Nancy Rushing
Eagle Lake, Florida
“Hearing aids don’t belong in the drawer, you need to get used to wearing them so you can have the full benefits of hearing better.”
Tell us everything that you would care to share about your hearing loss, such as: How and when did you first realize you were experiencing hearing loss? What problems was that causing in your day-to-day life? Did you hesitate to seek care? Why or why not?
It started when I was a year old, after having ear infections and eardrum ruptures (I had tubes in my ears). Then when I was almost 2 years old, I had bacterial meningitis with a high fever. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks with it. Six months later, my parents noticed I couldn’t hear well, and I was only saying 1 or 2 words at 2 years old. They said I lost a large part of my hearing at this point. I was then fitted with a body worn hearing aid and started years of speech therapy.
Based on your experience, do you have suggestions for others on how and where to start? Any other important things for them to consider?
For childhood hearing loss deafness, start everything early (hearing aids, speech therapy, oral and or ASL, etc.) to have a better outcome for the child to learn as much as he or she can in education and life.
What was your biggest concern about hearing aids? Did that turn out to be true?
Ever since I was a child, hearing aids have helped me a lot in learning, and being with other people. My biggest concern was the cost of the hearing aids. However, there are a lot of charities who can provide you with hearing aids. If you are working and in need of hearing aids, your state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Office can help. If you were in the military, the VA can help you get hearing aids.
What would you tell someone who is considering hearing aids?
Hearing aids are wonderful if you do use them. I know a lot of people say hearing aids make them look old or they don’t work. That is not true. You have to practice using them, plus “the looking old” excuse is not valid because there are may people who started out young with hearing aids, like myself. Hearing aids don’t belong in a drawer, you need to get used to wearing them so you can have the full benefits of hearing better.
Which ReSound Hearing Aid(s) do you have?
Who is your hearing care professional?
Dr. Kevin Barlow at Winter Haven Audiology