countrywriter7
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi, I just found this site today while hunting for a forum on Usher's Syndrome. I was reading a blog post from Lipreading Mom last week. She had a special feature from someone who was HOH and blind. It was very interesting for me since I am HOH and losing my vision rapidly. She also mentioned balance issues (another issue of mine).
So I started researching. I thought I would post here in case someone had any suggestions or ideas. Here's my story...
I am about to turn 50 yrs old. Since I was a young child, I had vision problems. Not too bad when young but worsening as I got older. I was in bifocals by age 25 (very embarrassing). By 30, I was in trifocals.
By my early 20s I started losing my hearing. I also began to have balance issues but not that badly. As I reached my 30s my hearing was bad enough that I had trouble with background noise and word discrimination. By early 40s I had to wear aids. Now they really don't help much. It is mainly word discrimination that is harder for me.
About 4 yrs ago I started losing my ability to see certain colors. I can still see some but only those that are very clear. I can tell some shades - like it is some type of red or blue but not exact color. LIke I can't always tell between red and orange.
Now my vision continues to worsen faster than my hearing is. I am a visual learner. I have to be honest that it scares me to death. I'm not sure how to handle it. What really gets me is I am in my internship for my masters in counseling. It is getting harder for me to hear everything my clients say. This makes me mad. I have worked my butt off earning this degree. Then my hearing and vision goes haywire faster than ever.
Then there is my balance. Some days I can't even walk across the room straight. I stagger like a drunk. I have to use a cane. Other days I am fine with only a little wobbling. I can't count the number of times I have fallen. I messed up my back falling on the stairs one time. I couldn't judge the distance and slipped.
Professionally, I am a speaker and a writer. I teach classes to adults on various topics like leadership, communication skills, and health. Needless to say, this is becoming harder with the hearing.
I don't mean to sound whiny, but these things are becoming so bothersome I don't know what to do. When I read that post from Lipreading Mom, I was like...'Could this be the answer to why this is happening??' I know my grandfather had hearing and vision issues. Just not sure what. My father was born blind (I was told) but had surgery to restore his vision.
I have an eye appt with an ophthalmologist this coming month. I would love suggestions as to what to ask him about.
BTW, I do know sign. It's just been a while since I used it regularly. I am not around any Deaf people f2f. I have some friends online. I have a degree in Deaf Education but haven't taught in a school in forever. I don't like my worsening hearing but I can deal with it. It is my eyes that really get me.
I have been blind as a bat at night for about 5 or 6 yrs. It is so now I do not drive at night. I know they will legally withdraw that privilege next time I renew my license. My side vision is getting narrower.
Ok, enough. I did say I was a writer. I tend to be long-winded. I hope you can have some suggestions.
So I started researching. I thought I would post here in case someone had any suggestions or ideas. Here's my story...
I am about to turn 50 yrs old. Since I was a young child, I had vision problems. Not too bad when young but worsening as I got older. I was in bifocals by age 25 (very embarrassing). By 30, I was in trifocals.
By my early 20s I started losing my hearing. I also began to have balance issues but not that badly. As I reached my 30s my hearing was bad enough that I had trouble with background noise and word discrimination. By early 40s I had to wear aids. Now they really don't help much. It is mainly word discrimination that is harder for me.
About 4 yrs ago I started losing my ability to see certain colors. I can still see some but only those that are very clear. I can tell some shades - like it is some type of red or blue but not exact color. LIke I can't always tell between red and orange.
Now my vision continues to worsen faster than my hearing is. I am a visual learner. I have to be honest that it scares me to death. I'm not sure how to handle it. What really gets me is I am in my internship for my masters in counseling. It is getting harder for me to hear everything my clients say. This makes me mad. I have worked my butt off earning this degree. Then my hearing and vision goes haywire faster than ever.
Then there is my balance. Some days I can't even walk across the room straight. I stagger like a drunk. I have to use a cane. Other days I am fine with only a little wobbling. I can't count the number of times I have fallen. I messed up my back falling on the stairs one time. I couldn't judge the distance and slipped.
Professionally, I am a speaker and a writer. I teach classes to adults on various topics like leadership, communication skills, and health. Needless to say, this is becoming harder with the hearing.
I don't mean to sound whiny, but these things are becoming so bothersome I don't know what to do. When I read that post from Lipreading Mom, I was like...'Could this be the answer to why this is happening??' I know my grandfather had hearing and vision issues. Just not sure what. My father was born blind (I was told) but had surgery to restore his vision.
I have an eye appt with an ophthalmologist this coming month. I would love suggestions as to what to ask him about.
BTW, I do know sign. It's just been a while since I used it regularly. I am not around any Deaf people f2f. I have some friends online. I have a degree in Deaf Education but haven't taught in a school in forever. I don't like my worsening hearing but I can deal with it. It is my eyes that really get me.
I have been blind as a bat at night for about 5 or 6 yrs. It is so now I do not drive at night. I know they will legally withdraw that privilege next time I renew my license. My side vision is getting narrower.
Ok, enough. I did say I was a writer. I tend to be long-winded. I hope you can have some suggestions.