KMnO4
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2011
- Messages
- 24
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello. I have been lurking around this community for some time, and have finally decided to join.
I am 23 years old. 2 years ago, I began to lose my hearing very rapidly. There is a genetic history of hearing loss on my father's side of the family. Some of his relatives were born deaf. Most of his cousins (and him) just started experiencing hearing loss around their 30's. The onset of my hearing loss has been MUCH more rapid and much earlier in life than any of them. This could have possibly been exacerbated when I was an infant due to having surgery on both of my ears at 8 months. I had to get tubes put into my ears for an ear infection issue. I have a bilateral hearing loss to the tune of (for simplicities sake) about 90% hearing loss in my left ear, and ~80% in my right ear. It's very likely that in the next few years I could lose it entirely.
I haven't been handling it well. Over the course of the past 2 years I have gone to great lengths to hide my hearing loss. I see a speech therapist regularly to try to retain 'typical' sounding speech. I've had friends, family, doctors, and therapists pushing me to learn sign language. I have (quite angrily) refused to do it. I have had several people try to get me involved in local events/social groups for those with hearing impairments. I don't want to attend. I cover my hearing aids with my hair. I've gotten quite reclusive; Refusing to go out to restaurants or gatherings with friends, as I can't hear them over the din. I am also very, very bad at reading lips. I'm a BioChemistry graduate student, and am refusing to accept any sort of disability services at the college.
Needless to say, I can't go on like this. I'm reaching my breaking point. I'm frustrated all of the time, I'm angry all of the time, and I'm alone all of the time. But I am really, truly having a difficult time embracing this and moving forward with my life.
I hope that no one here will take offense to my anger/rejection toward my situation. I know that many people here very much embrace it... Which is why I am here. I find myself unable to take steps in a better direction in person. Perhaps I'm too stubborn, perhaps I'm too proud. So this is my first step. I feel more comfortable interacting, expressing myself, and asking for help over the internet. You guys are my first stepping stone.
I can only hope my interaction in this community will help me adjust.
~KMnO4
I am 23 years old. 2 years ago, I began to lose my hearing very rapidly. There is a genetic history of hearing loss on my father's side of the family. Some of his relatives were born deaf. Most of his cousins (and him) just started experiencing hearing loss around their 30's. The onset of my hearing loss has been MUCH more rapid and much earlier in life than any of them. This could have possibly been exacerbated when I was an infant due to having surgery on both of my ears at 8 months. I had to get tubes put into my ears for an ear infection issue. I have a bilateral hearing loss to the tune of (for simplicities sake) about 90% hearing loss in my left ear, and ~80% in my right ear. It's very likely that in the next few years I could lose it entirely.
I haven't been handling it well. Over the course of the past 2 years I have gone to great lengths to hide my hearing loss. I see a speech therapist regularly to try to retain 'typical' sounding speech. I've had friends, family, doctors, and therapists pushing me to learn sign language. I have (quite angrily) refused to do it. I have had several people try to get me involved in local events/social groups for those with hearing impairments. I don't want to attend. I cover my hearing aids with my hair. I've gotten quite reclusive; Refusing to go out to restaurants or gatherings with friends, as I can't hear them over the din. I am also very, very bad at reading lips. I'm a BioChemistry graduate student, and am refusing to accept any sort of disability services at the college.
Needless to say, I can't go on like this. I'm reaching my breaking point. I'm frustrated all of the time, I'm angry all of the time, and I'm alone all of the time. But I am really, truly having a difficult time embracing this and moving forward with my life.
I hope that no one here will take offense to my anger/rejection toward my situation. I know that many people here very much embrace it... Which is why I am here. I find myself unable to take steps in a better direction in person. Perhaps I'm too stubborn, perhaps I'm too proud. So this is my first step. I feel more comfortable interacting, expressing myself, and asking for help over the internet. You guys are my first stepping stone.
I can only hope my interaction in this community will help me adjust.
~KMnO4
...welcome aboard....there are many of us who are "late deafened", and have shared their stories here....so I understand where you are coming from......no worries!
and I see in your avatar that you live in DC. Is that correct? If so, there is a HUGE deaf community in DC.
