That Felt Very Rewarding

Yesterday was our 2nd Annual CHHA - Hamilton/Rotary Club Golf Tourney. The weather was great, the turnout was good and we were able to raise some money for our CHHA Chapter.

I think the highlight of the day for me was golfing with my Mom. Yes, we golf together numerous times over the course of the year but, playing together and raising money for an organization that works to help both of us made it special for me.

Being involved with this organization has been increasingly more rewarding as I become more involved. They have been so welcoming and genuinely excited to have me there. I hope that I can continue to help them as best I can. I already see how I can make a difference with this group and I'm looking forward to seeing it reach it's potential.

Quit your whining

It's funny how sometimes all you want is for people to feel sorry for you because you feel sorry for yourself. Perhaps I've used this blog to whine a little too much. I really do use it to vent a lot and share what I'm going through but I really only share the negative side of things.

So, that being said, here is some good news! It appears that the audiologist and I have come to an agreement that will allow me to keep my hearing aids and still be eligible for my government assistance. Huge bonus! Thanks to everyone for giving me that little kick in the butt I needed to be proactive about it. I have a quick meeting with them tomorrow to iron out the details but I'm very optimistic.

Making it work for me

I have managed to hook up my bluetooth hearing aid feature to my work cell phone. This has already helped dramatically when using the phone at work because I can call forward my office line to my cell phone. Previously, I was losing conversation as my phone feature cut in and out while someone was talking to me. Now, I can feed it right into my ears; so far it has worked out great.

I am also slowly preparing myself to return my hearing aids until July when I repurchase them so I can get the government grant. I really need to stop putting off the appointment with Listen Up Canada and get in there and sort out everything. I still really believe they can do more for me than they have but unless I push them to do more why would they? I think it's sad for a company like that to not try to go the extra step for their clients. I really feel that there is a true disconnect between the people who work as audiologist and the people who need their services. However, how can I expect them to relate if they are not hard of hearing as well ... can't they atleast be empathetic?

Someone Making a Difference

Here is an article about someone with hearing loss who is really making a difference. What an inspiration to us all.

Between A Rock and a Hard Place

It looks like I'm going to have to return my hearing aids. Talk about 1 step forward and two steps back. In order for me to be eligable for my government grant the hearing aids have to be purchased in July of this year ... arrrgg!

Everyone is telling me I need to kick up more of a fuss with the Audiologist office. Yes, they are probably right but besides giving me a loner hearing aid to pass the time between May and June I don't really know what they would be able to do for me. Regardless, I should really push them more on the situation because it is because of their oversight that I am in this situation in the first place. I provided them with all of the information that I had about my current pair at the time and they should be familiar with the government grant process.

Frustrated

I received a phone call the other day from my Audiologist explaining to me that the funding that I am eligible for from the Government for my new hearing aids is not actually available to me until July of 2010. This leaves me with two possible solutions: to pay the amount that I was expecting to receive without the ability to receive that funding in return in July, or to return my hearing aids and purchase them back when the funding is available. Needless to say I'm incredibly annoyed by this. I really feel that this is something that the audiologist should have been aware of back in January when I bought the new hearing aids.

It looks like my best solution economically is to return the hearing aids and buy them back so I get the financial assistance from the government. The audiologist said they can let me keep the new pair until May 21, which leaves me with my old pair for 2 months until I get them back. I'm really hoping I can work out some kind of deal where they can let me keep them with some kind of commitment to them.

I am trying to take this set-back in stride and not let it stress me out. I'm sure that we can reach some kind of agreement because I really don't want to go back to my old pair. I bought the new hearing aids because the old one's were not working properly and were getting old and it seems ridiculous to have to go back.

Looking to Make a Difference

Last week I went to my first Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) meeting. It was definitely interesting to walk into a room where the average age looked to be atleast 65. I think even they were thrown off by someone my age looking to become a member of their association. Despite the obvious age difference we do share a lot of similar struggles and I really can learn a lot from their experiences and advice. Unfortunately, it did reveal that there is a lack of trained emotional support mechanisms in place for people who have experienced hearing loss. What they do have is a group of individuals from all walks of life with a common problem that come together to share their experiences and support eachother, which is better nothing at all.

CHHA has also been more than happy to have me involved in their group, expressing the need for some "young blood". I have signed on to join their golf tournament committee and it is my goal to really help them promote the association and reach out to a younger demographic. It became obvious to me very quickly that they had no idea how to promote themselves and let people know they exist.

Overall, it was a great experience and I really believe that I can make a difference to this group and in the lives of many people.