A week ago, I had cochlear implant surgery in my left ear. I can’t hear anything in that ear and won’t until the implant is activated later this month. I wear a hearing aid in my other ear, and it only amplifies noises. This means I am deaf. I received a diagnosis of progressive bilateral … Continue reading
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Recognizing and Responding to Microaggressions about Hearing Loss
“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
World Hearing Day is March 3: Let’s Change Mindsets
March 3 is World Hearing Day and is organized annually by the World Health Organization. This year’s theme that is illustrated below in the vibrant purple visual of a person’s side profile with a red orb radiating from the ear is Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all! As a … Continue reading
The Story of an Extrovert Who Can’t Hear
Growing up, I found that I didn’t want to miss out on conversations. If I didn’t hear someone, I asked questions. Lots of questions. Some people interpret asking too many questions as being complicated or obtuse. While a lot of people were accommodating, there were times that I heard the phrase that no one who … Continue reading
Join Me in Advocating for Insurance to Cover Hearing Aids
As a board member for the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, I have been asked, “How do I pay for hearing aids?” For many, the price of hearing technology is just too much. Insurance does not usually cover hearing aids, and not everyone has a nest egg built up to purchase … Continue reading
Making Space for Grief at the Holiday Table
Please check on your friends. They may need your support as they navigate planning for holidays with one less loved one at their celebrations. Four years ago at Christmas, I lost my beloved dad. Every December, it was tradition for us all to gather in my home, where my three children sat on the sofa … Continue reading
July Is Disability Pride Month
As a Lipreading Mom, I celebrate Disability Pride Month to raise awareness about the many visible and invisible disabilities, such as deafness and hearing loss. I also celebrate to build awareness about the importance of making our communities and workplaces accessible and inclusive for all. The Disability Pride Month flag colors represent various aspects of … 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
Lipreading Mom’s Interview with Hearing Loss LIVE!
I recently was interviewed for Hearing Loss LIVE!, a website dedicated to hearing loss awareness. Created by Chelle Wyatt, Julia Stepp, and Michele Linder (all of whom live with hearing loss), the HLL site’s philosophy is two-fold: “We help you help yourself” and “We’re changing the status quo of hearing loss help. One size does … Continue reading
How AMC Theatres Got Things Right with Open Captioned Movies
The film “Spencer“ premiered at my local AMC location this weekend. I had waited weeks for a chance to see what the filmmakers call a ”fable based on a true story” about the late Princess Diana. In all honesty, I wasn’t holding my breath that the film would be fully accessible to my hard of … Continue reading
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