How Lani Misalucha came to terms with hearing loss after bacterial meningitis

Lani Misalucha. Image: INQUIRER.net/Jessica Ann Evangelista

Lani Misalucha said she has learned to live with single-sided hearing loss, five years after she and her husband battled bacterial meningitis, a condition she admitted took a toll on her and her work as a singer.

This is the new reality that “Asia’s Nightingale” struggled with and has now learned to embrace when she faced the press on Wednesday, May 7, for her upcoming concert “Still Lani,” recalling the time when she was unable to sing due to the effects of the infection and how depression set in afterwards.

“Ang effect ng bacterial meningitis na ‘yun was deafness. Vestibular disorder. And meron din ang tinnitus. So, for a while, hindi ko talaga nakayanan kumanta. Now, we’re partially deaf. Sa right ear. It was really a difficult time for me. Because, syempre naman, singer ako,” she said.

“I went through that phase wherein, should I say, nagkaroon ng depresyon? I don’t know if I’m going to admit it. I don’t know if it was actually depresyon na ‘yung naramdaman ko. Pero alam mo, mahirap i-describe. Parang ayaw mong kumilos. Number two, you don’t want to socialize,” she continued.

Misalucha shared that 90% of her hearing is now gone and she can only absorb very loud sounds, but they are distorted.

Despite the struggle, she explained that she doesn’t want to be resentful about her situation, so she tries to remain grateful for whatever part is still left.

“Mahirap siya, pero what can we do? Magreklamo ka ba? Ito na yun, ito na yung binigay ng tadhana. Ayaw ko sabihin na binigay ito ng Panginoon Diyos, hindi. Nangyari ito eh, hindi naman sa magiging careless naming mag-asawa. Trial ito eh. Kasama ito sa buhay. So, it’s just a matter of accepting it,” she said.

“Yun lang siguro talaga ‘yung key to it. Acceptance. Kasi kung hindi mo ma-accept, wala. You’re just going to feel really hurtful, magiging spiteful ka sa buhay. So, ito na yun. At least buhay. Nakaka-function pa. Nakakalakad pa. Kahit papano. Kahit natutumba-tumba,” she added.

Misalucha shared that according to the doctors, they got the infection from “bad meat” or contamination. 

“So the bacteria came from baboy. Now, kaming mag-asawa, hindi kami kumakain ng baboy. The only thing we can recall, that week, we went to a restaurant, hindi ko na sasabihin kung saan […] They probably used kitchen utensils and then put it down on sa isang countertop na nag-touch sa gulay,” she narrated.

Misalucha, who rose to fame for her hits “Tunay na Mahal,” “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin,” and “Malaya Ka Na,” among others, will stage her “Still Lani” concert at The Solaire Theater on August 21.