Chandler Sharp
Perry, GA
“Don’t put it off another day. You will never regret anything but the fact that you didn’t get them sooner.”
How and when did you first realize you were experiencing hearing loss?
I have inherited hearing loss from my Mother. I was diagnosed in elementary school with hearing loss, and I have never passed a hearing exam. I was unable to hear teachers in school and I was made to sit in the front of the class. I did not seek care partly because it was never offered at an early age and as I got older, I was too embarrassed to wear hearing aids. I resorted to lip reading for 20 years before I finally decided to get hearing aids.
Based on your experience, do you have suggestions for others on how and where to start? Any other important things for them to consider?
Waiting for so long to seek care was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. I did not realize how much hearing loss had affected me socially and academically until I got hearing aids. Although the hearing aids have helped me tremendously some of the social damage will never be completely restored. I have a daughter who is 11 years old and she has been wearing hearing aids since she was 6 years old. She is so confident about herself and doesn’t shy away from social activities like I did when I was her age.
What was your biggest concern about hearing aids? Did that turn out to be true?
One of my biggest concerns was being embarrassed about wearing them. I started out being a little self-conscious about them at first but I quickly got beyond that once I realize how much they helped me. Once I got adjusted to them, I realized that I could never do without them again.
What would you tell someone who is considering hearing aids?
Don’t put it off another day. You will never regret anything but the fact that you didn’t get them sooner. I know I missed out on so much by not getting hearing aids in elementary school.