In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, community activist Jonathan Ozek shares his hearing loss journey with me, beginning with his diagnosis at age three and his use of various hearing aids. Jonathan founded the Hear You Rise Foundation in 2023 to advocate for communication accessibility and resilience. He serves on the Massachusetts … Continue reading
In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I spotlight author and hearing loss community activist Mary Grace Whalen. Mary shares her journey with hearing loss, which began in childhood and worsened at age 32. She discusses her mixed hearing loss, autoimmune disorder otosclerosis, and her bilateral cochlear implants. Mary co-administers the Facebook group … Continue reading
We are fortunate to live in the present time when it comes to being deaf or hard of hearing. There is growing awareness of inclusive communication strategies that are necessary in the workplace, healthcare, and educational settings. In this episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, Shanna Groves interviews Rachel Barber, founder of Moments 4 Living, … Continue reading
In the new documentary film, “Heard”, cinematographer and filmmaker Brian Ceci focuses the camera on five individuals, including himself, as they share their experience with hearing loss and deafness. Brian was inspired to create this film after finally embracing his lifelong hearing loss and after watching a similar film in the Spanish language. As a … Continue reading
Thirteen years ago, my memoir Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom hit the bookshelves. It detailed the emotional and mental health impact of having hearing loss while raising my three children, during the first six years after diagnosis. In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I speak with Dr. Anne McIntosh, president of … Continue reading
What do hearing loss and humor have in common? Check out the first episode of Deafinitely Talking, Season Two, in which I interview guests Julie DeMatteo-Lane and Brad McKenna, founders of Down the Tubes Productions. They discuss their work of bringing hope and humor to the hearing loss experience through their podcast, blog, and presentations. … Continue reading
In How I Hear: Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom, I recount my journey with progressive hearing loss, diagnosed at age 27 shortly after the birth of my first child. The unexpected news thrusts me into a life of constant adjustment as familiar sounds—doorbells, smoke alarms, and my babies’ cries—begin to fade. While raising three healthy … Continue reading
Have you ever wondered what lip reading really is? In today’s episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I talk with Chelle Wyatt. Chelle is the founder of Hearing Loss LIVE, an educational platform focused on communication access and hearing loss awareness. She specializes in lip reading instruction and practical strategies for navigating hearing loss in … Continue reading
Shanna Groves with Deafinitely Talking and LipreadingMom.com talks with Emily Ogle, PMP, CPACC, DHS Trusted Tester, an accessibility professional who wants to improve the world bit by bit. She lives and breathes advocacy and is a stalwart ally for those with disabilities. The topic is Becoming an Accessibility Advocate. In this podcast, Shanna and Emily … Continue reading
Shanna Groves with Deafinitely Talking and LipreadingMom.com talks with Gael Hannan, a globally recognized voice in accessibility whose writing and presentations have empowered people with hearing loss around the world. The topic is Defying Labels and Embracing Advocacy. In this podcast, Shanna and Gael discuss: • The various ways people identify with their hearing loss or … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom 