Lipreading Mom has a big confession to make—something I haven’t revealed openly until now. I was a Lipreading Child. For years, I was a Lipreading Child who never got help. For one reason or another, my hearing loss fell under the radar and I never received help. This is the first time I have written … Continue reading
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Hop in Your Car and Come to Open Captioned Drive-In Movie with Lipreading Mom
Will you come along on an exciting trip with Lipreading Mom in a history-making event? Tonight, I head to the first-ever open captioned drive-in movie shown in the good ol’ town of Kansas City. The featured film: Monsters University. And I won’t be alone—dozens of deaf and hard of hearing residents and their families will … Continue reading
How to Embrace Music With a Hearing Loss: An Interview with Pianist Nancy M. Williams
Growing up, Lipreading Mom loved to play the clarinet. For years, I practiced long and hard to be the best clarinetist in all the world…or at least at Pauline G. Hughes Junior High. I was no Benny Goodman, but I did make All-District band my sophomore year of high school. That’s not such a bad … Continue reading
Five Survival Tips for Summertime Gatherings with a Hearing Loss
It’s summer, oh glorious summer! But for the 1 in 10 people with hearing loss, it’s also the most challenging time for communication. Lipreading Mom should know. I’ve had 12 years of hearing loss experience. The whole family is packed around the picnic table, busily chatting about their good fortune and laying food onto their … Continue reading
Five Show Me Your Ears Photos You Must See
As you know, some people come into your life who make a lasting impact on you. My friend, Joy, is that person to me. We met at a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group, both of us pregnant with our little boys at the same time. Now she is the mom of three young sons. She … Continue reading
The Ultimate Bullying Target: Deaf in Prison
David Greenberg was the film editor for the Stop Hearing Loss Bullying Video. He also created one of the most compelling blogs Lipreading Mom has ever read—Deaf In Prison. It follows the stories of various inmates—deaf, culturally Deaf, or hard of hearing—serving time in American prisons. The link between bullying, crime, and imprisonment is at … Continue reading
Helpers with Paws: A Closer Look at Dogs for the Deaf
As an adult, all of my pets have been rescue dogs. They included long-haired chihuahua ‘Shorty’ (1996-2000), Japanese Chin ‘Sammy’ (1998-2008), and cocker spaniel ‘Jake’ (2005-and still going strong). Although not specially trained, they have helped alert me to these noises around my house that I couldn’t hear because of my progressive hearing loss: knocking … Continue reading
New Insight About Bullying That Everyone Should Read
When a member of my extended family dropped out of high school, the reason broke my heart. The teen was mercilessly bullied by classmates because his parents, both of whom are Deaf, use sign language with him in the home (he is hearing). This is shocking and unbelievable, and it has to stop. I started … Continue reading
When Dad is Deaf: A Father’s Day Breakfast Story
My Cousin Ronnie speaks with his hands. He has a unique relationship with his two sons, whom he cannot hear—and it is beautiful to watch Ronnie, who is Deaf, communicate with sign language. When I learned about the film project, Father’s Day Breakfast, I immediately thought of Cousin Ronnie and his boys. The short film … Continue reading
What Causes Childhood Deafness and How Does It Affect Parents?
Zoey is a sweet baby girl who just began wearing hearing aids. Her father recently shared her heartwarming story with Lipreading Mom.com. This Is My Daughter – By Kyle Zentzer Zoey was born October 11, 2012. From the very beginning, Zoey never passed her hearing screening at the hospital. Finally after her first sedated Bear … Continue reading