Did you know that the sunflower is the universal symbol for non-apparent disabilities? Deafness can be an unseen disability, unless you have a brightly colored hearing device or use sign language in public spaces. The sunflower symbol was established in 2016 in the UK as the official symbol of non-apparent disabilities and is now embraced … Continue reading
September is D/deaf Awareness Month. It is an annual event to raise awareness about deafness and the Deaf culture. In the United States, Deaf with a capital D represents the Deaf community, including those who use ASL as a primary language. Lowercase deaf represents individuals who cannot hear and may use technology, including hearing aids … Continue reading
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 recently engaged in the first interview for the Lipreading Mom YouTube channel. Interview guest was my husband, Scott. What is it like to be married when one spouse hears and the other spouse is deaf? I interviewed Scott about our 30 years as a hearing + deaf couple. Here is a brief interview excerpt: … Continue reading
I recently met my friend, Rebecca, for tea and to talk about our mutual interest in writing. It was the first meet-up with a friend in a public place since the cochlear implant activation. We chose a table with a seat facing a wall. Sound tends to bounce around and echo in noisy tea rooms … Continue reading
My husband and I went to the theater a week after cochlear implant surgery. We saw the documentary “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” about Marlee’s career as a deaf actress and advocate for the deaf community. The film, directed by deaf actress Shoshannah Stern, explores Marlee’s rise to fame after winning the Best Actress Oscar … Continue reading
What is the first sound you remember hearing? Auditory memory for hearing babies begins in the womb. They become aware of sounds, such as a loving mom’s voice. From early childhood on, I am amazed at the words, sounds, and conversations I remember. As my family’s car pulled away from the hospital, I remember my … Continue reading
It has been five days since the CI was activated, and I’m hearing all kinds of sounds that were silent before: birds chirping, the clicking of the car’s turn signal, the sound of running water from a faucet, and more. Voices currently sound like a robotic Donald Duck with echoes after each word. This is … Continue reading
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
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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