It's a whole new world

[Storm Girl]

Imagine hearing a sound for the first time in your life. Hearing things differently. Hearing the hum of the refridgerator for the very first time. Hearing the leaves crunching under your feet as you walk. Hearing actual tones of your favorite song. Hearing the voice of your lover differently. Hearing a bird chirping as the sun rises. Hearing the crickets kiss the day goodbye.

I have been experiencing all this during the last week, and even more so today. Some of you don't know this, but I wear hearing aids in both of my ears because I am deaf. As far as the doctors know, I have been deaf since I was 1 year old. I got my first pair of hearing aids when I turned two. After many years of extensive speech therapy, I can talk normal. So normal, that I fool others when we're having a conversation. The sounds I couldn't hear were in the low decibel, high tone frequency. I couldn't hear the sounds of the letters "S", "F", or distinguish "T" & "P". Certain windchimes I could not hear. Noises were muffled, never crisp.

The hearing aids I've always had are analog. About 5 years ago, they invented the digital hearing aids. They increase the power to increase the hearing. Back then, they cost $10,000 for the pair.

Two weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to get a pair for $3,000!!! Done deal! They sent in my order, my hearing test, and the molding of my ears. Last Monday, they came in. My right aid had to go back for resizing. But I had the pleasure of wearing the left aid for the last week. I heard the fan that was running in the office for the very first time!!! I couldn't hear it with my old aids! That night, I had to pick up Rorshack at the airport. Keep in mind, the sounds of the baggage terminal. Jason whistled at me, from 50 feet BEHIND me, and I HEARD HIM!!!! With the old aids, there's no way. In conversation, I always had to read the person's lips in order to understand what was being said. Now, I can understand someone behind me!

Today, I just got my second aid back, and now I'm full surround sound DIGITAL. It's amazing!!!!!!!!!! I asked my cubicle neighboor "Is our office always THIS loud??" He laughed, and said "Yes."

I'm proud to share this experience with you guys. It's so important to me. Now the real test will be to go to Russ's mom and dad's house to see if I can hear their windchime. If I can, I'll know for sure these new hearing aids are a true gift.

And all I ask of you is to stop and listen to the world around you. Think about what others don't have, and appreciate what you do have. Stick your fingers in your ears, divide what you do hear in half, and that's what I hear without my hearing aids.

And smile. It's a wonderful, beautiful, noisy world!!! And I love it!!!!! :cheers:

[MirageZ31]

Wow thats deep.

[David]

I never knew you had hearing problems, but its awesome that you can hear everything now :)

and the wind chime thing...gonna get old really quick ;)

[HondasTrail]

Technology is wonderful isn't it? My Grandmother had a cochlear implant put in after an operation to remove a carcenoma (don't ask me the name of the disease I can't remember it off the top of my head.). Before installation she could hear next to nothing in her right ear. After installation it was completely different story. She was able to pick up any type of sound and exactly where it came from. She even claims she can pick up radio stations to :) .

You should be able to pick up the chimes I know my Grandmother says shes not had a problem with this before.

[BluByU]

That's kickass Angie!

[wild.irish]

glad for you, Angie!

and yeah, all of you guys, don't take this world for granted! the sound, the vision, the smell. i know, i've been there (although not for too long), only with my vision. i do appreciate it now, every moment that i see things clearly!

[Kwando]

wow angie, i never even know. thanks for sharing your courageous story.

[STIBungy]

Awesome story. I wish both my ears were functional. I never really tell people anything about it but I'm deaf in my left ear. Some may notice because of how I have to turn my head to listen to them or I totally ignore them when they're sitting to my left and trying to talk to me.

Life in mono isnt too bad. My right ear is sharp as hell. I hear stuff that most other people dont hear. But then again, it's not good because I really cant tell where sounds come from. To me, they all come from my right side.

[stu]

Congrats Angie. I noticed your hearing aids a while ago, but didn't think it was necessary to pry or anything. I'm happy to hear that, well...that you can hear. ;)

Anyway, are the digital ones smaller as well?

[myshtern]

Good for you :)

I bet you will wish you couldnt hear once you hear your kids talking again ;)

[w00dr0w]

This is probably one of the best posts I've seen on this site in a long time. Congrats!

[BluByU]

I didn't even know she wore them either! That is until I blew about a hundred hearing aid batterys out of her door pocket.

[Mario]

Awesome story. I wish both my ears were functional. I never really tell people anything about it but I'm deaf in my left ear. Some may notice because of how I have to turn my head to listen to them or I totally ignore them when they're sitting to my left and trying to talk to me.

Life in mono isnt too bad. My right ear is sharp as hell. I hear stuff that most other people dont hear. But then again, it's not good because I really cant tell where sounds come from. To me, they all come from my right side.

I have the same thing, but it's not completely deaf but it is near there. Had it since I was a child...

Angie, that is great news... congrats, and enjoy all the sounds. :)

[neonphog]

dude, that's awesome... congrats : )

[AgressivMX3]

Congratulations, that's great.
I had a similar deal. When I was about 6 I started losing my sight, and my mom(being the wonderful attentive person that she is) didn't realize it, she and my teachers thought I just didn't pay attention. When I was 11 I got my first pair of glasses, it was amazing. I thought there was glass in all the grass, it looked so crisp. I spent hours staring into trees because for the first time, I could see the leaves. Until then I believed stars could only be seen through a telescope. My vision is still worse every year and I know I won't have it forever, but while I do I appreciate everything I see. I think most people wouldn't be able to understand that.

[Mario]

Congratulations, that's great.
I had a similar deal. When I was about 6 I started losing my sight, and my mom(being the wonderful attentive person that she is) didn't realize it, she and my teachers thought I just didn't pay attention. When I was 11 I got my first pair of glasses, it was amazing. I thought there was glass in all the grass, it looked so crisp. I spent hours staring into trees because for the first time, I could see the leaves. Until then I believed stars could only be seen through a telescope. My vision is still worse every year and I know I won't have it forever, but while I do I appreciate everything I see. I think most people wouldn't be able to understand that.

I had that same feeling. After I got my glasses for the first time, I just walked around in the doctor's place for about 30 minutes looking at everything. It almost hurt looking lol cuz it was so sharp. Pretty weak vision here right around 20/500.

[Storm Girl]

Thank you so much you guys, for all your kind words! And it's great to hear your stories, too!

Stu - yes, these are a little smaller. And don't ever feel afraid of prying. I'm always happy to answer any questions because I know people are curious, not nosy.

[ryanman]

You should write novels, you'd probably make a ton of money.

[Dave_L]

Congrats Angie! Thats awesome. In the last house i lived in, one of my roommates was deaf. He had the surgery to try and make him hear and it worked wonders. It was crazy to see him start hearing things more and more. One time someone had their head down on the table and said something and he heard what he said. We were all amazed at that one.

[Storm Girl]

You should write novels, you'd probably make a ton of money.

LOL...I've thought of that, but I don't know what I'd write!


Dave - that's awesome about your friend! Unfortunately, the kind of nerve damage that I have isn't curable by surgery. But I've heard a lot of wonderful stories about how the surgeries have helped others. My roommate was home the other night and was being a smartass and talking to Russ behind his hand and mumbled. I got every word he said, and he got whatever was in my hand thrown at him for his comment!