While watching a DVD of Thomas the Train with my Little Boy, I was dismayed to discover the movie lacked captions. So I took a photo of the TV screen with Thomas in mid-sentence, and posted the image on Facebook. My friends came up with some clever quotes, and I’ve selected my three favorites. Which … Continue reading
My Story of Tragedy … And Hope
It’s easy to go through the day feeling like nothing special or out of the ordinary can happen. As a Lipreading Mom with progressive hearing loss for almost 12 years, I often have my moments of feeling unsure about the future. But when I’m tempted to wallow in self-pity, I think about the surprise that … Continue reading
New Book Giveaway: Forever Friends
Allison Schley,MEd, is the author of Forever Friends, a book about a young boy, his dog, and their friend Megan. The interesting part of Allison’s story is that both the boy, Matt, and his pet friend, Dexter are deaf. I asked Allison to explain the backstory behind Forever Friends. What inspired you to write this … Continue reading
Identity – A Poem about Deafness by Martyn Brown
For far too long I took the coward’s way The sheep that never strayed From the safety of sameness Anonymous Comforted by shadows Evading detection Making my presence unheard Stubbornly proud To suffer in silence No voice to call my own Confidence ebbing away Buried the truth Less chance of rejection An air of mystery … Continue reading
Win a Free Book: Turn a Deaf Ear
What happens when a woman falls in love with a man who is deaf? They find a way to communicate… through sign language. In Janet Fiore Horger and Linda Fiore Sanders’ novel, Turn a Deaf Ear, a hearing woman and a deaf man capture each other’s love and language. Inspired by a true story, the … Continue reading
These Kids Joyfully Show Me Their Ears
I have a lot to learn from children with hearing loss. In the weeks since I launched the Show Me Your Ears campaign, kids from all over the world have posed with their hearing aids and cochlear implants. Their photos are inspiring and fun. These young people aren’t afraid to show off their ears with … Continue reading
Are My Hearing Aids Obvious? A Guest Post by Gael Hannan
The Scene: In a salon, a woman sits down in a chair, removing the towel from her wet hair. She puts her hearing aids back in and looks at herself in the mirror, chatting to the stylist. Tell me honestly, do my hearing aids show? I mean, like a lot? I know I’ve always worn … Continue reading
Are Captioning Glasses Really the Wave of the Future?
What’s black, worn over the eyes, and communicates in fluorescent green text? Why, captioning glasses, of course. My latest adventure at the cinemaplex featured the latest captioning equipment on the market: Sony Entertainment Access Glasses. Yesterday my friend, Terri, and I ventured to a Regal movie theater to wear one of only 10 sets of … Continue reading
Five Survival Tips for Celebrating the Holidays with a Hearing Loss
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But for the 1 in 10 people with hearing loss, it’s also the most challenging time for communication. Lipreading Mom should know. I’ve had 11 years of holidaytime hearing loss experience. The whole family is packed around the dinner table, busily chatting about their good fortune and … Continue reading
Please Say a Prayer for this Sweet Hearing Dog
Bosley is the 7-year-old hearing dog of Rev. Catherine O’Connor from Ontario, Canada. “I was raised lipreading, born hard of hearing,” Catherine writes. “I only got my first hearing aids when I was in my 20s.” Now 54, Catherine wears purple hearing aids while at work only. At home, she lives with her brother, also … Continue reading