I need to change my life, but where do I start?

KateLiana27

Two of my good friends (sisters) are in their 20s and profoundly deaf, since childhood. One is a doctor and the other an engineer. Both are very successful, the nicest people you'll ever meet, and adored by their colleagues. The elder one got married a few years ago, the younger one just two weeks ago.

No one pities them, but EVERYONE admires them. They are open about their hearing impairment and all their friends and colleagues have adapted to it. We watch movies with subtitles when they're over; we've got the knack of speaking clearly and making sure we face them; that sort of thing.

Anyway, the point of this is to show you that hearing loss at a young age does NOT mean a life of limitation and pity and loneliness - unless you let it.

Go and see an audiologist again, save up and get the newest, best, most discreet and effective hearing aids. Then go to a good hairdresser and get advice on how to style your hair so you look as good as possible with the aids. Then tell all your work colleagues. I'll bet that within a few months, your social life will be a million times better and you'll be happier.

Then you can start on the rest of your list

Good luck!

amalis

Thanks for such an amazing support! I honestly did not expect it.
My hair is quite long, so very enough to cover ears, but I often like to make my hair up or in pony tail. I have to forget about it now.
I am wearing hearing aids today, not much of a difference. but I know it needs practice and I did not have it.
Regardign my mum, she lives in another country, there is no benefit system there and her pension is not enought to survive. I know that this is not a situation she wanted, she sacrified everything for me, raising me as single mother . Now it's my turn.
Sometimes I am angry about it, but I know when one day she will not be with me I will wish I have given her everything. If that makes sense. :-)

lolly_896

amalis wrote: »

Thanks for such an amazing support! I honestly did not expect it.
My hair is quite long, so very enough to cover ears, but I often like to make my hair up or in pony tail. I have to forget about it now.
I am wearing hearing aids today, not much of a difference. but I know it needs practice and I did not have it.
Regardign my mum, she lives in another country, there is no benefit system there and her pension is not enought to survive. I know that this is not a situation she wanted, she sacrified everything for me, raising me as single mother . Now it's my turn.
Sometimes I am angry about it, but I know when one day she will not be with me I will wish I have given her everything. If that makes sense. :-)

Well done on your perseverance with the hearing aids. On the subject of alternative sports - what about roller derby! Google will tell you if you have a local team and it wouldnt matter if youve never skated before as im sure the team would help

Hear-Hear

Hello amalis

I have read and re-read your post #8 above, and fully understand what you say about wearing "huge" hearing aids. Certainly not desireable for a 30-something young woman in the prime of life and career.

But I would question your comment in the same post, that "small discreet aids would not help" due to the severity of your hearing loss. As has been suggested by others on here, you really need to see your audiologist again. Whilst I cannot be specific without knowing the specific facts of your case, there are some very very small CIC (completely-in-canal) devices available now that are suitable for severe to profound loss. You could do worse than ask your audiologist about models such as Siemens Nitro CIC and the Extreme Power CIC from the Starkey 'S' and 'X' ranges. He/she may well have other manufacturer(s) in mind.

As an audiologist, my main concern would always be to focus on improving your hearing, but the cosmetic aspect is clearly important to you, and rightly so. You have a number of areas to explore to "change your life". Let one of them be to get at least a second opinion from an audiologist of what is available, and may be suitable for you.

PS. I'm told by those in the know (aka female acquaintances) that you should indeed have at least one pair of expensive shoes at age 31 !!