Things I’ve Learned from Hearing Loss
Over the past few years, I’ve developed significant bilateral hearing
loss, hyperacrusis (sensitivity to loud noises), and tinnitus (hearing
ringing sounds that don’t exist). Three doctors and many many hearing
tests later, we’re still not sure why or if it’s going to get worse. But
during this transition to understanding everyone around me to
struggling to piece together context clues and pathetic attempts at lip
reading, I have learned a few things.
1. People do not like to repeat themselves. I’ve
never felt more disparaged than when people complain about having to
repeat themselves, as if I’m just not trying hard enough to listen. It
doesn’t have to be a verbal complaint, although my boss did at one point
complain to me that having to repeat herself is her biggest pet peeve.
It’s when people roll their eyes or exasperatedly sigh, or worse, say
never mind and move on with their lives. I’m not sorry that I have
hearing loss. I am sorry that you’re so inconsiderate that you won’t
make a three second accommodation so I can understand you.
2. People always want to fix me.
“I can’t wait until you get hearing aids so you’ll enjoy movies more.”
“I can’t wait until you get hearing aids so I can stop shouting at you.”
The list goes on and on. I get it. My hearing loss makes things harder
for you. And if I’m being honest, it makes things harder for me too. But
it’s not like I’m actually broken. Yes, if my doctors and I determine
that hearing aids will help and are the best option for me, there’s a
pretty decent chance I will make the decision to wear them or at the
very least try them out. But that’s my decision to make for my life, and
if I do get hearing aids in the future or some other assistive devices
it will be because I decide that it’s the best decision for me, not
because you’re tired of having to face me when you speak.
But it’s not
all bad. I have a lot of complaints and this experience has shown me
that some people really suck, but there are perks.
3. I started taking ASL classes and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
After consistently failing at French (partially due to the fact that I
couldn’t even tell what the professor was saying in English, partially
due to my own inability to grasp the language) and after realizing my
hearing was only going to get worse, I signed up for American Sign
Language I in college. Until then, I’d never even had a conversation
with a Deaf person, signing or speaking. And now I get to fall in love
with this amazing language in a room where I don’t have to struggle to
follow a conversation because I can’t hear it.
4. The Deaf community.
I’ve barely dipped my big toe into the waters of the Deaf community for
a few reasons. I don’t know if/where I fit in there considering I’m new
at this, I don’t sign well yet, and I’m hard of hearing instead of
profoundly deaf. But in the limited experience I’ve had, I’m so grateful
this community exists. In my city and online, I’ve been able to find
people who exemplify not just surviving with hearing loss, but thriving.
When I first had trouble hearing, I was upset. I was angry at the world
and constantly complaining and a lot of times just nodding along and
not even trying to grasp conversations because I’d get lost and just
give up. I felt sorry for myself because I felt like now I had a
handicap and my life was going to be so much harder forever and it was
going to suck a lot. But when I see all of these amazing people and I
learn about the history of Deaf communities I’m proud that I have
something even just kind of in common with them.
This is whole thing has definitely been a new experience. And sometimes the entire world sucks and sometimes I’m really excited for what it’s opened up for me, even if I have no idea what’s next.
This is whole thing has definitely been a new experience. And sometimes the entire world sucks and sometimes I’m really excited for what it’s opened up for me, even if I have no idea what’s next.
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