Today was a landmark day with the new cochlear implant. I went to the movies and understood dialogue without captions. Seems unrealistic because I am deaf. Leaving the theater, I asked my husband: “When was the last time you remember me enjoying a movie without captions?” “About 28 years,” he said. We’ve been together 30 … 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
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
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
“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
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
Lipreading Mom 