Understanding The Condition

The doctor told her he is certain of her diagnosis but only needs one slight confirmation in the form of test reports. He took Gemma for a quick test and within half an hour, he had her reports in his hand. The doctor seemed pleased because the reports confirmed his diagnosis.

The Diagnosis

As per the reports, Gemma had a medical condition called ‘Bilateral Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence’. Gemma didn’t understand what it meant but this news was like music to her ears. Because a diagnosis means there is also a cure. She began to see hope again. 

Explanation

The doctor explained that Gemma could hear the blood flowing through her veins and her heart pumping, and was sensitive to loud noises because her ear canals were missing part of the temporal bone. This means she can hear everything happening inside her body. It sounds dangerous because it is. Gemma came to know that she is a walking medical miracle. 

Medical Marvel

This condition only affects about 1-2% of the population and doesn’t happen to people less than 40 years of age. But with Gemma, this condition was present since her birth. This condition is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms vary from person to person. Some people tend to become actual patients. And Gemma was raising a kid despite the difficulty which was a miracle in itself. 

Psychotic Episodes

These people spend years in therapy before even realizing that the problem is not in their heads. As a result, they lose their ability to function normally and live their lives in a miserable state. Some of them even hear constant vibrations from their voices. And due to this reason, hearing lower frequencies was a challenge for them.

Treatment

The doctor informed Gemma that there is a treatment that can help her. However, it is a surgical process and it comes with its set of risks. Plus the surgery can be done one ear at a time which means Gemma will be bedridden and in excruciating pain, twice. And the recovery procedure will be tedious and painful too.