By Charlotta Norgaard
Charlotta Norgaard and her daughter Lea.
In 2003, I was given the first of many diagnoses: systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus for short). This diagnosis would later be the reason why I had to wait many years to have a child.
Although hard for the doctors to believe, I became pregnant and in 2014 gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The birth was highly problematic, with both of us clinging on to dear life.
Our baby would come into this world with what appeared to be permanent kidney, liver, and brain damage. But I told Lea (over and over again) to fight and show them that she was meant to live. I knew Lea could prove them all wrong.
Against all odds, Lea survived. But the medication that saved her life unfortunately caused bilateral hearing loss and she received hearing aids as an infant.
I had always insisted that Lea’s ears (aka her hearing aids) were amazing. I instilled in Lea that her magic ears were her best feature. Together we celebrated every single pair of earmolds and hearing aids by decorating them with colors, glitter, and stickers.
Until that wasn’t enough. As Lea grew older, she became acutely aware that she was different due to her hearing loss and became sad and didn’t want to wear them. I decided to create something that could let Lea celebrate her magic ears. Inspired by a favorite candy, I created gummy bear hearing aid earrings.
Inspired by a favorite candy, Charlotta Norgaard created gummy bear earrings for her daughter to celebrate her hearing aids.
Their success was tremendous. The hospital, the hearing center, and all other parents were eager for this “ear bling” to make hearing loss fun for their little ones. So today I produce handmade hearing aid earrings that are fun, happy, and colorful—perfect for younger girls and teens. The earrings are made to fit on the hearing aid tube and not irritate the ear or the quality of hearing.
Now Lea is 8 years old and healthy. All her medical concerns have disappeared, and she is just like every other little girl out there changing her (hearing aid) earrings every day to fit her outfit and mood.
My husband and I have always been open to conversations about Lea’s hearing aids, to normalize hearing loss and treatment. I created the earrings precisely so others would notice the hearing aids and see how cool they are. The earrings reflect the wearer’s personality and bring out a smile, or even a jealous stare! Funnily enough, everyone is so mesmerized by the cute earrings that they don’t see the hearing aids.
We cannot hide that we or our kids need assistance to hear. That is why I named the business See Me Hear, because I want you to notice the hearing aids and for kids to be okay with them—even proud.
Our kids’ hearing devices allow them to hear better. And that should be celebrated because that is truly magical.
Charlotta Norgaard lives with her family in Denmark. See Me Hear hearing aid accessories can be purchased in the U.S. with shipping from California at etsy.com/dk-en/shop/VikingWorld, and in Denmark at facebook.com/See-Me-Hear-101011982770927.
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