I'm a college student, and got my first set of aids when I was five. I've had three pairs since then, and each new set has been a major improvement - to the point that some of the new sounds I heard moved me to tears! Yes, I cried the first time I heard the toilet flush ... yeah, I'm a bit weird. I am completely isolated without my aids; I am right on the edge of severe to profound deafness. With the aids, however (and supplemented by lip reading), I speak clearly, I hear speech, and I can communicate easily!
There are hassles involved with hearing aids, and they are not as good as having 'normal' hearing - but they are great enablers. I never needed to learn a manual form of communication, and my current attempts to learn cued speech and ASL are motivated by interest - not need. I have a separate physical disability, and while I am proud, not ashamed, of both of them, my hearing loss has been less of a challenge to deal with than my use of a wheelchair. Hearing aids are just that great.
- College Student
I read your articles about "love my hearing aid" and want to pass on my experience. First, I was born and raised with near perfect hearing. Over the course of my military life, and a variety of constant noises my hearing changed for the worst. In the last years it changed so dramatically, that I could hardly hear a person speaking only 10 feet away. It negatively effected my job, my home life and my social interactions.
The biggest step was admitting to myself that I needed help. I went to several specialists in private and in the government to learn that my hearing was severely reduced. That led me to consider a HA.
I was fitted for the micro chip HA that fits within the ear canal. It is almost unnoticeable,works completely automatically, differentiates sounds, and performs almost the same as my original natural good hearing. My life has completely turned around.
I enjoy conversations, movies, discussions in groups and all the other joys of fully hearing again. I only hope this testament will encourage others who are reluctant HA users to renew their efforts. For me it was a simple decision: to hear or not to hear, and my answer is get help and hear.
- Hopes to Help Others
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