Miss-Delectable
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Hickory Daily Record | No holding back
Lauren Ballard’s sandy blonde hair hides the hearing aides behind her ears. Her speech is immaculate. It’s hard to tell Ballard, 22, is deaf.
The clue comes if someone says hello when she’s not looking. Then people often think Ballard is rude or snobby. She’s far from it. Ballard’s hearing aides pick up on some things. For the most part, though, Ballard communicates by reading lips.
Ballard was born hard of hearing. She lost all her ability to hear any noises or movements her junior year at Freedom High School. Ballard didn’t let her impairment stop her from perusing a passion for music.
Since sixth grade, Ballard has played in school band. She started out playing flute and then in ninth grade switched to tuba because it was easier to pick up on the sound.
“As a child, I always loved music growing up,” Ballard said. “I would sing in church when I was 4 years old. I decided to join band after (the instructors) visited our elementary school. I enjoy it.
“Most folks don’t expect a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to play an instrument,” Ballard said. “Just because I’m deaf, doesn’t mean I can’t play an instrument. I don’t understand why people think that.”
Ballard brought her tuba with her when he came to Lenoir-Rhyne College two years ago. She’ll graduate in August with a degree in deaf and hard-of-hearing education with a minor in music.
Ballard has a job lined up in Avery County. She will work with the four children in the school system who are deaf or hard of hearing. She’ll work with them on social skills, language and some academic work. She plans to incorporate music into curriculum.
What life lessons do you hope to teach your students?
I want to help them learn to cope with everyday situations and frustrations. It’s frustrating when people think you are ignoring them or you are rude when really you can’t hear. I want them to know they are not alone. I never met anyone deaf until I came to Lenoir-Rhyne. I was 21! And, I live in Morganton with the School of the Deaf. There are four children (that I’ll be teaching). Three are at the same school. Hopefully the fourth one will be soon.
So is it hard being deaf and playing in a band?
Not really. If I can’t hear what measure the instructor wants us to play, I just ask the other tubas with me. When we play in P.E. Monroe (Auditorium on L-R’s campus) and we go into a break, sometimes I have to tell the instructor to speak louder. It does make a difference when I play in a larger group than individually. In concert band, I can’t hear the flutes or clarinets. The oboes get lost. I can hear brass and persecution. I just judge off the other tubas.
How has being hard of hearing made you the adult you are today?
It has for sure, especially with my career and personality in a lot of ways. I tend to be straightforward. I don’t hear a lot of things so I go straight to the point.
In three words how would you described yourself?
Very honest, that’s for sure. I’d say hard working. I don’t stop. And, I’m friendly.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Classical, jazz or anything that’s not vocal. I can’t understand the words.
What’s your ideal vacation?
Out of North Carolina. I’ve only been to North Carolina and Florida. I want to go out of the country someday. Or just go out of North Carolina someday.
You’re getting married soon, right? So is a honeymoon in the future?
Yes. I am getting married in September. We are going to a mountain house in Little Switzerland. It’s free, so why not?
If you could have dinner with anyone - dead or alive - who would it be and why?
The only person I’d love to meet is Evelyn Glennie. She’s a deaf percussionist over in England. She plays barefooted on stage so she can hear the rhythms.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time doesn’t exist at the moment between Lenoir-Rhyne and Harris Teeter. Right now, what time I do have consists of planning a wedding. I also like to read, just relax and go to the mountains.
Lauren Ballard’s sandy blonde hair hides the hearing aides behind her ears. Her speech is immaculate. It’s hard to tell Ballard, 22, is deaf.
The clue comes if someone says hello when she’s not looking. Then people often think Ballard is rude or snobby. She’s far from it. Ballard’s hearing aides pick up on some things. For the most part, though, Ballard communicates by reading lips.
Ballard was born hard of hearing. She lost all her ability to hear any noises or movements her junior year at Freedom High School. Ballard didn’t let her impairment stop her from perusing a passion for music.
Since sixth grade, Ballard has played in school band. She started out playing flute and then in ninth grade switched to tuba because it was easier to pick up on the sound.
“As a child, I always loved music growing up,” Ballard said. “I would sing in church when I was 4 years old. I decided to join band after (the instructors) visited our elementary school. I enjoy it.
“Most folks don’t expect a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to play an instrument,” Ballard said. “Just because I’m deaf, doesn’t mean I can’t play an instrument. I don’t understand why people think that.”
Ballard brought her tuba with her when he came to Lenoir-Rhyne College two years ago. She’ll graduate in August with a degree in deaf and hard-of-hearing education with a minor in music.
Ballard has a job lined up in Avery County. She will work with the four children in the school system who are deaf or hard of hearing. She’ll work with them on social skills, language and some academic work. She plans to incorporate music into curriculum.
What life lessons do you hope to teach your students?
I want to help them learn to cope with everyday situations and frustrations. It’s frustrating when people think you are ignoring them or you are rude when really you can’t hear. I want them to know they are not alone. I never met anyone deaf until I came to Lenoir-Rhyne. I was 21! And, I live in Morganton with the School of the Deaf. There are four children (that I’ll be teaching). Three are at the same school. Hopefully the fourth one will be soon.
So is it hard being deaf and playing in a band?
Not really. If I can’t hear what measure the instructor wants us to play, I just ask the other tubas with me. When we play in P.E. Monroe (Auditorium on L-R’s campus) and we go into a break, sometimes I have to tell the instructor to speak louder. It does make a difference when I play in a larger group than individually. In concert band, I can’t hear the flutes or clarinets. The oboes get lost. I can hear brass and persecution. I just judge off the other tubas.
How has being hard of hearing made you the adult you are today?
It has for sure, especially with my career and personality in a lot of ways. I tend to be straightforward. I don’t hear a lot of things so I go straight to the point.
In three words how would you described yourself?
Very honest, that’s for sure. I’d say hard working. I don’t stop. And, I’m friendly.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Classical, jazz or anything that’s not vocal. I can’t understand the words.
What’s your ideal vacation?
Out of North Carolina. I’ve only been to North Carolina and Florida. I want to go out of the country someday. Or just go out of North Carolina someday.
You’re getting married soon, right? So is a honeymoon in the future?
Yes. I am getting married in September. We are going to a mountain house in Little Switzerland. It’s free, so why not?
If you could have dinner with anyone - dead or alive - who would it be and why?
The only person I’d love to meet is Evelyn Glennie. She’s a deaf percussionist over in England. She plays barefooted on stage so she can hear the rhythms.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time doesn’t exist at the moment between Lenoir-Rhyne and Harris Teeter. Right now, what time I do have consists of planning a wedding. I also like to read, just relax and go to the mountains.