It has been three months with my cochlear implant. The CI was activated at the end of July. Pre-activation, my hearing accuracy without the implant was at seven percent proficiency. A month after my the activation, I tested at 94 percent accuracy using the same hearing test as before. This week, three months after activation … Continue reading
I recently attended the Center for Disability Inclusion Summit in the U.S. Midwest. While I listened to the presenters, my cochlear implant was quite noticeable with its blue butterfly decal. Draped around my neck was the green and yellow sunflower lanyard, which is to be worn to show that I have an invisible disability of … Continue reading
Let’s erase the stigma of hearing loss. In 2012, I launched a campaign called “Show Me Your Ears”. I have written extensively about my progressive hearing loss on this site. For a few years after the hearing loss diagnosis, I had initial reluctance to wear hearing aids or show them off to anyone, particularly in work … 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
With 2014 coming to an end and a new year ahead, Lipreading Mom wants to take a moment to celebrate your ears. It is too easy to hide our hearing aids, BAHAs (bone-anchored hearing aids) or cochlear implants behind hair. I did that for two years. But something encouraged me in 2014 to show off … Continue reading
In honor of Show Me Your Ears celebrating its second anniversary this month, Lipreading Mom wants to reward you for supporting this hearing loss awareness campaign. From now until September 19, here is how you can win one of my e-books: 1) Post your ear photo on Twitter (use hashtag #ShowMeYourEars). -OR- 2) Comment below … Continue reading
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
I recently read a story about a woman who was afraid to jump off a cliff as part of a thrill-seeking group activity. The thought of jumping off anything, let alone a cliff, sends terror chills down my spine. You can read the story here. Since childhood, I have had a fear of leaping off … Continue reading
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
I’d like you to join me for a celebration, complete with a contest and prizes. This Saturday, September 14, marks the one-year anniversary of my favorite project in the world, Show Me Your Ears. What is this campaign? It is an awareness that ears—whether they can hear or not—are beautiful. I spent two years hiding … Continue reading
Lipreading Mom 