Hearing Loss.  You say those words, and most of us have an idea of what it means..  or do we? 

It is invisible so therefore it’s not the first thing we notice about someone.  I might give you a strange smile, nod when I shouldn’t and start chatting about something a little off the conversational track.  It sometimes makes me look rather stupid, which in turn causes me to try and compensate by attempting to talk my way out of it…

But I’m getting ahead of myself here.  A hearing loss is not the end of the world, by any means, but it is misunderstood.  So lets start at the beginning…  Waking up.

My new alarm clock is great, as my iphone is plugged into it and will light up before the songs start – blasting the whole complex with music.  My cat silently meows until I feed her, and I sit watching the morning news while I have my breakfast with the sound all a-muffle.

I get ready for the day and check my phone, in case I missed a call or message from work.  And then I put my Hearing Aids in.  I hear my cat scratching at her litter box, the sound of the TV from the living room, and realise it is raining today.

The bus ride to the office can be hard work.  A neighbour is on the same bus this morning so I am concentrating overtime to converse correctly.  I start by choosing a seat where I can sit opposite her.  Now I can watch her, trying to lip read as much as I can.  The background sounds drowns out a lot of the conversation, but I’m not doing too badly.  I fill in the gaps of the sentences as best I can, just like the game Wheel of Fortune.

At the office the day gets under way, with the phones starting and the clients attending for their appointments.  The sounds of the day take over and I find myself slipping into my own little work-world, busying myself with paperwork and other tasks to be done.  Suddenly a voice catches my attention, sounding irritated at my lack of response.  When the question is repeated, it’s done loudly and with annoyance forcing me to be apologetic.