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What My Cochlear Implant Means To Me
Written By Julie
Being in a family with several hearing impaired/deaf family members hasn't been a picnic for any of us.. hearing, hoh,or deaf. From a very young age we had to write notes to communicate with our mother who was deaf most of her adult life and whose lip reading skills weren't sufficient to allow us to communicate orally with her. I know that many times she was left in the dark as to what was going on as it was just too difficult for everyone to write notes all the time and so much easier to take the shortcut of talking, leaving her out. I never knew just how much it bothered her until as an adult I began gradually losing my hearing and received the same treatment. It was then I began to realize how much she had quietly suffered, how many tears she had probably shed in private, because, now, it was happening to me, it wasn't fun, and I regretted every time I had said to her "never mind, it's not important" or "I'll tell you later" Only thing is.. Often, later never came.
Now fast forward
some 30 years later, otherwise I'll be writing a book here
Wow, what a difference in my life. I had immediate success. Gone are the days of struggling to be included to hear, no more shying away at family or social events for fear of not understanding and looking stupid when nodding my head at a comment to which I had absolutely no clue as to what was being said, No more frustrations for those trying to talk to me, screaming to make themselves heard, knowing that no matter how loud they were, I simply wasn't going to understand them and the list goes on and on.
FINALLY, I could sit at the table over coffee and mom and I could talk about things.. something I missed terribly during my teen years when mom couldn't hear and I still had good hearing and something I missed out on with my own children.
Now, I can once again sit outside and hear the first songs of the birds in the morning, can hear the sleepy world waking up and it makes me smile. Hearing the cries, laughter and little off the wall comments of my grandchildren has added a new dimension to my life, a life now filled with independence, security, and so much more.
Being able to
use the phone makes life so much better now that I don't have to depend
on anyone to be here to make or take the calls for me. My girls are
now beginning to lose their hearing and I know I won't need to worry
about their quality of life thanks to the miracle of cochlear implants
(at least I won't have to worry any more than a normal hearing parent
worries)
To this date there are 4 implant users in our family Although there is so much more I could say, I'll end it here by saying: It's not just the big things in life where the ci makes such a vast difference, but it's the little, ordinary everyday happenings too; Things that so many take for granted. I cherish every day that I wake up and am able to hear after being profoundly deaf for so many years. The saying holds true.. You never realize what you have until you've lost it; I did have it, I did lose it; and I got a second chance at hearing. I will always be grateful for the miracle of my cochlear implant.
If you are thinking of getting a cochlear implant and would like more information, please be sure to contact a support person at info@cihear.com
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