This article was written by Terri Shirley, one of the steering leaders of the Kansas City Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America. Terri and I, along with three others, attended a special screening of “Footloose” this week to test out new closed captioning equipment at our local theater. Recently a few members of … Continue reading
Filed under Coping with Hearing Loss …
Why I Am Sharing About My Depression
It is no secret that being a mom is a ton of work. For all the blessings of raising a family, there are just as many sleepless nights, challenging days, and anxious thoughts. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing moms’ stories about a phenomenon that affects at least one in four women. … Continue reading
Can A Person Be Healed of Hearing Loss?
I once had someone pray that I would be healed of hearing loss. In today’s airbrushed, PhotoShop world, flaws can be erased in just a few keystrokes. My hearing loss was something I wanted to disappear. So when the person of great faith prayed for my healing, tears welled in my eyes. I was overwhelmed … Continue reading
Why Lipreading Mom Can’t Have Her Cake and Eat It Too
For 40 days, I have kept my mouth from swallowing the following things: caffeine, white sugar, and meat. Have I become vegetarian just to say “Ah, look at healthy me”? Let’s start with Lipreading Mom’s lifelong addiction to all things sugary sweet. Candy and pre-sweetened cereal were my go-to foods since the time I could … Continue reading
Hearing Aids Are So Gosh, Darn Cool
Don’t you just love my “purty” cool headline and photo choice? (And don’t you just love Lipreading Mom’s penchant for Oklahoma twang?) I confess that I’m a sucker for happy endings. They bring out my inner Oklahoma Pollyanna. When I recently posted the hearing aid financial struggles of my friend “Abby” (not her real name … Continue reading
How Captions Allow Lipreading Mom to Worship
The sermon series was promoted for weeks before I finally sat through the first message. On a warm summer morning, my husband and I sat in our usual place: front row center in the church auditorium. The closer to the stage, the more likely I could lipread the pastor. That theory worked until the audience … Continue reading
How Come I Can’t Hear My Baby?
Let’s go back in time to the winter of 2001 when I became Lipreading Mom… My days were spent holding a blissfully sleeping newborn boy. My nights were spent holding a wide-awake newborn boy since he developed this sleep-all-day, night-owl fascination. When my ears rang uncontrollably, I thought it was a side effect of sleep … Continue reading
Butterflies Are Free … But Hearing Aids Sure Ain’t!
My first set of hearing aids were purchased in 2003. They weren’t cheap, and my insurance company didn’t help with the bill. But my credit card company was happy for the next six months it took me to pay off the hearing aid charges. Why are these behind-the-ear devices that are so vital to Lipreading … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom Attempts to Blog While Playing with Choo-Choo Trains
As I write this, my 3-year-old boy sits outside pushing his Thomas trains on the driveway. Thank goodness for an iPad that allows Lipreading Mom to type from the comfort of a folding outside chair while he plays. Oops… spoke too soon. My boy now wants to go play inside. (Short writing pause as we … Continue reading
How Do I Lip Read a Preschooler?
In two weeks, my kids will start school again. This is the time of year many stay at home moms unashamedly live for: moments to themselves. Time to pursue a hobby or endulge in massages and Starbucks. Should I get a Mom of the Year Award because I fall into the category of I Don’t … Continue reading
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