- "Tonight I got an email from someone whose doctor diagnosed a hearing loss and that person is afraid of having to wear a hearing aid. So, how about telling why you love your hearing aid?"
-Calling All Hearing Aid Lovers
—BANJOS1
"Hi! I am a hard-of-hearing woman who has worn two hearing aids all her life. Whenever I have to go to the audiologist for new ones they love to see me because I'm happy to be there, most people are cranky and only go because their family members make them. I'm so grateful that they help me function. Without them I simply would not be able to get by in the hearing world. I will never forget walking into a grocery store after buying a new pair, better quality than I'd been able to afford before, and hearing that they played music in Publix! Who knew! It takes a little while to adjust if your hearing is poor and you suddenly hear everything. Hang in there! Eventually it won't be so chaotic and you'll be able to appreciate what you can hear. At some point my hearing will worsen, and then I'll embrace the deaf culture. For now, I have a choice. "
—KAZZER2
"I love my HA. It helps me catch conversations in restaurants and bars, places I couldn't communicate before. I also can hear a little more of the music around me and they are great at concerts. I recently went to a concert and put my hands on the stage to feel the chords. With my hearing aids, enough of the voices got through to make it a beautiful experience. I was afraid at first the performers would be angry but they were pleased and flattered. They let me put my hand on their chests and sang to me after the show. It was lovely.
Here's a funny story from when I first got my HA. I was grading papers (I'm a professor) and I hear a Darth Vader type noise. I held my breath to concentrate and it disappeared! Oh well.
I went back to grading and I heard it again! I was really scared being alone in the house, so I got up to investigate. Now, not only do I hear rasping, but a rustling too! I walk all over the house, getting more and more freaked out until I realize: DUH! I'm hearing my own breathing and my clothes rubbing together. What an idiot! I laughed my butt off at myself. It had been so long since I heard that I didn't remember it. Your friend will like HA. "
—TDUB59
"I am sitting in Germany and just came here by chance, using searching machines. It took me 24 years before I was ready to wear hearing-aids. But finally I recognised that learning at university, later working in my company and also everyday life is much more enjoyable, easy and pleasing if you hear (nearly) everything! I don't bother other people to be aware of me being hard-of-hearing. That is much better then seeming to be stupid, as it happens easily, if you can't follow a conversation. So, if you think you suffer from a loss of hearing-ability: Go to the doctor immediately! He knows best, if you need a professional ear-cleaning ;-) oder hearing-aids. In any case, life is too short to miss one single audible minute of it."
—German Visitor
I love singing in the car. I love the sound of my girlfriend's voice. I love being able to talk to my nephews on the phone. I really love my hearing aids. My mom really likes not having to yell at me anymore!
Hearing Aids are not perfect. Sometimes I cant understand what other people are saying, no matter how hard I try. Other people worry about how they look. Knowing whats going on is more important than how I think I look, or what other people think. Honestly, most people dont even notice them and I have a full ITE, I mean it fills up the whole ear. Mostly, I'd really like my new ITE's to come in purple!
- HOH Teenager
I can hear my cat purr!! I'd forgotten how soothing and comforting that sound is. Also, and more importantly, I can finally babysit my grandson without being out-of-my-mind with worry over hearing him when he awakes from a nap or during the night. I'm grateful for the digital technology that puts me back in the hearing groove. I do sign ASL, and love my Deaf friends in the Deaf Community, but I am very thankful that hearing aids will work for me. (Yes, it has been a trifle difficult learning to accept the 'chaotic' sounds that 'assault' my ears now, but life is a learning process and this grama doesn't want to miss anything!)
- HOH Annie
