Accepting Your Hearing Loss

I recently had a conversation with someone who was encouraged by their doctor to get a hearing aid after discovering a significant hearing loss. This discovery was several months ago and when I asked why they have delayed for so long I was surprised to hear that it was mostly superficial reasons. It's funny that in my 10 + years wearing hearing aids I sometimes forget what those first few days, weeks and months are like. When I first got my hearing aids I was self-conscious, scared and embarrassed. I chalked these feelings up to being an already self-conscious teenager but these feelings can be applied to people of any age who are initially dealing with their hearing loss. My advice to these people is ... yes, it's hard at first but it will subside over time when you begin to realize all of the positives that come from using hearing aids. You may not notice at first but soon you will find that your ability to communicate with others will improve dramatically. Conversations one-on-one, in a group and even in noisy situations will become easier. So, even though it can be difficult to admit that one needs a hearing aid, all experience shows that the use of hearing aids can improve one's life significantly.

Hearing Aid Subsidies

I encourage all my HOH friends/contacts to stay educated on the various Hearing Aid subsidies that are available to you. We all know that hearing devices can be very expensive so any help is always appreciated. Check out this link for information in Ontario.

Adaptations

I recently found an article about talk-show host Rush Limbaugh who lost his hearing at an astonishing rate thanks to autoimmune inner-ear disease (AIED). AIED is an inflammatory condition of the inner ear. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks cells in the inner ear that are mistaken for a virus or bacteria. AIED is a rare disease, occurring in less than 1 percent of the 28 million Americans with hearing loss. It usually begins with a sudden loss of hearing in one ear, which progresses rapidly to the second.

This must have been very traumatic for a man whose livelihood depends on his ability to speak, hear and communicate. Thanks to the use of his new CI Rush has been able to adapt to his loss and continue to do what he loves. I think we can all be guilty sometimes of letting our short comings get in the way of what we love to do ... sometimes we just have to find a different route to get there.

Firsts

I have been reading a lot lately about people's experiences post CI surgery and it made me think back to when I wore my hearing aids for the first time. As an 18 year old I was absolutely mortified at first that this was going to be a part of my life and who I was. However, this quickly lead to a feeling of astonishment at what I was actually able to hear; there was an entire world of sounds that I had never heard before.

So, I empathize with those who are going through this experience. Imagine the thrill you would feel by hearing your child for the first time, being able to understand the lyrics to your favorite song or waking up to the sounds of birds chirping outside of your window. These are all experiences we sometimes take for granted that aren't true for everyone.

Thank you to those who are sharing their experiences with the world. Your openness allows others to see life in a different light.

Field of Dreams

Here is a great article about Jalen Harris who is a remarkable athlete who also has a CI. I think this shows us all that we have the ability to achieve anything we put our minds to. I especially think this young man is a great role model for hearing impaired children struggling with perceived limitations.

Enjoy

Playing Catch Up

Almost 3 months have passed since I last posted on here so I am going to play a little catch up and recommit to blogging more frequently.

One of my new year's resolutions was to become a larger part of CHHA. I have definitely stayed true to that goal, almost to the point where it has become too much to handle on top of my job. However, with a little prioritizing I'm able to put in an hour or two per day to help this organization. At first, I was feeling a little under whelmed by what the group has been able to accomplish. Stereotypically speaking this is an older group who has been fairly adverse to change so progress is going to be slow. However, there is a movement happening with some new blood and a new vision for what this organization will be able to accomplish and it is exciting to be a part of this.

To date here are some of the things we have accomplished since I became a member of the board:
• A successful golf tournament fundraiser
• A Hearing Health Fair
• Launched a new website
• Began planning to host a CI reunion

There is much more to come ... big things!