I spent the first 20 years of my life attempting to hide my congenital hearing loss. Like most kids, I just wanted to fit in and be like everyone else, so my younger self could have never predicted that I would have ended up focusing on disability and hearing health within my career.
At 91, Looking Back
Over the years, I learned a lot about coping, between the hearing loss and other serious health problems. The discrimination I have endured, especially in my childhood, has taught me to withhold judgment toward others for any reason.
How Les Paul’s Mother Nurtured Him to Change the Music Industry
Even when Les Paul was a preschooler, his mother Evelyn recognized his talent. She would arrange for her young son to perform for local fraternal organizations. Les was so tiny that they placed him on top of a table where he would sing, dance, and tell funny stories.
Harnessing the Power of Tinnitus Patients’ Experiences
I learned that little was known about the mechanisms causing tinnitus, and treatments were hard to test because they seemed to have very different effects on different people. Researchers call this heterogeneity, and it simply means that your tinnitus is likely different from mine.
Trying Out Hearing Aids Through ‘Blended Distribution’
The blended business model relies heavily on the internet to capture customers, and it's reported that those customers are around 10 years younger than the typical hearing care office's clientele. Tech-savvy boomers are accustomed to researching options and shopping online.
Sound Is a Spectrum of Emotions
I've been surrounded by sound in some fashion all of my life. As someone with a hearing loss, I've learned to appreciate hearing all sounds, no matter their origin or nature.
Making Sense of Ménière’s Through Media
As a veteran entertainment industry executive, I am acutely aware of the power that film and television have to enlighten, so I decided to develop “Unheard: The Ears of Ménière’s,” a documentary that will shine a light on this debilitating disease which has remained unheard for far too long.
From ‘Bionic’ Kid to a Dad Giving Back
I was born with a bilateral, mild-to-profound, sensorineural loss due to BOR Syndrome, a rare syndrome that can affect your hearing and kidneys; my audiogram looks like a double-black-diamond ski slope.
What I Learned in Drumming Class (From a Friend With Vision Loss)
We both need to use our brain’s processing power more than those with typical hearing or sight. If the lighting is poor or the room is crowded, Dana must be very focused on what she’s doing or else she’ll bump into things. For me, when there’s a lot of ambient noise I too have to be very focused to understand what people are saying.
Sorting the Priorities
The audiologist listened to my shock and confusion, but confirmed that my test printout showed severe hearing loss. She did one other brief test, which showed 95 percent word recognition. I always hear conversations, so how could I have all this hearing loss?