Teacher regains hearing after surgery for rare surfer's ear condition
Misti Nordstrom, a teacher from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, struggled with hearing loss due to a rare condition called auditory exostosis, or "surfer's ear." This condition developed from her years of swimming in cold water, leading to painful conversations and difficulties in her daily life. After consulting multiple doctors, Nordstrom underwent surgery at Tufts Medical Center with Dr. Kathryn Noonan. The procedure involved drilling down bony growths in her ear canal, which carried risks but ultimately restored her hearing. Three weeks post-surgery, Nordstrom experienced a significant improvement. She described the moment she could hear clearly again as emotional and transformative, leading her to appreciate everyday sounds and experiences in a new way.