An Over-Lipread Comment - A Growing Up Deaf Memory

Long ago, when I was still in my early teens (at most), I had a hearing test at the local center for people with disabilities. After the test, I watched the audiologist give my mother the results. I saw (lipread) my mother remark sadly, "Jamie has so little hearing left."

At the time, I could not understand why my mother was so sad. To me, it was just a few more decibels. After all, I had been steadily losing more hearing since being diagnosed with a profound hearing loss as a toddler. What was the big deal this time?

Today, as an adult, I understand what was the big deal. I have read comments by other parents of deaf/hard of hearing children expressing their grief. From their comments, I know now that my mother was expressing grief over my hearing loss.

Related article on About Deafness/HOH: Stages of Acceptance