How much hearing loss did you have to begin with?
I lost my hearing gradually, over the past 20 years. I am not sure how much I had growing up, but I didn't realize I was relying so much on lip reading.
How did you start losing more hearing?
I have been diagnosed with Auditory Nerve disorder; sensorineural hearing loss bilateral. I reached the profound hearing loss stage 2 yrs ago.
How did you react to losing more hearing?
Thankfully, my loss was gradual for the most part. I learned to read lips and didn't even realize it until one day 2 yrs ago; I thought my ears were clogged because the simple voices I didn't hear it anymore. I went to the audiologist and had all the testing done. She told me that I hear at a 105 DB. Equivalent to the sound that is fired out of speakers at a rock band concert. Wow, I said. This sux, what do I do now? Hearing aids, that's what she told me. STRONG ONES.
How did you cope with your feelings of loss?
I lost some friends; The friends that were unable to adapt to the changes I had to make, eventually faded to my past. I started feeling secluded both at home and at work but I was determined to not let anyone know it. I loved music and I was missing the encouraging Christian music I grew to love. When I was in groups of people, they just carried on and I could not follow conversations. I would lead on that I was understanding at different times in conversations which got me into trouble later. After a year of denial, I realized I had to be my own advocate. So, that's what I've done. I signed my husband and 2 kids ( 17yr and 9 yr at the time) along with myself at the local deaf school for sign language classes.
I am still learning sign language; I am the deaf/HOH advocate at my office and I created a Ministry called HISECHO. We help family members that have a deaf/HOH member, learn basic sign and more. So that they can feel more included in their home at least and with their hearing friends that want to learn as well. Instead of missing my Christian music, I learned to sign them!
I have hearing aids, good strong ones but I absolutely hate them. I hear noise, that's about it! They help me keep my voice for now but who wants to hear "noise" that you can't really make out to understand what it is you're hearing. If I'm in a quiet room with few people, I don't mind. They help me with lip reading but other then that, I don't wear them.
So many homes that have 1 deaf/HOH member, do not know sign language, or how to effectively communicate with that member. They do not fully understand the implications they are throwing at the hearing impaired member. Isolation is their first defense. They either learn to advocate for themselves or they navigate towards someone who will do it for them and that leaves a tremendous gap for these individuals to get involved with the wrong crowds that do not have their best interest.
Lessons Learned
- Learn Sign Language
- Don't make excuses, make adjustments
- research your loss and what devices are out there to assist you with your hearing if applicable
- try to get involved with the HOH/Deaf community in your area; volunteer at your local deaf school if you can.
- Just because you can't hear, don't let yourself go unheard; if you need it ask for it!
- don't assume the hearing community "SHOULD" already know, because they don't.
- Accept it and find ways that will make your transition easier.
