In the latest episode of the Deafinitely Talking podcast, I interview Janaki Zaremba, a meditation teacher with over 30 years of experience. Janaki talks about her journey with moderate hearing loss since childhood and how meditation helps her manage listening fatigue and stress. She regularly offers free guided meditations on her website https://janakimayazaremba.com/. In this … 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
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
What is the mental health impact of living with hearing loss or deafness, and how can you find help? Those questions are discussed in today’s Deafinitely Talking podcast interview with host Shanna Groves and hard of hearing coach, international speaker, and 4X best-selling author Kellina Powell. The episode topic is Mental Health Help for the … Continue reading
When a person experiences sudden hearing loss, the emotional impact can be tremendous. Shanna Groves with Deafinitely Talking and LipreadingMom.com talks with hearing loss coach, advocate, and writer Carly Sygrove. The topic is the Emotional Impact of Hearing Loss. In this podcast, Shanna and Carly discuss: – Carly’s experiences with sudden single-sided deafness – The … Continue reading
“I’m not hard of hearing. I’m ignoring you.” I love this sign that hangs at home. When it comes to rude comments, I’m finding it can be a good thing to pretend I didn’t hear. Or I can turn off my ears by taking out my hearing aids. In all seriousness, I am wondering if … Continue reading
The Blood David’s eyes were focused on his friend walking beside him on the sidewalk. In order to “hear” the conversation, David looked right at his friend who spoke. The act of lip reading required David’s eyes to do the listening. Neither one of them saw the low-hanging tree limb until after it smacked … Continue reading
Today is my 14th Mother’s Day as a mom and 41st as a daughter. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the role mom has played in my life. Yet it is difficult to select a Mother’s Day card. Every pre-printed message exudes a sentiment that may not sincerely reflect how I feel about this day. … Continue reading
Weeks after my second child was born, I was in the throes of a horrible postpartum depression. Something motivated me to pick up a copy of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the memoir of author and poet Maya Angelou. In the book, Maya shares about growing up in racially segregated Arkansas and how … Continue reading
I recently read a story about a woman who was afraid to jump off a cliff as part of a thrill-seeking group activity. The thought of jumping off anything, let alone a cliff, sends terror chills down my spine. You can read the story here. Since childhood, I have had a fear of leaping off … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom 