I enjoy sharing my hearing loss adventures in mainstream media publications. Not only does it helps raise awareness about hearing loss to a broader audience, it chips away at the stigma surrounding hearing loss. In each piece, I aim to share valuable communication tips or other helpful hints to educate the public about ways they can be more hearing loss friendly. My latest article was recently featured on NYMetroParents.
Please show your support for these initiatives by visiting the original article here.
Below I share a short excerpt:
“Is this the year we can finally get earbuds?” It’s a question my teenagers ask me every year on their birthday, but they already know the answer: No. And they know the reason why. I have an adult-onset genetic hearing loss passed down through my father’s side of the family. Thankfully, my children have healthy hearing so far, but I need them to guard it with a vengeance. If they develop problems with their hearing in adulthood, like I did, I want them to be starting off with as little residual damage as possible — hence, no earbuds.
That’s not our first struggle triggered by my hearing issues. When you’re a mom with hearing loss, communication with your children is always a bit difficult. It’s just the nature of the challenge that changes as they grow.
Continue reading on NYMetroParents.
As a grandfather it is also hard, and my grandkids are old enough now to understand why I have my loss an to understand why their parents keep telling them no the earbuds. But I have always felt a little guilty of the fact that I am the reason they cannot have the earbuds. My kids didn’t know about my hearing issues until they were adults.
I bet they will thank you later for protecting their hearing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
My kids are in college now, but when my daughter was in Girl Scouts I volunteered to chaperone an outing. They played a game where one person (me) was blindfolded and had to follow directions shouted at them by about a dozen little girls at the same time another person was blindfolded and shouted at by another group of girls. I couldn’t understand a thing, so our team lost the game. It was a pretty humiliating experience for me stumbling around not able to hear, but the kids were kind of oblivious. I’m sure my daughter doesn’t even remember. That’s when it really hit home how much I need my eyesight to “hear.”
I can relate to that! Thank you for sharing your story.
I decided a long time ago that raising children with a profound hearing loss would be quite a challenge on top life’s regular challenges . I remember having a friend who’s mother was a single deaf parent and she said at times , it’s was so difficult for her mother to handle the stress of raising her and her sister . I wasn’t blessed with children but I have 8 wonderful nieces and one very cute nephew who give me plenty of joy . I think you hearing impaired Moms who are or have raised children are amazing !!! I can’t imagine it was an easy job.
Thank you for your encouraging words!
Thank you so much for writing this! I am a single mommy of two kiddos who have a lot of years between them. My daughter started college and my son started kinder. I was really struggling this week and even posted in one of the cochlear Facebook groups asking for tips to cope. Some people cared and asked questions, some talked about themselves and they’re situation. Someone accused me of being sexist for asking single moms and not dads. So I took down my post. I feel just wiped out at the end of the day and it’s the time I have my kids. I work full time and having hearing loss is so challenging at times. Me and my kids have our moments too but for the most part they already know and are patient with it. But I don’t have those extra pair of hands when I just can’t. Your post made me feel understood and more ok with my situation.
So glad it was helpful. You are definitely not alone in your struggles. Keep up your good work!
Thank you for your encouraging words!
I have been subject of , said in a hateful voice, of the question.”dontcha have a Hearing aid?” so many times and I need a reply to these rude people that would be quick and to the point. I don’t know if they think I am too poor or stupid to have one or what. Many people think a hearing aid or a cochlear implant, (I have both),make one able to hear normally.They also think that louder is better when it is clarity and lack of background noise that make the difference.
Hearing loss is so misunderstood. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
thank you,but I still need a reply to give to those mean people that will stop them in their tracks.
Ask them to cover their ears and try to understand what is spoken to them in a noisy room. Then say, “Welcome to my world!” Or use sarcasm: “I’m sorry. Could you repeat that?” 😉