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
The end of a year and beginning of a new one is often the time that we reflect. We consider our milestones and challenges from the previous 12 months and set goals for the new calendar year. I think about what my dad used to always say: “It’ll all work out in the wash.” Dad was … Continue reading
Hitting the open road is one of my favorite warm weather activities. My family and I have traveled Route 66 twice and frequented highways in the U.S. West, South, and East. We’ve visited places like Oklahoma and Texas more times than I can count to see family and friends. Despite the joys of summer travel, … Continue reading
Not long ago, my family took a trip to Montana and Wyoming. This photo was taken by a loved one when I noticed a waterfall hidden within a Montana park. The natural setting and 1,700 miles of road traveling inspired time to think about goals. Typically, goals would be about work or something with family. … Continue reading
Government has an opportunity to make workplaces more disability-inclusive. In my home state of Kansas, there is proposed state legislation that will have a public hearing this week. It would require government agencies to provide employment preference to their state-funded employment positions, while giving access to reasonable accommodations essential to making the positions equitable. Let … Continue reading
It is an honor to announce that I have been selected as a finalist in the 2022 Oticon Focus on People Awards, a national competition that recognizes individuals who are helping to change perceptions of what it means to live with hearing loss. I am one of three finalists in the Advocacy category, a category … Continue reading
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
Alistair and Anita Campbell wanted to do something to help their young daughter, Charlotte, adjust to having two cochlear implants. So Alistair received a matching cochlear implant tattoo placed above and behind his left ear. “Charlotte was diagnosed with a hearing loss at the age of 15 months and fitted with hearing aids,” writes Anita and Alistair … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom 