Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush 30 years ago, I have personally witnessed several excuses for lack of communication accessibility in public spaces. “We don’t have the budget for that.” “You must be a paid subscriber to enable subtitles.” “We don’t handle accessibility matters. So and so … Continue reading
Tagged with hearing loss …
Advocacy Sometimes Means Being Alone
What a year. When my three children ask what has kept me calm during this time of social unrest and pandemic, here is my answer: “2019”. The twelve months leading into the current year taught me about sacrifice and advocacy, not only for my own children and students, but for myself as a teacher with … Continue reading
A Day in the Life of a Lipreading Mom and Teacher
One of my classes as a new teacher is for preschool-age children with deafness or hearing loss, also known as an early childhood D/HH program. One of the key areas we work on is receptive and expressive vocabulary development. If bystanders were to walk by our classroom’s open door, they may hear the sound of … Continue reading
Why Is It So Hard for Me to Listen?
“Because I have hearing loss.” That would be the simplest way to answer my question. For years, I have struggled with taking the time to listen when others are talking with me. If a friend has a problem and needs a listening ear, I can focus for a minute or two, and then my mind … Continue reading
The True Story of How Show Me Your Ears Began
The birth of Show Me Your Ears took place in my minivan. While sitting in the car outside my hearing aid provider’s office last year, I reeled with painful emotions. A hearing test revealed my deepest fear: I had lost more hearing. Worse yet, the hearing aids I wore were no longer powerful enough to … Continue reading
How I Cope with Depression and Hearing Loss
Lipreading Mom has a confession to make: I live with clinical depression. In fact, severe depression can be traced back at least four generations in my family. This is yet one experience I share in my book, Confessions of a Lipreading Mom. One thing I’ve learned about depression and hearing loss: It can be managed. … Continue reading
Five People, Five Stories About Show Me Your Ears
This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of launching Show Me Your Ears. As part of the celebration, I asked readers to complete this sentence: “Show Me Your Ears is cool because _____________________________.” I am impressed with the sentences I received, and five stood out as being the coolest. Each of these five readers will … Continue reading
My True Story of Growing Up with (Undiagnosed) Hearing Loss
Lipreading Mom has a big confession to make—something I haven’t revealed openly until now. I was a Lipreading Child. For years, I was a Lipreading Child who never got help. For one reason or another, my hearing loss fell under the radar and I never received help. This is the first time I have written … Continue reading
How to Embrace Music With a Hearing Loss: An Interview with Pianist Nancy M. Williams
Growing up, Lipreading Mom loved to play the clarinet. For years, I practiced long and hard to be the best clarinetist in all the world…or at least at Pauline G. Hughes Junior High. I was no Benny Goodman, but I did make All-District band my sophomore year of high school. That’s not such a bad … Continue reading
Five Survival Tips for Summertime Gatherings with a Hearing Loss
It’s summer, oh glorious summer! 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 12 years of hearing loss experience. The whole family is packed around the picnic table, busily chatting about their good fortune and laying food onto their … Continue reading
