A new concern

For the last few days, my hearing has been eroding. It is not that is wholly gone, but greatly attenuated and muffled, as though I have a thick blanket over my head. I am seeing my doctor this afternoon in hopes of gaining some answers. I am thinking it may be either (1) an infection, (2) a fluid-buildup, or (3) earwax-related. We shall see. In the meantime, though, as a musician, and already laboring under the handicap of being unable to speak clearly, this is extremely distressing. My wife and I were given tickets to the acclaimed musical Ragtime this past Saturday, and though it was clearly a very fine production, much of it was, sadly, lost on me.