I grieve my hearing…

To imagine not being able to hear certain sounds again. I have a profound hearing loss and my hearing had great value. Now, I cannot participate with people the way I used to. I wanted to be able to share with others and help others in areas I could no longer. I have grief over what was lost and may not be returned.

This conversation began with a new patient in her 80’s that has been feeling such a burden with her hearing difficulties. It has become a way of life. She has felt disconnected from her loves ones and the world in general. With the current use of masks with Covid, this has only made matters worse as she has no visual or lipreading cues to assist in understanding people. She relied greatly on looking at a person speaking to her and this was a way to at least offer “pieces to the puzzle” in following the conversation. Those that have hearing loss know exactly what this means.

We have now seen her for follow-up visits after the fitting of new digital hearing devices, prescriptive to her severe loss. She is feeling much more optimistic and pleased with her quality of hearing. Her new hearing abilities has offered a hope for her relationship and connection with those she loves. Wow, what a gift to be of service to such a kind woman. Warms the heart!