The surgery... The journey to getting a Cochlear Implant by Eleanor

So, the surgery went well! It was a rather surreal experience, as if I was simply going on an adventure than having a operation. It was easier to think like that, otherwise I may have been rather more scared and anxious about the whole thing.

 I was wheeled into surgery by the nurse and porter, and I remember the porter asking me if I liked being called Ellie or Eleanor, to which he responded something about his daughter or granddaughter being called Ellie and he had large tattoos on both arms reflecting that. I remember thinking, why am I going into surgery if I can hear this conversation - maybe it's all a joke and I can actually hear perfectly fine?

Then someone gave me an injection and took my glasses off, and the next thing I knew I was being woken up from a really nice dream. Now I don't remember the dream but I do know it was a really good one because I was so annoyed at being woken up. In fact I was so confused at having been woken up, that I was sure this was the dream - waking up in a hospital bed with a sore throat and limbs that did not want to cooperate - not even to get my glasses on so I could actually see what I was seeing. Luckily, this disorientated feeling didn't last long, and I soon remembered why I was there. Although the wound didn't hurt, I knew something had been done to the right side of my head (they did the right side, phew) as it felt numb and rather sticky. It also took a while to put my glasses on as the nurse put some gaze to protect the wound from the glasses arm. This has now been taken off as I'm determined to avoid any kind of infection or anything that would require a repeat performance.

 A little while after I came too, the nurse who had wheeled me into surgery came back and asked if I was feeling OK. It was really hard to speak as my throat hurt so much but I was able to squeak out a yes, and was wheeled back to the ward. Mum was waiting for me back in the private room (with an ensuite, check it out!) which was really nice. I'd definitely recommend taking someone with you, there's a bit of a wait before and after and generally just having someone around just feels really nice :). Once I was back on the ward, it was just a matter of sleeping, attempting to get up for the toilet and also eating. The consultant came through a little while after and asked to look at the wound. He said it looked good, surgery went well and if I could eat a little then he saw no reason why I couldn't go home that evening. I was really happy about that as I hadn't really wanted to stay overnight in a strange place feeling groggy and unwell. So when the sandwiches came I tried my very best to eat, although I really wasn't hungry yet (odd for me considering I'd not eaten since 7.30am that morning and it was now getting on for 7pm).

 A few hours later and I was allowed to go home! I was so relieved and so grateful to my mum for hanging on till I was able to leave. In fact I was just grateful for her being there the whole time. She really is the best mum in the world.

  After mum brought me back to hers, I slept and slept and slept. By the next evening I started to feel a lot better, just with a bit of a sore ear. Today, 3 days on, I'm feeling pretty good. I got given paracetamol and ibuprofen to manage the pain and although its sore sometimes, I'm really impressed with how little it has hurt.

 I have another week off in order to heal and recover and also hide away whilst I am unable to wash my hair (it's already looking pretty frightful) and then the week after I have a post-op checkup to check the implant is in place, most likely an xray will be taken. Hopefully then I will get a date for the switch on, hoping it'll be sooner rather than later, I'm excited to start my new hearing journey.

Watch out world, I'm coming.

Decision Day - Getting a CI - by Eleanor

I realised yesterday that I hadn't kept up to date with the appointments. As you know, I have been to the assessments and was just waiting to find out if the team to decide if I was eligible to have one...

 On Tuesday last week I had an appointment to meet 'a member of the ENT team'. The end result is that they would like to offer me a Cochlear Implant. It was odd hearing those words, with the idea of actually having an operation seems unrealistic, as if it wouldn't happen to me. "You're on the waiting list now, it'll be up to 4 months" the consultant said, "It'll probably be me or my colleague operating so you might see me again". With that, I left the room armed with a consent form and a letter requesting me to get a pneumococcal meningitis injection for protection. I'd also been given another appointment entitled 'device information' for the following week.

 The 'device information' session was with a lovely rehabilitationist who is actually leaving soon so I probably won't meet her again. Nonetheless she was lovely and walked me through the possibility of colours and battery packs. I decided to go with the sandy beige because it actually goes with my hair quite nicely and I thought if I ever do want to stand out I can always pimp it up myself. With regards to battery packs, I could choose different sizes depending on how long you want it to last as they can be charged up via electricity as apposed to disposable batteries. The CI requires a lot of power which means generally either option doesn't last terribly long. They were only able to order two different batteries so I went with a disposable pack and a chargeable one with shoes on. "You can buy your own if you want anymore" she said, "they're only around £70-£100 each"...

 Then, a few days ago I was emailed with some surgery dates! What a surreal moment, from being prepared for a 4 month wait which is actually only going to be around 3 weeks wait instead. It was like being struck in the chest and you can't breathe because you know something strange (and potentially painful!) is going to happen. But a few seconds later a smile spreads across my face and I know, I know I'm ready for this new chapter. It's been so difficult, especially lately to keep hanging out with people, even people I know and love because I'm so tired all the time. I find myself doing everyday things and wondering what it will sound like with a CI. I found myself on a beach listening to the waves crashing against the pebbles at the weekend and I wondered what it will sound like with my CI. So long have I been astonished and astounded by young children with CIs, secretly jealous of their ability not to have to lipread all the time.. it may not work so well for me, who knows but I'm excited to see.

 After the operation I have been advised not to wear my HA in my operated ear, leaving me with just one HA for 6 weeks before the switch on. It will be a quiet christmas for me, but the more I talk about my concerns, the more my family seem keen to use BSL, even just the odd few signs, which I completely and utterly adore and appreciate. Thank you.

The Journey To Getting a CI Part 2 By Eleanor

. On Monday just gone I went back to the CI assessment centre for the second time, after being told that based on my audiological results I am eligible for a CI. This time I went for three assessments which were to find out if I'm 'medically fit' to have one.. after making a very sensible (but slightly regrettable at times) decision to get the train and take my bike (which actually saved me a lot of money in car parking and buses) it turned out to be a rather long day.

 With my recent obsession in trying to keep fit in preparation for a half marathon coming up, I decided to bike to the train station. It actually went rather smoothly, until I got to the train station. Apparently people do not like bikes on trains and apparently it makes people rather grumpy, usually accompanied by a roll of the eyes or a tut as they bump into my rear bike wheel as it blocks the aisle entrance. It is also not a good idea to have a bike during peak times. On the journey home I unfortunately had to miss the first train back as lots of tall bikeless people prioritized their journeys before short people with bikes. It didn't bother me too much as I'm rather a patient person but I made sure I was at the front of the queue for the next train, whilst wondering if I could dump the bike and jump on the train if it was too full. All in all, it was a very successful journey and the train station is not far from the hospital at all, perhaps a 10 minute bike ride with excellent cycle paths which make you feel queen of the roads.

 The first assessment was the 'medical'. This was a very short 5 minute conversation with a nurse to check my medical history, if I had been in hospital before, whether I'd had an operation before, whether I was on any medication etc. They also got a lovely swab of my nose which I was told is to test for MRSA. Then, the nurse asked me if I'd had a CT scan of my head before, to which I replied no, so I was sent upstairs to have a CT (how exciting!).

 I'd never had a CT scan before, so it was a rather unnerving experience. You are asked to lie down on, what is best described as a bed but with an appearance of a table. For the CT machine, you're not really allowed any metal things however I'd casually, as most mornings nowadays, did my french braid in my hair that morning complete with frantic metal clips to try and stop it all falling out... so of course they had to come out....afterwards I looked very much like I'd just got out of bed.. so casual. Off came the glasses and the hearing aids, honestly, who knew I had so many things on my head these days.
 Anyway, after a few minutes of lying on the jerky table which couldn't decide if I was coming or going and feeling rather sick from the spinning equipment going around and around my head... it was done. Sadly I didn't get to see the scan of my head which was rather disappointing but I was informed that it was all fine upon inspection.

 There was lots of waiting around between assessments so I decided to find places to hang out and it turns out this hospital has a brilliant food court or 'concourse' as they called it, no idea why. This was great for the waiting around and I had no problems with boredom or hangry feelings.

The second assessment was the 'rehabilitation'. This was a chat with a hearing rehabilitation person, or Speech and Language Teacher (SALT). She was really lovely and keen to know why I wanted a CI, what my motivation behind it is. The process is rather lengthy, for example after the operation I will only have access to one Hearing Aid (HA) on the ear that hasn't been operated on, it will be rather quiet for six weeks until the switch on. For the first few months of the switch on, they recommend not to wear a HA in the other ear, so the brain can adjust to how everything sounds and get used to the different noises. This will mean, whilst they're programming the CI processor, further weeks of 'quiet'. She was keen to inform me that it will be difficult, hard work and a long process. This wasn't to put me off, but to make sure that this is something I really wanted.

 This often plays in my thoughts. Do I really want a CI or am I just looking for some miracle cure that doesn't exist? Being a Teacher of the Deaf and being as fiercely independent as I am, has made me want to do it all myself. I want to be able to hear the children read word for word, to hear their attempts at phonics, to hear when one of them is calling me or talking about their mum's birthday party at the weekend. But most of all, I want to hear my own children. I'm not saying I definitely will have children of my own but perhaps, if one day that happens, I'd like the option. 
 However, I have to be cautious here. I am deaf, and I do like to engage in the deaf community, I can sign and I love meeting deaf people. Wanting a CI doesn't mean I'll turn my back on this, definitely not. I am still me and I will always be deaf. 

The third assessment was 'objective'. This one consisted of a 30 minute nap! This was basically an ABR or Auditory Brainstem Response assessment, which measures the reactions of the nervous system to sounds. I was asked to lie on another bed *cough table cough* with some various 'electrodes' stuck to my forehead, behind both ears and one on my collarbone. Earphones are also put in your ears to play sounds, although I didn't hear anything so it might have all been a lie... For this test you have to be completely relaxed, so it is recommended you sleep or at least shut your eyes for 30-45 minutes. It is a bit surreal attempting to 'nap' whilst knowing someone is in the room next to you and admittedly I didn't really 'nap' I just shut my eyes and tried so hard not to breathe so loudly because the minute you know you have to be quiet is when everything you do is SUPER loud.

 That was the end of the assessments and I was free to go home. The next stage is that all the professionals I've seen are going to meet up and discuss my case and whether they would offer me a CI. So I am basically just waiting for an appointment with the consultant who will let me know the verdict.. hopefully it won't be too long a wait.

 I am ready to be offered one, I think this is a journey I'd like to undertake, but I don't think I'm ready to be not offered one....not when I've come this far.

Watch this space..

The journey to getting a Cochlear Implant (CI) by Eleanor

To Cochlear Implant, or not to Cochlear Implant.....


 Making the choice is the first step. Did I really want a CI? Would it actually improve my life? Would it really be worth the constant appointments? What are the chances it could go terribly wrong and I'd end up with no hearing? What about the six weeks before switch on, could I really cope with no hearing? Would I have to hide away like a hermit, frustrated at what a hearing world we live in?

(For adults, you are only allowed one CI unless you are vision impaired. You are able to wear HAs whilst waiting for the switch on. This was just my irrational thoughts.. going irrational).

 The truth is, this hearing world is not going anywhere. And my hearing isn't getting better by itself. Instead I'm often sat at the end of the day wondering where I will find the energy to listen again tomorrow. Wishing everyone would be quiet, that I could walk around the house without my hearing aids in and ignore the world.. at least for a few hours. Why does everything require listening?

 So, eventually, and I had to do it on my own, I decided to take the step and at least go for an initial consultation to see if I was actually eligible to have a CI. Some of you may know that a few years ago I went to an initial consultation and was told that my speech discrimination was too good. I was too good at finding the bits I could hear and filling in all the rest, because, basically that is what I do everyday, all day. These days, it feels such a slog. It feels different, harder somehow, but mostly it feels more frustrating.

 Today was the day of the initial consultation (for the second time) and I was sent to an audiology assessment. Basically they look for two things to see whether you 'meet the criteria' to have a CI.

 The first being that you must have a profound loss at particular frequencies (your audiologist will know more, it can also differentiate between CI centres). I already knew I met this criteria from the previous consultation and talks with my Audiologist.

The second is that your speech discrimination should be lower than 50%. If it is higher than this (which I found the first time I went) they believe that giving you a CI would not give you any more advantage than what you currently have and therefore would not be worth the risks of going through the process.
 The speech discrimination is measured by placing you in front of a speaker. The audiologist sets a tape to play, first of a male voice, who is saying sentences. You simply repeat back what you've heard, not what you've worked out. Then, a female voice plays. Then you take alternative hearing aids out. My results were pretty shocking with both ears getting just 14%, my left just 7% and my right a mere 4%. During the test I was reminded how much I hate watching the TV without subtitles. I literally get nothing and it feels like the most boring thing in the world. It's the same for pub quizzes by the way, if you happen to be reading this bruv - it's just torture.

That is basically the initial consultation. At the end of this, you are told whether, based on your results you'd be eligible for CI. The next stage is to have medical assessments and a whole host of other assessments. You can usually get all of these appointments on the same day but in this one off example, mine have been booked for different days. But, in a way I'm glad. It has given me more time to process my thoughts and look to the future. A CI isn't a cure, I know that much, but I do know it will give me a fighting chance of hearing, of letting me listen without staring intensely at your lips, without having to feel embarrassed about declining meeting up with friends because frankly I'm just too tired to look.

 There are many sides to the argument of CIs. Some believe that deafness is not an illness, that it isn't a problem to be fixed, that we should be proud of our culture. Others believe that CIs mean better access to speech, an opportunity to listen and to be heard in our predominately hearing world that we live in. As a Teacher of the Deaf myself, I completely understand both views. From a personal point of view, this is the decision I have to make for myself, that would best fit my needs. I'm glad I've waited this long because it has been my choice to make (I've had a progressive loss since the age of three) and I'm excited for what it could mean. I know there are risks of course I do, and I still have to pass all the other medical assessments and await for a group of professionals to discuss whether they want to do the operation before any of this can happen, but I'm in the journey.

I'll be going back in a few weeks for the medical assessment, the rehabilitation assessment and the objectives assessment, thankfully all on the same day... I'll be sure to fill you in on the next stage :).

We've Been Featured!

Back in early July we got an email from the lovely Editor of British Deaf News, Anna asking if we'd like to provide an interview for their August Magazine - we of course jumped up and said we would love to!

Anna came across us and found 'Deafness & Friendships' and 'Is Deafness a Disability?' interesting  and wanted to ask us a little more about them and some other burning questions they wanted to know. We of course love to spark conversation and discuss frankly all matters of our lives and Deafness as many posts of ours have displayed.

One thing I think was apparent during the writing of this interview was how different our opinion was on our 'Disability' and it's something we really love to discuss with you guys because we are different, despite being best friends we do see a variety of opinion between us (although it does have
to be known we agree on near enough everything else) and I think this made it a readable article.

I'm so proud of this and everything that we achieve, it was really great fun to write and even more exciting to see it come through the post in print! It felt very surreal seeing our photo on paper with all our words placed together. It holds a marvellous memory for us both and it wouldn't be possible without you guys reading our posts - so many heartfelt thanks!

It's holding pride of place on my new desk - I can't bring myself to pack it away yet!

"I wish I could wear... by Imogene

Hearing Aids”.

My instant response was “No, you really don’t!”

I mean let’s just take a look at it again “I wish I could wear Hearing Aids”. It seems such a silly comment for my 3 year old son to come out with. How did he even come to think of that? 

I know kids ‘say things’ mainly to get a reaction.. Well it certainly made me stop for a second.

There stood my rather mischievous boy, twirling the plastic on the battery pack (that he rather naughtily stole from my handbag), and looking at me like this was the most natural statement to make.

Of course it isn’t.

No one wants to be Deaf. No one asks to be Deaf, we just are and we somehow just deal with it. We don’t want to draw attention to it.

It’s our life and we put our Hearing Aids in because we need to. It's our habit. 

I sometimes very reluctantly want to put them in as I know as soon as I do; I have to get on with the day. Be an Adult and Mum. (Because sometimes it really makes it easier to pretend you’re still asleep when your little one shouts down your ear with none in!)

I had a memory of when Freddie wore some of my lipstick and he applied it pretty impressively; I remember thinking “Why would you think of doing that, you odd sod!” and once I uploaded the photo to Instagram many people gushed over how cute he looked. One of my friends went “aww, that’s so cute! He wants to be just like Mummy! He’s clearly picked up on your tips of applying!” and it instantly made me feel like I was so narrow minded. That I couldn’t see beyond the fact that, I am who he looks up to. He learns from me. He doesn’t see things as Male or Female; just quite simply, an activity that Mummy does. I want to try too!

It made me feel sad, it made me realise that I obviously hadn’t seen that in him. I didn’t notice that he watched me apply my lipstick and found it intriguing.I didn't notice them little eyes open wide with curiosity.

I noticed that he loves me putting moisturiser on his face – why didn’t the two click?

I felt bad for snapping (not out loud, but in my head) and being so negative towards his little declaration. I took a step back with that memory and tried it a different way.

“Why would you want to wear Hearing Aids, though Freddie?”

“Because then I can have my own batteries to put in them”

Welcome to this lad I call my son.

Playing Mum with No Working Hearing Aids.. by Imogene

Hi there again!

I am a Mum to two beautiful young boys (3 & 13 weeks) and they are the centre of my world. Everyday, I am doing things with them, listening to their cries, chants and giggles. They're honestly the most beautiful sounds I hear and I thoroughly appreciate being able to hear them. But what happens on the one day you can't?

Let me explain.
Wednesday last week, I woke as usual to the vibration of Freddie thumping around the bedroom and his (very) high pitched squeal as my hubby is tickling him. It's a normal morning. I sit up and put my hearing aids in and try and hush my lads as my littlest is fast asleep, and well, it's too early to hear such loud noises.
I get up, get dressed and go fetch some breakfast as Noah is still fast asleep. I do love the hectic mornings in this house. It's constantly filled with Freddie shouting he wants more milk with his cereal, or how hubby will be late home that afternoon, or that Noah will want a bottle at 20 past the hour. It's all so normal and it's the thing I wake up to and adore. I like the sound of babbling voices and things lumping around. It's my family.

I however dislike when my hearing aids run out. The tapping really irritates me, and always seem to start at the most inconvenient time! But like everything you tend to do as a parent you just put it to one side and get round to it when you can. My life is busy as a Mum, I'm constantly on the go of feeding and changing, as well as talking and playing. So on the day when one of your hearing aids decides it's finished it's battery life, you think "yeah, OK, I'll change you once I've finish *insert job here*" and this is exactly what I did.
Until my other one decided to start going off too.
Safe to say I rely on my hearing aids A LOT when I'm at home.

Freddie is very much one of them Toddlers that when they want something, they'll want to drag you or keep hanging around the item they want; for example Freddie keeps opening and shutting the pantry door when he wants something to eat. It's probably partly because he's around me most of the time, so knows that will get my attention. Of course he doesn't always do that, he does often shove his face in mine and go "Can I have a biscuit?" "Mummmmmmmmmmmy, I'm huuungry!" or "What time is it? Is it time for Dinner?!"

So on this day my hearing aids were tapping away, driving me up the wall. I had to stop doing everything and find some batteries.
I have many spots around the house and in bags where my battery packs seem to accumulate. In a basket above the microwave, in my handbag, in Noah's changing bag and beside my bedside. I went to all of my usual spots and there were either packets of all used batteries (why these were still here I've no idea!) or there was nothing to find.

Oh Sh*t!

I was a Mum in a house alone with two young, demanding kids and I was completely deaf.
You could imagine how quiet it felt. It felt really odd seeing and looking after my kids but with absolutely no hearing. I managed the best I could and things were OK, I just had to watch everything 10x more than I ever had before. Every move and action had to be accounted for.
A natural thing as a parent is to keep an eye out and look after your child, but there was something about them hours that made me feel like I was doing a terrible job. I know I wasn't really, but it did make me realise that sometimes I rely on my Aids more than I think.

I contacted my mum by text and she tried ringing me, but texting that I can't hear and well, it was a massive miscommunication but finally got to explain that I don't have any batteries!
 As a family we don't have any transport so I couldn't drive to the Hospital, I didn't have any cash on me to get the bus to the Hospital, or a shop to buy any, Chris was at work until 5, which means the shops would be close by the time he finished his shift (not to mention it was 10am in the morning).. It was basically the most annoying situation ever.

My Nan came to my rescue and brought some in Boots for me and brought them to me (Got to love Grandparents who'll do anything for you!). I was saved and all systems were go..
I will never let myself get in that situation ever again. It was hugely frustrating.
It showed me what I am capable of as a Mum, exactly how much I appreciate having Hearing Aids in my life and that I love the sounds my family make. If I didn't have them, I don't know what I'd do!

A muffled world, my week with one hearing aid: By Eleanor

 This week has been particularly tough. Not in the usual format of being on placement, assignment work etc. (its half-term whoo) but in the fact that one of my ear moulds has been causing me a lot of pain recently, constantly rubbing to make sores in my left ear.


 It has got to the point where I am coming home and taking it straight off. As a person that has grown up dependant on these machines to communicate it has been strange.


 Today I had to go to the UEA to do a 'viva voce' to pass the remaining assignment. I worried about attending with just the use of one hearing aid, knowing that it is really quite disorientating and that I can only realistically listen to one person at a time who is facing me. I considered wearing my hearing aid just to avoid any issues. But then I started to wonder, how would they cope if I did lose my hearing further, if I couldn't rely on my hearing aids any longer, and more to the point, how would I cope?... so I went without.

 But actually, I didn't need to worry. I explained to my tutor and she actually made a point of swapping positions to be sat on my 'better side'. She spoke clearly, not treating me like an idiot (you know the 'caaaan yoooooou heeeeaaaarrrr meeeeee?' version). She said if the other person in the room would ask me anything then she would indicate this was so, knowing that they were sat on my 'deaf side'. It really made me feel more secure and safer, not just in those 30 minutes but for the rest of my day. I spend the day with Imz (one of my best friends) and although we were in the busy city centre, I wasn't distracted by anything (mostly because I couldn't hear much of anything) but I could focus, I could listen, I could lip-read, I could speak, I could communicate. I'm not saying that if were was more than one friend, that I would have been able to cope but I really surprised myself.

The ones that matter don't mind and the ones that mind don't matter.

 On my way home Imz had left one of my old favourites in the CD player, with just one hearing aid in, I cranked up the sound to the max and belted out the lyrics, feeling the vibrations through the floor and reciting those lyrics from those thousands of times we practised when we were young. It made me smile, so much. Thank you (Imz, I love you :) ).


 In some ways it has made me so appreciative of the life that my mum and dad brought me up in, they encouraged me to speak rather than sign. This has made me really good at adapting to situations, by lip-reading and fitting in the missing bits (it often still goes wrong when I don't know the context!), and quite probably TOO good because some assume that I can talk so I can hear leading to another world of pain and communication breakdowns.
Sometimes I wish my signing was as fluent as my speaking, however it has enabled a bigger, accessible world, ensuring that I can associate with hearing people. This world is predominately a hearing world, and always will be.


It is estimated that 1 in 1000 people are deaf. This means that there are ALOT more hearing people, speaking, talking, chatting with their backs turned, talking from another room, mumbling down the phones, whispering secrets, singing along to lyrics, sharing stories, every minute of every day of every week of every year. A life with working ears, taken for granted, hearing and absorbing. Of course I can understand not knowing, not seeing and not understanding a world with broken ears.


  Sure, I still get frustrated at the lack of deaf awareness but quite often it is fixable with knowledge and communication. I want to fight for equal access, be it in the form of subtitles in cinemas, on TV, on the train, for any and all announcements. I want to fight for sign language to be a GCSE option, I want to fight for all companies to have and to use access to emails and live online chats rather than phone calls. I want to fight to enable that no deaf child feels they don't know which world they belong in. But I (and probably many other deaf people) have heard the same things, reached the same brick walls, same boundaries time and time again.


My energy falls, my enthusiasm and motivation to continue the fight often waivers. I celebrate at LoveFilm finally agreeing to subtitle more contents, but the fight goes on, directed for Sky next. I celebrate at getting my local cinema to show subtitled screenings once a month, but I despair at no-one using them.

 One day it will all be gone, and people will moan, but they didn't use it when it was there. These changes will be those failed movements of time that no-one opened their eyes or closed their ears to see. 

Super-bot hearing! by Imogene

Hey there guys! Been a while since I have posted anything. I've been a busy lady, I've recently found out that I'm pregnant with #2 and it's another little boy! Been a very exciting time for me, my family and friends so been enjoying the news together! (Also I'm a Celebrity had taken over my life for the last three weeks that I haven't been able to find time to get onto the laptop and update you all - sorry!)

I wanted to share the latest Deaf related news that I have and that is, that I have got new and improved Hearing Aids! I recently went to Audiology at the Hospital to get new tubes and the woman who fitted them had a moan at me as my Aids were too out of date and my moulds were old. Admittedly I haven't been to Audiology since I was 15 and was told I didn't need to come back unless I had a problem. Neither my moulds or my Hearing Aids have been of any trouble to me. I felt I needed to defend my Aids as they may be old but they have got me this far and I've not done too bad with them! However this one time I was at the Hospital for another appointment so thought I would get tubes redone whilst waiting.
I got a appointment to go back and have a hearing test as the last one was a long time ago (7 years), plus it's always interesting to see how it's all doing. I've never noticed any difference in my hearing at all over the years and it was confirmed in the test - they're exactly the same. I was very pleased, simply because no Deaf person wants to hear their hearing is getting worse! I got some moulds done and was told that I would be sent another appointment to collect them and get some new Aids.
Went back again.. and was told that I need to be updated regardless whether my hearing aids are OK or not, as if they were to break, they wouldn't be able to replace or mend them (personally, I wouldn't have minded until they broke to get some news ones really..) but I took advantage of the offer and admittedly my moulds felt more snug than the old ones, so I did need some really! Then it was time to check out the new Hearing Aids. It was quite a novelty trying out some different and more technology-evolved than my current ones at the time.. I guess I had got so used to having my old hearing aids, that the moulds and Aids were what I needed and used, but at the same time it was naive of me to think that I was the best I can be with hearing aids from 7 years ago! The ones I received last time were the best at the time and was told I was among the first handful to start wearing them all them years ago - but times change!
The new ones unlike the old ones were plugged into the computer and altered according to how I needed them to be. I was also told that were different settings that I could have onto my hearing aids and there were a choice of up to 5! (I orginially thought 'How many do you need!?' But she did go on to explain.) My old ones had only two, background noise and T-Loop, but I decided to keep both of them onto my new ones and include a TV setting, which by the way is by far my favourite one! They tune into the TV and dim down any noises that are in the room, including people talking (haha!) but also makes the voices on the screen clearer and generally more focused which is perfect for me! The only downside to that option is if there is another device such as a laptop playing a video for example, the hearing aids try and mingle the two. Which isn't ideal when you're trying to watch something!
I also have a everyday use option which is what my hearing aid is automatically tuned into as soon as they are switched on. I've found since being home that the everyday use one is really echo-y and its really frustrating when I'm listening to people as their words aren't clearly said, so I'm hoping to get that readjusted. It seemed fine at the appointment but since I got home I've not found it the ideal one. (probably down to the fault of having soundproof rooms!) My noisy background one makes everything quiet apart from the voice or what you're listening out to, but I still find the appointed sound too quiet so I mostly use the TV setting at the moment as it seems to be a mixture of all the three setting together!
I sound like I'm moaning but I'm not really, I love them compared to my old ones, what I do hear is amplified and clearer which is every deaf person dream! I have also been hearing noises that I haven't either A - noticed or B - heard before like keys jangling in my hand or the noises my son ask 'what's that?' and being able to say what it is without feeling a incompetent mother and also I can hear the radio on the volume of 6 in the back of the car.. All in all, I'm feeling like a super-bot with amazing hearing at the moment! It's open my eyes to realise that Hearing Aids are going to be improving just as much as mobile phones and 3D TVs etc - shows how important it is to go regularly to improve the vital things that are needed on a daily basis!

Part 1: Learning to Drive as a Deaf Person by Imogene

Hey, so I've started to learn to drive. Simply because we need transport as a family, we need to be more independant (rather than relying on parents/grandparents to give us lifts to places) and well it'd improve on our family life in general.
Being a mum i'm constantly worrying about money and whilst driving is an additional strain to the family finances, it'll be worth it in the end as my Grandad has offered to give us his car so that we don't have to worry about financing that - and looking at the insurance, it seems annually it's not a bad deal either, so that helps tremendously. Also, we'll have that much needed transport!

I've booked up with RED driving school and went for my first 2 hour assessment lesson and is said to probably need around 40 hours - apparently it's the average for most learners with no experience. I managed to speak to my instructor on the phone and I did explain to him that I was deaf, because I always find it's polite to explain it and also means that he understands if I don't hear him, why I didn't. He seemed really understanding of the matter and said to tell him if there's anything I didn't get and that he'll help in the best way he can. I really enjoyed it after feeling sick with nerves, but once I got in the car it seems it went away (I guess the unknown is super scary!) and my instructor seemed really nice! Chatty, has a clear voice (definitely needed!) and explains things in a way that's easy for you to take in. All of them qualities are really good for being deaf, and actually they were the things I worried about most! I got in the car and adjusted A LOT of the settings, as my instructor is a broad rugby player standing at 6ft 4.. so yeah, adjustments needed! He told me about where everything was and what I need to do to move off. I never realised as a passenger how much work is actually involved in driving, how much you need to be aware and what you need to think about - I guess most of this is due to what's happening with your feet. Your feet does most of the leg work (no pun intended!). And you don't as a passenger see what the driver is doing with their feet!
I stalled as soon as I set off and as a beginner you're constantly like "what did I do? I did what you said!" but slowly through the lesson you start to realise what you did that made such a such happen. My problem mostly was letting go of the clutch too early! (The worlds most sensitive thing going, eh?) but my REAL problem was hearing the biting point.. for the life of me I just couldn't get it. My instructor told me to listen and "feel" when it's right to go, but I felt like it was impossible to do. I still need to work on it but, I'd like to think I'll get better and at least feel what I need to, to go. I found it terribly frustrating - it was one of the moments where I genuinely hated being deaf! Why can't I just hear it like everyone else, because it'd make things a lot easier - there again, when was anything easy in life? I just thought to myself that there's no point in thinking and feeling that way, and that I should just improve what I can hear and feel and well, hope that I get better at it. I know it's only my first lesson, I have plenty of time to learn and get it before my test! I have to stick with the positives.
I found the best way to interact with my instructor was to talk through my actions. It gave me the reassurance that I knew what I was doing and if I hadn't done something right he could jump in and correct me - I found it the best way to progress through the lesson, meaning I understood what I was doing and like he told me "driving is a routine".

I shall post regularly about my lessons and hopefully i'll get a hold of that biting point! Feel free to share any of your learning to drive stories and the ways you have found that makes your driving experience easier as a deaf/hearing person. Any tips or suggestions are massively welcome :)

Bedtime Fears as a Deaf Mother by Imogene

Hello everyone,
Once again I'll apologise for the lack of posting, been awfully busy with my little family that I haven't managed to get round to sharing a couple of stories that I have been wanting to!

My husband is a Chef at a local hotel and he very often works the worst hours for a family, and whilst it's like that we're lucky he gets 2 days off a week (sometimes only 1 during busy weeks) but,  he actually has a job! 
One day he comes home and announces he's going to have to stay at work the following night as he can't get into work as it's an early start, so he's going to have to stay in one of the hotel rooms. As he's unable to get a lift in as he's covering for someone who's on holiday, and we have no transport (something we're working on) there was little choice in anything else. When he mentioned it I was fine with the idea, I mean he's had nights alone with our son whilst I've been away with the girls, so really it probably was about time I had a night alone in the bed (plus I could spread out, what more could I really ask for?). I did what I do every night of the week, put my son to bed, do the last few house chores and then relax in front of the soaps for the evening. 
It was only when it reached 11pm that I started feeling sad, because I always know he'll be home about now, no matter how many hours he's done in the day. I wanted him to come in the house, talk too loud, (as they have to talk loud in the kitchen over the fans - so he says!) get a drink and then moan about what time he's starting the next day and then we'd go upstairs, check on Freddie and then go to bed, turning the lights off as we go through. But that night, I was alone, going through the routine. The bed was cold (Men have a way of warming the bed for you even if they're in their half and only in the bed 30 seconds before you climb in) and the bedroom seemed too dark. I moved our son's baby monitor to my bedside, in case he woke up it'll wake me more than the usual place of across the room - I never have a problem with the night calls as Freddie rarely wakes and as Chris is such a light sleeper he normally gets up. But tonight it was all me, I take my hearing aids out and it feels weird being in the bed, because everything was odd. Nothing felt right. I felt really nervous to be left in the house on my own overnight.
It seems silly really because we come from a good area and we know one of the neighbours really well, but I felt so unsettled. I know part of it was because Chris wasn't there, but also because I was in complete silence. I was alone, I felt alone in the house, even though Freddie was next door, I was worried and my fears began to ran through my mind. I worried that Freddie would wake up, cry and cry, but I didn't wake up. I worried that if there happens to be a burglar, I would be completely useless as I wouldn't hear them break in. What if they were kidnappers and took Freddie when he was asleep and I never heard them get in the house, nor past our room into ours? What if. That's what kept me up thinking of all the things, that I couldn't hear or do if anything was to happen. I've never realised how vulnerable I am when I have no hearing aids in - anything could literally happen, if I didn't see, feel or hear it, I'm actually no good. I wouldn't be able to be the mother that my son needed in them few minutes, because I couldn't hear him..
So I ended up putting my hearing aids in and laying there all night awake, twitching at every noise. (As weird as it is to have them out, I do enjoy the silence during the night, but having the hearing aids in was strange as I could hear the boiler, the dog bark outside, the few cars that actually go past at 3am, everything.) I actually couldn't sleep - I'm sure I fell asleep eventually but it didn't feel like it. The night seemed to go on forever, I kept looking at the clock. I felt exhausted, but I just couldn't relax. What if. 

My son never woke up at all, and we never got burgled, nor had any kidnappers in the house. Everything was a perfectly normal night apart from the lack of my Zzz's and Husband in the house.
One thing that did make me smile was that Chris text me the next morning saying 'Crap nights sleep :( It's not the same without you. X' Seems we both had a rubbish night, so I've told him he's not allowed to work that shift unless he can get a lift in! I guess we get used to the way in which we live!

I wanted the world to swallow me up! by Imogene

On Saturdays I usually go food shopping with my parents, and whilst it's not the most entertaining of chores to do - it does get you out the house for a while!
Now I normally feel very confident in myself especially when it comes to my hearing; I know this does sound  odd for a Deaf person to state this. But I've always grown up in a very busy household, having 2 brothers and 2 sisters; it's quite safe to say there was never any lack of noise, squabbles and conversations. I loved my house and being in that environment! I also was always very close to my siblings growing up, so i'm sure this helped loads. I think growing up like that did help me overcome my issues with being Deaf as I learnt to laugh about any misunderstandings during any communications with any family members, also this is where I learnt my lip reading (It was a skill you needed). I was never given any special measures as a child, it was never a 'slow down and make Immy understand you' situation, and whilst many may read that and think 'Oh poor you' it never was like that, I went with it, if I missed something, I missed it, unless I chirped up and asked again, or I looked utterly confused and my parents would help me. It made me confident to be able to speak up and ask for help with anything that I needed, because simply there was too many of us to have one-to-one. Of course we did have some of them moments where mum would go through vocabulary and dad would help me get my point across through typing and explaining things in simpler terms and to be honest helped me very much when it was needed. I also gradually got this skill to be able to talk and have conversations with people through the next room (obviously voicing was quite loud) and where I can have my back to someone whilst doing something else - however to be able to do that it does have to be a voice I'm very comfortable with and is very familiar.
So as you can picture it, I'm with my shopping list going through Morrisons collecting everything on my list and any other useful items I happen to see that's on offer, loading them into my trolley. I tend to block the world out when I'm concentrating, but it's never a problem, no-one really speaks to you when you're shopping, do they?
I get to the tills and load up my shopping on the belt and rush to the front to start packing. As I go every week, there is normally the same people working on the tills. I have someone I recognize and start talking in polite conversation - I'm not the fastest packer, especially when i'm alone with a weeks worth of shopping, but I manage to pick up a fast pace. An Elderly couple start unloading their shopping onto the end of the belt whilst mine is coming down, I look up and smile at them whilst packing. I have to pay so I end up getting a little backlogged with a few items, entering my pin whilst trying to pack the final items. The couple had finished their bit and were then waiting for me to pull away until the woman mutters something completely incoherent to me and it stuns me, because normally I can pick a word up, but I didn't, so I say pardon and try again, nothing. Oops, this is getting a little embarrassing as I can't understand one word. I ask again, now attempting to purely lip-read her, but her lips are too close together so I couldn't attempt that, I then say "Sorry I'm Deaf" and she tries once more, which made the whole situation so awkward as I still didn't get her. I just didn't know what to do with myself as I tried so hard to understand her and failed like 4 times now so I just smile and look so confused (I'm guessing) because the checkout lady raised her voice and said 'Pink Drink' which made people from the surrounding tills look my way - as you would! I explained it was some version of squash my son likes and in a flash picked up the last few items and put them in the trolley.
And I have to say I never have felt so isolated in my whole life as I did in that moment. I think it was the shock that I couldn't actually pick anything up, it was almost like all the confidence I had in myself and my hearing, plummeted down to 0%. I was so embarrassed that I wanted to cry. Yes, I understand that sounds very dramatic, but I couldn't see a way of trying to laugh this one off.
I also have to confess that I haven't actually told anyone about this, so writing this is the first time I've shared this particular scary experience. Having gone through this experience it does make me appreciate how well I do cope on a day-to-day basis, and that I do sympathise massively with anyone that have this experience on a frequent basis. Normally I would pick something up and somehow would manage to make sense of it in my head or I'd get it by the 3rd time at a very push, but I never want to have that ever again. I quite literally wanted to be invisible at that moment. The only thing that made it worst was as I stepped away was hearing the checkout lady say "Oh don't worry, it wasn't you, she has them things in her ears.."

Imagine if this was to trend! by Imogene

HAHA!

I found this on Facebook, whilst strolling through my feeds. I personally found it hilarious and thought it'd be cool to share it with all of you on here. 

Also whilst this is funny, that I couldn't help think that it would be rather cool to see this happen for real. I for one would certainly feel more comfortable to have my Hearing Aids on show! I'd feel normal... well, until it was out of fashion..

(Photo is simply intended for laughs!)

He's fun, he's chatty and such a little handful! By Imogene.

From other articles I've written on this page you may now be aware that I have a 2yr old son, named Freddie. Being part of a 2yr olds life is interesting, fun and hard work but totally rewarding in every way! Freddie’s always been a talkative baby and that hasn't stopped during his development. His favourite sentence at the moment is “Mummy, what you doing?” and I take great pleasure in telling him exactly what I’m doing and letting him be a part of it – even if I didn't want to, he’s incredibly nosey so he would find out one way or another! But it can also get incredibly annoying after the 1000000th time.

In my last article about my time with my little man I was talking about how he’s increasing becoming more aware towards my deafness. He still is and now when he wakes up he shouts “Mummy!” really loud in my ear and well, it wakes me up. He sits on the bed talking at 100 mph, telling me everything he knows. (Yes, he really is that cute!) Eventually once I've stirred and have woken, I say “Slow down Freddie, I can’t hear you” and he jumps off the bed and gets my hearing aids and hands them to me. However cute it sounds, it does make me realise how aware he is of my deafness.

In our house, he has learnt that if he wants my attention, he is to either to come to my face and say what he wants (normally with pointing to it too!) and/or pull at my trousers/arm. Because I’m terrible if I’m busy and doing something that my hearing just fades out (I don’t know if any other people have this?) and I rarely hear what is being said. My husband is very supportive of this and does tell him to come to me rather than stand in the other room shouting my name! (I think a lot of this will get better with his age, and if we have any other children, he will probably teach them too.) We also have subtitles on the television all the time, even the children’s programmes, simply because it helps me for when I finally get to sit down or get dragged to come and watch a specific programme. So I can help interact about what the characters are doing and ask him questions!

I’m also finding that the older he gets the more he looks at my face whilst teaching him a new word, like the other day I was telling him how to say “Elephant” as he has a toy Elephant, he kept saying “Eleant” and I mouthed it and he kept saying it, but yesterday he said it properly – They always used to say that for a Deaf child you have to tell them the word 100 times before they knew how to say it properly. And I said it about 15 times to Freddie and he was saying it perfectly – so it also makes me think about how much my Mum must’ve interacted with me and spoke to me, saying the long words and getting pronunciation right! Bless her; she’s still helping me now with some things!

It's becoming quite a comedy in our Household most days, as only the other day the phone was ringing (I didn't hear it what with the lounge door shut) but Freddie did, and he kept coming to me and back to the door and because he can't say the words 'the phone is ringing' he was chatting madly and I just couldn't understand what he was saying, then it clicked the phone might be ringing and I pretty much went to run for it, and Fred ran with me going "run, run run!" - safe to say when we picked it up we couldn't stop laughing!

Is anybody else having the same experience at the moment with their little one or ones? Do you have a way of telling your child how to get your attention? I’d love to hear anyone’s experience or what they've heard are great tactics!

TED Talks - Imogene

Hi guys, sorry it's been a while since I've posted, been really busy, but I've come back with something worth your while - I hope!

So I saw my step-dad the other day and as soon as he saw me he went "ooh, I have this awesome video and channel for you to have a look at; it's very long winded, but I think you'll enjoy it!". He got his amazing Samsung Galaxy S3 and showed me a really fascinating video!
I'm one of them people that find the little things really interesting, and I was hugely curious to watch the video - It was on YouTube which was fair enough and it wasn't what I was expecting, but I liked that it was something I am personally interested in, which is Education. And this video is basically one guys perception on the state schools curriculum and why he finds Art a really important subject. It has some fantastic examples and  many humorous moments and now that I've discovered the channel I want to watch many more videos and see what else is out there! (It's definitely going to reappear on this blog from me!)

The channel is called 'TED Talks' - (I actually said to my dad 'ooh, is it the bear TED from the movie TED', safe to say I got a 'don't be so silly Immy' look!). I'm actually going to describe it how my dad did, as he has a great way of putting words together, and he has been much help in the past due to that little talent!
"It's a channel on YoutTube where lots of people post lots of video's - at complete random and can be about anything! There is many boring ones, but many fascinating ones where your mind is like 'WOW'" - Yes it probably doesn't sound so impressive like that, but it sounded better, i'll see if I could get a recording? (haha!)
So, I found the video again once my dad showed me it and you should definitely watch it, it is viewed as quite heavy.. It is nearly 20 minutes long (so I recommend you can watch it contently) but it is really interesting to hear someones view on the subject, watch the video here.

I think I found it personally interesting as I find that his opinion is very similar to mine, as I agree that it's terrible that schools are cutting down on the Arts in the curriculum - especially as it's a way of getting children to express themselves, and to be honest 'talk' thought their work. I as a deaf person, who enjoy doing creative stuff, find that it's sad they're cutting it down as I think it was one of the things that really got me grow as a child. I wasn't much of a conversation child until I caught up on the vocabulary. (I only got hearing aids at the age of 7, but i'll explain this more later) So really I think they should definitely keep it as it helps a lot of children develop, as it most definitely did for me.

So, what do you think? Enjoy the video? Agree with his opinion? Or not? Did Art help you in any way when you were at school? Have any stories on the subject? Or.. have you discovered TED talks before me and have interesting videos? I love to hear everyone's thoughts! I hope you're well and have enjoyed reading. :-)

Immy: Hearing Aids - Part 2

So I went to the Hospital on Tuesday for my eyes (boo, but yay also as there was nothing wrong!). And, whilst I was there I thought I may as well get some batteries and tubes, since I was hanging around waiting for my lift. I went to the front desk - as we previously know not to go to Audiology anymore for these things! AND I took my red book, just to dodge any volunteers who refuse to give me any batteries, just because of a booklet.
Thank heavens I had my sister with me (as I couldn't see due to eye drops) who could see the batteries the lady gave me, and notice that they were the right ones. I took the ones in my handbag to my sister so that she could check and the lady looked confused, so I explained they were the ones that I purchased (the ones from boots - in the other passage) and she was surprised and asked where you get them and how much. I told her that they were £3.59 and she actually gasped and covered her mouth, which seemed a little dramatic    but she said that she never expected them to be so much. (but, really, a normal packet of AA batteries are just as much, if not more!) I gave her an overview of the story about how I wasn't able to get them and she said that you can get batteries from Audiology at anytime, despite the volunteers desk being closed!
I was never told that you could, but I suppose the only reason I really knew of that was because there was a nice woman who spent the time to take an interest in what I was asking. Also, she gave me 4 packets of batteries! (despite the lady next to her telling her that she should only give out two - but she completely disregarded it (YES!))
I also went to Audiology to get some tubes (as they don't have these at volunteer desk! good idea they had there, cos I then had to go to Audiology anyway!) and found out that the service at the local doctors is back, but only for 1 day a month, and only for 2 hours - still that can be a massive inconvenience but, at least there is a actual chance to receive some batteries!
So I am fairly pleased that my services have resumed - but again, I had to go digging! But, at least I know now.

Immy - *Rant* over Hearing Aid Batteries!

I'm sorry, most of you probably don't want to read a post full of moaning. However it's something as a Deaf person, I have to say as it's been getting under my skin!
My local Hospital is a good 6 miles away from my house and I have no transport, so I have to either rely on my parents giving me a lift or getting the bus at £4.10 a return - either way, it's a massive pain to get there. They did have a service where they had people from Audiology come round the villages for things like batteries, clean tubes and anything else you wanted to ask them about. But, last month they got rid of that service (yes, it was only 2 days a month and at the most awkward time, but you always made it so you could go) - due to the funding at the local Doctors. Now, I understand in a way why they may have dispose of that facility as there is probably very few people in the Norfolk villages that are Deaf or wear hearing aids, so if they needed to cut funding on something it may be that. Simply because they think 'well there is a Hospital you can go to' - but they just don't think about us small people who find that difficult!
But saying all that, going to the Hospital isn't that straight forward either as the last time I went up there they altered everything about how you can pick them up, where you can pick them up and well, I was annoyed I hadn't been told. Especially when you have a new system to pick them up! They've got it now so that you have to use a red booklet to collect anything from Audiology - only it's not at Audiology anymore it's at the front desk, where they've plonked volunteers at the desk who don't know nothing about what they're doing. I don't just say that out of being annoyed, they honestly don't know what they're doing.. I asked them (before I had the red booklet, or understood there was a red booklet (and wondering why I was never informed I needed a red booklet)) if I could have some orange batteries and was told "well, are you Deaf? Do you need them?" I tell them yes, as I am Deaf with two hearing aids.. but they looked at me disbelieving so I had to lift my hair up to reveal my aids (it was like I had to prove myself!), then I get asked "Do you have your red book?" I say I don't have a red book nor do I know of a red book needed.. and they point blank refused to give me any batteries. Now, I stood there thinking 'well would I honestly be standing here, asking for batteries, with hearing aids in.. if I didn't actually need them?' Now, would I? Why would I waste my time doing that? Why would anyone?
Anyhow, I got a red book eventually.. and I get A packet of batteries - 1 packet, of 6.. now, why? It'll only mean i'll have to go back in a months time, at my inconvenience (but, I need them to pretty much survive - so..) . I just don't understand why they have to make everything that much more difficult.

The reason that inspired me to do this piece was that on Saturday I had to go buy some batteries as they both went out at the same time. The Hospital 'couldn't cater to this facility' as it was the weekend.. so I had to result in going in Boots and getting some for £3.59 a pack! It seems a lot of money when you can normally have them for nothing.
but I suppose it's NFN. (Normal For Norfolk) - Eleanor Inspired!!

Can you relate to this? Have your Hospital got a new system on the receiving of hearing aid batteries? Do you need a red book? Or feel you have to prove you're Deaf to anyone? We'd love to hear your stories too!! :)

‘Getting to understand the world, through my son.’ By Immy.

I have a nearly 2 year old son, who is a massive inspiration in my life – he just does the most amazing things that I fall in admiration over. Since he was young, he’s always taken an interest in the ‘things-that-are-in-Mummy’s-ears’. Though I have notice he’s taking it all in more-so now as he’s learning new things. He’s learning that I’m a type 1 diabetic and take injections – he very often hand this to me and says ‘jection, mummy’. (Don’t worry, it has no needle actually attached to the pen, until you apply it, and I always take it off and discard it safely, immediately after use! (Just so no-one thinks I’m a terrible parent!))

Now, since he has been able to wander around my bedroom, poking his nose into everything laying around, he seems to have taken a huge interest in these two odd looking objects, very often sitting on my bedside cabinet on the side of my bed. My hearing aids.
I always find that as a parent, discovering the best and new things about your childs’ growth and intellect; is to watch them in secret. I do this very often and I always love the result!

So I do exactly this as I roll over in bed and have one eye closed, and I simply watch him pick up my hearing aid, with his dummy in his mouth, holding his favourite toy in one hand and he just stare intensely at the aid. He moves it around every so often, looks at the switches and ear mould, but doesn’t do anything to them, and then I watched him try and put it in his ear. It made me laugh to myself, because I can totally understand why he would try – It’s something that Mummy does and has. I do try and tell him about them by saying things like ‘Mummy, needs them to hear.’ and ‘Mummy, can’t hear things like you, so I have to put them in my ears so I can hear you talking.’ – He appears to understand by saying ‘Ooh’ back, or at least he’s pretending really well!

I know he’s trying to learn about them as when he stays at my mums or ‘Nanna’ he always looks in her ears when she picks him up. (I suppose it doesn’t help that she’s also a type 1 diabetic too – He must be thinking everyone who has injections must be deaf and wear hearing aids!) So, It is really amusing, but secretly I’m proud that he’s curious about them and noticing the little things.
It’s also amusing when we have cuddles and then my hearing aid whistle, because he gets up and looks at me and giggles, and then pokes me in the ear. Yep, he’s worked out they make noises occasionally!

 However I must admit, when I was pregnant, I did have fears that I wouldn’t understand his needs, or understand what he wanted from me when he spoke, (as many children mumble) or worried I wouldn’t hear him in the night if he cried, but my husband helped very much in that area, and we also brought a very visual baby monitor – which is still very much vital and has been a success. Despite these things what I didn’t realise is that you have a strong bond with your child and you grow up with them. It’s not just them learning and growing, it’s also us as parents too.

I have learnt what he’s trying to say to me, I knew by pointing at objects and simply getting to know him as a young boy, that he’s developing into. It’s nice to know, that my fears were nothing but silly, but for a Deaf person, hearing is difficult enough as it is without all the obstacles that seem to come our way. Saying this, I enjoy motherhood and even more my son. I’m just glad to know that it hasn’t affected our relationship, but added to it – I can’t wait to tell him more about them as he gets older and tell him how I hear the world.