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2hearts 
9:17pm, May 5, 2009
From the time I was born and til I was 14 yrs old dealing with being hearing impaired. People had to yell in order for me to hear. Well for most people its hard to keep a conversation by yelling. I was more or less a loner. I am sure I develop PTSD.during those years. I had surgery at the age 7 having tonsils and adnoids. That did not do a thing.
I was teased and bullied through out the 1st grade thru 6th grade. Because I was different and being called deaf and dumb. School was a nightmare for me.
During those years I was taken to horse doctors. I would end up with ear infections because they poke and giving me ear washes.....which did not do a thing.
When I was about 11 yrs old. The medical field was experimenting radaition treatments on people thyroids. I went thru a series of treatments behind my ears . Which did not do a thing.
I had moved to a different school. The school nurse had told my parents that something need to be done with my hearing. The Nurse connected me to March of Dimes. The ENT doc removed my adnoids. About 2 weeks later. I was walking down the driveway to catch the school bus. It was as though someone had turned the volume up. The first thing I heard was a black bird on a wire.. It was awesome hearing sounds that I had not heard before. So the first time around the doctor did not remove all the adnoids. Very sad and it was something simple.
I am grateful that the school nurse cared. My parents neglected to do anything regarding my hearing.
20 years later the medical field came out saying people who went thru those radiation treatments were experiencing cancer. My family doc now reassured me that the treatments did was behind the ears and mostly a boney mass. Not sure about that.........
my story will be continued.
Comments
To be continued.......... Over the years I experienced ear infections. I worked in a machine shop with out ear protection for 7 years. During the 60's was concerts. Rock and Roll. Smoking was a factor with the loss of hearing too.
A year ago a fireman showed up my door. I live in a apt building. He said when the fire alarm goes off I am suppose to get out of the building. I said I never heard it. And its a nasty alarm. I realized I need to go to my ent doc. The doc told me I need hearing aids...... My thinking was that I would get tubes in my ear. No cigar. It felt as if my hearing loss was recent... Denial works in wonderous ways. But slow hearing loss over time.. Now I have hearing aids in both ears for 7 months now.
Now with my aids I have 80% of my hearing. I hear sounds that I have'nt heard in a long time. Everyday is a new sound.. I hear conversation at work. Some are not too positive. I asked them to take it elsewhere........pretty amazing.
What I struggle with is the telephones at work. 95% of my job is the phones. Hopefully in time it will be resolved.
I am greiving the loss of my hearing. And being hearing impaired the second time in my life. Having gone through losses over the years. I can relate to the greiving process. And to allow myself to feel the loss.
I am gratful for the opportuninty to be able to hear.
2hearts