I’m now wired and I can hear much better
Jodi has been urging me for a few years to get my hearing checked. Lots of “what did you say?” I mentioned this to my physician at my free annual preventive care physical (thanks, Obama!) and they wrote me a referral to an audiologist.
But it’s when I started substitute teaching off and on in February that I really noticed my challenge. I could barely hear students who were less than 10 feet from me in a classroom. That convinced me to make an appointment.
Sure enough, testing revealed my high end hearing is seriously compromised, compounded by tinnitus (ringing, roaring). At 65, I’m officially hearing impaired.
So, I’m now wired. I can hear much better. And for that I am grateful.
With an iPhone app, I can control hearing in diverse sound environments. I can tune in to one person or many—or shut out all y’all! Ha!
Whatever stigma wearing hearing aids once held for me or holds for others, I no longer experience it. Before he finally got hearing aids, my dad would often sit unresponsive amid living room conversations. My mom resisted having hearing aids and would conveniently “forget” to wear them and frequently “lose” them. Was it a generational thing?
Not me. Instead of missing out on parts of casual or critical conversations, I’m tuned in and engaged. And that feels great!
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