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
Filed under My Life with Exceptional Kids …
Let’s Celebrate World Hearing Day 2026: Hearing Care for Every Child
World Hearing Day is observed annually on March 3. This year’s theme is “From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing Care for Every Child.” According to the World Health Organization, around 90 million children ages 5-19 years live with hearing loss. Sixty percent of childhood hearing loss is preventable through early identification, preventative care, and cost-effective health … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom Turns 15 Years Old: How My Little Boy Inspired this Blog
I hope you all are doing well with the cold winter weather. A lot of us will be impacted in the Midwest United States. Thinking about the snowstorm that we will be receiving makes me think about 15 years ago, when I was sitting in a living room with my then four year old youngest … Continue reading
Watch Episode One of Deafinitely Talking Podcast: Transparent Communication with Dr. Anne McIntosh
I’m excited to announce that the very first Deafinitely Talking podcast has posted. In episode one, I talk with Dr. Anne McIntosh, founder of Safe’N’Clear. Anne is a Communication Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus and member of the deaf community. In 2012, Anne founded Safe’N’Clear, Inc., the only FDA-approved clear face mask … Continue reading
Announcing Lipreading Mom’s New Podcast “Deafinitely Talking”
Announcing the soon-to-be-launched “Deafinitely Talking” podcast, featuring interviews with amazing individuals in the D/deaf and hearing loss community. The first episode will post here and on the Lipreading Mom YouTube channel in October 2025. Lipreading Mom’s Deafinitely Talking Podcast and YouTube Channel Lipreading Mom’s Deafinitely Talking Podcast on Spotify Watch These New Videos on the … Continue reading
Listening to Music with a CI
The week after CI activation, I plopped a favorite CD into the car player that flashed the song’s name on the screen – a familiar song. When the opening instrumentals began, I was astounded. Instead of drums and guitars, I heard screeching static. When the vocalist sang, I could distinguish it from the opening music. … Continue reading
I Am an Extrovert: Part Two of My Deaf Journey
The dark side of being a deaf extrovert is feeling cut off from people. When I can’t hear conversations, I feel isolated – while everyone else mingles seamlessly, hears the nuances in a speaker’s voice, and catches the joke. I nod along, smile like everyone else, and pretend to hear the punchline. I don’t want … Continue reading
“It’ll All Work Out in the Wash”: What Dad Taught Me
The end of a year and beginning of a new one is often the time that we reflect. We consider our milestones and challenges from the previous 12 months and set goals for the new calendar year. I think about what my dad used to always say: “It’ll all work out in the wash.” Dad was … Continue reading
Don’t Forget to Pack a Second Set of Eyes on the Next Road Trip
Hitting the open road is one of my favorite warm weather activities. My family and I have traveled Route 66 twice and frequented highways in the U.S. West, South, and East. We’ve visited places like Oklahoma and Texas more times than I can count to see family and friends. Despite the joys of summer travel, … Continue reading
Letter to My Daughter on Her Graduation Day
“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.” -Maya Angelou Lipreading Mom focuses on two things: living with hearing loss and being a parent. Today I would like to focus on parenting my children who are all … Continue reading