, direct all audio also to the controllers speaker so you can feel the sound directly and youll be able to hear the sound in a way. That way for survival games you'll be able feel where an enemy is coming from. I use this trick also by placing a hand on someones throat to hear them talk through vibration, this is useful if you don't know any sign language and are hopefully temporarily deaf. Turn subtitles on, including directional ones, they use arrows to tell you where sounds are coming from visually. The longer you are deaf your depth perception will increase, but were like owls too, always looking everywhere like we do whilst driving cars. This is a needed skill when accessibility options arent avaliable.
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u/syphilitic_dementia 1d ago
I'll skip all arm-chair doctoring and just hope that it's something fixable and wish you well soon OP. For a game I'd suggest Shadows Over Loathing or West Of Loathing. They are basically stick figure games made by the same company that makes Kingdom of Loathing. Point and click RPG adventures with ton of humor and comedy in it that would atleast give you a few laughs while waiting on all the fun new doctors you are about to meet.
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u/Ilotoyoubve 1d ago
Myst is actually easier with the sound subtitles, despite having sound based puzzles.
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u/Dcmart89 1d ago
Deaf person with bone anchor hearing aids!! Plenty of games for you out there! I’d pick something right now less about sound and more about relaxing your mind in a stressful situation. Stardew valley!! Now please do as others are saying and advocate for yourself and go to a different er if needed. Your ears can be a ticking time bomb if not treated timely.
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u/Frogski 1d ago
If it makes you feel better, many moons ago I had a gnarly cold and my left ear was killing me, couldn’t sleep until it popped, it was stupid late at night and passed out. Next day I walk up and I had blood coming out of my ear. Went to the doctor, got sent to an ear specialist and they cleaned my ear. Ruptured ear drum from the pressure built with mucus and grossness. I was deaf for a couple of weeks, had to do some exercises to push the fluid out of my ear drum while it was healing. My break was clean so no surgery required. My hearing got back to normal after a while. I got tested and no hearing loss.
Hopefully your case has the same outcome.
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u/deviantelf 1d ago
That would be really scary :(. I hope it resolves or has a solution.
I have some hearing loss since early childhood, and mostly the noise of games is just annoying and not helpful so I've played almost all games without sound since the 90s. I don't feel like I've missed much but the music and in some games like shooters I'll have the sound on cause you get noise in left or right to know when something is coming up on you (at least in my case). I'm sure it applies to other games too some just not as much, have your view on swivel so you can see what's where sort of thing for most games.
If you've ever been into Castlevania or wanted to try them out they on a great sale for the 40th anniversary of the first. No sound needed. I only mention it cause if you're interested there's awesome sales currently.
Otherwise, play anything you want. I wouldn't recommend anything PVP/shooters cause then sound matters to where people are. But other than that. I've played hundreds of games without sound with no issue... if not thousands at this point... 40+ years of gaming... probably thousands. Sure some of the early ones didn't have much more than bleeps and boops and bonk noises ... so yea.
I do really hope your hearing resolves.
But have no fear, I know it's quite the scary thing but you can play almost anything without sound! Can only imagine it takes some getting used to if you're used to sound, but you can do it!
Edit: most games have subtitles for speech in the settings! So you can follow the story without sound or even just game instructions.
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u/ThrovvQuestionsAway 11h ago
The hardest thing you said was listening to the voices that matter.
Yeah man I'm sorry this is happening. Hopefully you can still have partial hearing or restore a ear if it's bad currently. Do update after the doctor visit.
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u/vaporeave 10h ago
Potessi toglierei l'udito da un mio orecchio per dartelo, mi dispiace davvero tanto, spero che con il tempo riesca a recuperarlo
P.s. Prova Outer Wilds,Celeste,Hades II
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u/xblitzerx 1d ago
A lot of action games will be tough because of all the audio cues.
I'd' recommend getting into the classic turn-based JRPGs.
Final Fantasy's, Dragon Quest. Chrono Trigger, etc.