“It all started when I was 17 years old, when I still lived in Brazil, where I was born. Until then, I had never noticed I had a hearing loss. That year the doctor told me that I had a cholesteatoma in my right ear. It had already pierced my eardrum and corroded part of … Continued
“I am no one special. I do not do anything out of the ordinary; I do not even have a high-powered job, but a couple of months ago something amazing happened to me that for most people is ordinary. I heard my daughter say ‘I do’ at her wedding. For my daughters’ whole lives, I … Continued
“Enjoying outdoor activities often requires depending on all five senses. If you are a birdwatcher like me, hearing can be even more important than sight to distinguish different species. Some birders do up to 70 percent of identifications by ear. In fact, in the summer, I hear more birds than I see, thanks to all … Continued
“Due to failing hearing, I had to start wearing bilateral hearing aids in my mid-30s. Over the next 30 years, I had to go back for stronger and stronger hearing aids. The last set I was given was all but useless, as I could not hear people. The sound was just racket and or white … Continued
“Our son, Rishi, failed the newborn hearing screening at the hospital four times. The kind technician tried to reassure us and said it was probably just the machine. We waited in agony for a follow-up in a clinic a week later. We passed the time trying to startle our newborn to check his hearing, trying … Continued
How Hearing Aids Work Hearing aids are small electronic devices that capture sound and make it louder. They are typically a solution for those who have mild to severe hearing loss and have some remaining healthy sensory hair cells in the damaged inner ear (cochlea) that can transmit sound to the hearing nerve using amplification. … Continued
“Why am I a ‘bionic woman?’ Technology! Almost 11 years ago, I had bilateral knee replacement surgery. Over five years ago, I had cochlear implant surgery in my right ear. Six months ago, I had my second cochlear implant surgery (left ear). Almost one and a half years ago, I had bilateral mastectomy surgery with … Continued
Andreas S., a spouse of a cochlear implant recipient (Caroline S. is a Cochlear™ implant recipient, read her blog series here), is back to tell his top tips of being a spouse of a cochlear implant recipient or a spouse of a loved one with hearing loss (read his previous blog here): #DEAFNOTDEAF My wife … Continued
“The lights are dimmed, the stage is bare and the audience is silent in anticipation. Over the hush, a voice is heard, ‘Hello, my name is Madison, and I have hearing loss. I am also known as the Bionic Ballerina.’ Your heart catches, but you miss the rest of the introduction because your eyes well with tears, pride and … Continued
“As I discussed in my previous blog, I lost almost all my hearing by the age of 30. I had my first son when I was 27 years old and by then, my hearing was almost completely gone. For me, the world was silent without my hearing aids. Parenting before cochlear implants With my hearing … Continued
“In 1986, my husband pointed out to me that I was not hearing him well. Of course, I said, ‘very funny’ and laughed it off. I was 26 and the last thing I expected to hear was that I was losing my hearing. I went to an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT) and learned … Continued
Andreas S., husband to Caroline S. (read her blog series here), tells his perspective on her hearing loss and cochlear implant surgery through the ups and the downs of having a “hearing impaired relationship,” as he says. Read his perspective on experiencing a new relationship with his now hearing wife: “Caroline and I are hearing … Continued
What are some common acoustic neuroma symptoms? An acoustic neuroma is a benign and usually slow-growing tumor that develops on the hearing nerve that connects the inner ear (cochlea) to the brain. Pressure from this tumor can cause hearing loss in the affected ear. Symptoms are different for every patient, but some common ones include: … Continued
“Friday, August 5, 2011 started off just like any other day. I did not think much of it when Katie told me she needed to stay home from preschool because she did not feel good. That was not an uncommon occurrence. Like most 4 year olds, she was ‘sick’ and ‘needed’ to stay home with … Continued
Symptoms of Treacher Collins Syndrome The symptoms of Treacher Collins Syndrome can range from unnoticeable to severe. Some of the most common symptoms include, but are not limited to: Eyes that are slanted downward and away from the nose A small jaw (microngathia) Underdeveloped cheekbones Microtia and atresia in one or both ears Treacher Collins … Continued
Read to see how Caroline S.’ activation day went! Want to read her first blog to hear about her life leading up to her cochlear implant surgery? Click here. “On my activation day, we invited my referring audiologist and she kindly brought huge coffees for everyone. The morning was very exciting! It takes a few … Continued
“Nicholas was diagnosed with hearing loss at his newborn screening. A week later, an audiologist told us that he was classified as having a bilateral pediatric sensorineural hearing loss. His right ear was diagnosed with a moderate loss and his left ear was diagnosed with a mild to moderate loss. The hearing loss was to … Continued
“On the morning of August 6, 2018 months after beginning our adoption process, we stood in a conference room in the Civil Affairs building in Wuhan, China. We chatted with the other adoptive family, all of us nervously waiting, when suddenly…there he was, the beautiful boy whom we would name Elias and bring home to … Continued
“I am Caroline S., and I live in Edmonton, Canada with my beloved husband, Andreas. He is the most supportive husband, and I am so grateful for his love and help through all the years of my hearing journey. I have a box of tissues next to me as I write this. Hearing loss is … Continued
“Abbie was born April 21, 2002 and she just turned 16. We learned she was profoundly deaf in both ears after she failed all the standard hearing tests they do on all babies in the hospitals here in Nova Scotia, Canada. We were quickly led to the direction of getting her bilateral cochlear implants. We … Continued
“‘Our’ story is your story as well as mine! There are many personal experiences relating to my hearing loss that I know have also occurred in the lives of others who share the same disability. We have all struggled to remain in, or return to, the hearing world around us. Potential for new technology After … Continued