| June 16, 2006 - Hearing Possibilities | | | | some meetings sponsored by the Hearing Loss |
| For me being hearing impaired is more about a being in | | | | Association of America. ( |
| denial. I have dealt with hearing loss all of my life, but I | | | | At these meetings I met others that had gone through |
| never thought of it as an impairment or handicap. I had | | | | similar experiences. I was amazed to hear stories that |
| one good ear and was convinced that that was not a | | | | sounded so much like mine. I begin to realize that there |
| problem. After all I could hear ok with one ear. | | | | was problems with hearing loss and I was just use to |
| As I look back on my life, I can see now that hearing | | | | compensating for it, in my own unique ways. These |
| only out of one ear is a significant problem and was | | | | ways were getting me into trouble, and neither my |
| the source of many of my learning problems. In fact it | | | | employers nor I could understand the nature of the |
| caused many problems that I was not even aware of, | | | | problem. |
| such as misunderstandings and miscommunications, | | | | It was a simple problem really. They were not |
| which I never realized. | | | | effectively communicating, with me and I was not |
| I lost my hearing in my good ear suddenly in my fifties | | | | effectively communicating with them. I would often nod |
| and was amazed to find out that I could hear well | | | | my head yes even though I did not fully understand |
| enough in my "bad" ear to be fitted with a hearing aid. | | | | what was said because I did not want to appear |
| It took some time to get use to a hearing aid but I | | | | stupid. And they would assume I am stupid because I |
| figured all is well, and went on with my life. I was | | | | would say yes and then not do what they ask of me |
| confident that I could do my job and function normally | | | | or do it wrong. I had been doing it all my life and getting |
| in my world. | | | | away with it. I thought. |
| Well it is not my world, and after dealing with a few | | | | Well as I listened to other hearing loss sufferers I |
| other health problems, I found my annual reviews at | | | | realized that I could not ignore the problem anymore. I |
| work being less then I expected. I was astounded! I | | | | had to solve the problem. If you deny there is a |
| could not believe it! I was working harder than anyone | | | | problem you cannot solve the problem. |
| and as far as I could tell doing more too. They must be | | | | Hearing loss is something that can be helped. The |
| the problem, not me! Well after another poor review I | | | | hardest problem the hearing aid and assistive device |
| was put on probation and I was furious. I went over | | | | industry has, is to make people realize that their |
| the details of my review and could not comprehend | | | | product can help solve most of their hearing problems, |
| the problem. | | | | but only if you admit hearing loss is your problem, then |
| I decided to quit my job before I got fired, and was in | | | | there is help. |
| much anguish about the whole situation. My wife could | | | | Check with an Audiologist or an ear specialist if you |
| not stand being around me because of the resulting | | | | suspect you have hearing difficulties, and avoid the |
| depression. We moved in with my daughter in a | | | | emotional, and relationship damage, that hearing loss |
| neighboring state, and after a time I began attend | | | | can present. Don't let hearing loss become a handicap. |