I was diagnosed with hearing loss when I was three years old. I am completely deaf in my left ear and partially in my right. I didn’t realize how much of the world I was missing out on until I got hearing aids. According to my attached hearing test I was/am missing 75% of speech. My grades were horribly compromised, I struggled to hear my peers, teachers, and friends, and I couldn’t hear someone approaching me. Once I got my hearing aids my D’s turned to A’s, it wasn’t stressful to communicate with other people, I was more aware of my surroundings, and my lisp that had formed as an effect of my hearing loss-went away. I also learned that I was exerting a lot of energy just to hear. Something I shouldn’t even have to think about doing. In effect, my parent’s and myself noticed a change in my behavior because I wasn’t under this excess stress.
Now that I am 24 years old, the hearing aids that I had as a child are just so old that they no longer work. I have been without hearing aids for too long now. I can’t hear my alarm, phone calls, or text messages so I have set my phone to set off a blinding light whenever it needs to get my attention. My family and others get frustrated sometimes because it is so bright and very distracting. I frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves which gets embarrassing after a while because it’s consistent.
I used to have health insurance with Cigna and they wouldn’t help me with my hearing aids because they deemed them “elective”. I finally got a new job working at a hotel as a front desk associate and I have to wait 90 days before I am able to sign up with Cigna again. Therefore, I will still be responsible for the full amount of my hearing aids. This new job will help me save for my hearing aids and I even made a go fund me to help with the costs. So far I have fundraised $1025.00 for my hearing aids! The hearing aids I need are called Oticon Cros. It will be a hearing aid for my right ear then a transmitter that goes on my left ear and will send sounds coming from my left side to my right side. I’ve had that style hearing aids before and they are the perfect fit for me! What is really cool about them is that I can tell which side the sound is coming from.
As an adult I have faced some hardships and danger with not being able to hear. One incident I was at home sleeping in my bed and someone broke into my apartment and I didn’t hear them break in. Thank goodness that I had a lock on my bedroom door otherwise who knows what could have happened! Another incident: my cat flooded my apartment and the tenant who lived below me- all because I didn’t hear the water running. My cat accrued over 5k in damages. When the firefighters body slammed their way into my apartment it scared me to my soul! At the time I didn’t know what was happening! I thought that I was grave danger because at the time 4 men very aggressively and powerfully bulldozed through my apartment-the thoughts going through my head wasn’t anything good. This all could have been prevented if I could have been able to hear and been more aware of my surroundings.
Being a person that is deaf and hard of hearing experiencing life through the pandemic has been more difficult than ever. I read lips to help me communicate with others, and now that there is a mask mandate covering people’s mouths I have an even more difficult time hearing others. Then with an added plexi glass partition for added safety has made working and hearing others near impossible. I think now that others have experienced what it is like trying to hear someone through a mask, you have been given an idea what it is like in the world of someone who is deaf/hard of hearing. Now imagine, already being deaf and hard of hearing and then trying to go about in a world where lips are covered and voices are more muffled
As of recent, I have put myself through school to be a teacher! I am very excited and blessed that I will be teaching students English as a second language. What worries me is that I won’t be able to hear what my students are saying. Being a teacher has its own challenges without having to worry about the number one most important thing which is communication. So much of my energy is taken up by straining myself to be able to hear. Teaching will be my life and it’s important not only for me to be safer but also for me to be able to provide a better learning experience for my students.
Something’s people take for granted. That they don’t realize that they would miss if they couldn’t hear. I miss hearing the rain, I miss hearing children laugh, and I miss hearing older people tell their stories. I miss out on so much with not being able to hear and I want to be a part of life again!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/hearing-aids-for-working-american-kate-andree
About the Creator
Dreamer
Just a 24 year old woman that has enough crazy stories than most people in their 40 years of life have never experienced! Cursed? Or just a matter of inconvenience-Don't worry-it always turns out alright!
Young woman just chasing my dreams!!
Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts10 days ago in Longevity
How to Read More: 12 Book-ish Things to Help Clear Your To-Read List
If your to-read list keeps growing faster than you can turn pages, you’re not alone. Many book lovers dream of reading more, yet struggle to find the time, focus, or momentum to actually do it. Between busy schedules, digital distractions, and reading slumps, even the most enthusiastic readers can feel stuck. The good news? Reading more isn’t about speed or pressure—it’s about building habits that fit naturally into your life. Here are 12 book-ish, practical ways to finally start clearing that to-read list and rediscover the joy of reading. 1. Ditch the Guilt Around Unfinished Books Not every book is meant for you at this moment. If a title isn’t clicking after a fair try, give yourself permission to stop. Letting go of unread or half-read books creates mental space—and motivation—for books you’ll truly enjoy. 2. Read Multiple Books at Once Contrary to popular belief, reading several books simultaneously can boost your reading life. A novel for bedtime, a non-fiction book for mornings, and a short story collection for quick breaks allow you to read according to your mood and energy level. 3. Always Carry a Book (or E-Reader) Idle moments add up. Waiting in lines, commuting, or sitting between appointments can become reading time if you always have a book handy. Even 10 minutes a day can translate into dozens of finished books over a year. 4. Set a Daily Page Goal—Not a Time Goal Instead of saying “I’ll read for 30 minutes,” try “I’ll read 10 pages.” Page goals feel more achievable and measurable, helping you maintain consistency without feeling overwhelmed. 5. Replace Doom-Scrolling With Page-Turning Social media often steals reading time without us realizing it. Try a simple rule: read for 10 minutes before opening any social app. This small habit shift can dramatically increase your reading hours. 6. Create a Reading Ritual Rituals train your brain to associate reading with comfort. Whether it’s reading with morning tea, before bed, or during lunch breaks, attaching books to a routine makes reading automatic rather than optional. 7. Make Your To-Read List Work for You An endless list can feel intimidating. Break it into smaller categories like “Read This Month,” “Quick Reads,” or “Comfort Books.” Prioritizing makes the list motivating instead of stressful. 8. Embrace Audiobooks Without Shame Audiobooks count. Whether you’re driving, cooking, or exercising, listening to books keeps stories flowing through your life. Many readers find audiobooks help them finish more titles than print alone. 9. Read What Excites You—Not What You “Should” Read Reading isn’t a competition. If thrillers, romance, or fantasy excite you, read them proudly. Enjoyment is the strongest motivator for consistency, not literary prestige. 10. Join a Reading Community Book clubs, reading challenges, or online communities create accountability and excitement. Discussing books with others can reignite enthusiasm and introduce you to titles you might never pick up otherwise. 11. Track Your Reading Progress Seeing progress is powerful. Whether through a reading journal, app, or simple checklist, tracking books read reinforces your habit and gives a sense of accomplishment that fuels momentum. 12. Reread Old Favorites When motivation is low, return to a beloved book. Rereading reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place and often acts as a gateway back to new books. Reading More Is About Kindness, Not Discipline Clearing your to-read list doesn’t require superhuman focus or massive lifestyle changes. It’s about removing pressure, choosing joy, and building small habits that last. When reading becomes something you look forward to—rather than another task—it naturally finds its place in your day. Books aren’t meant to be conquered; they’re meant to be experienced. Start small, stay curious, and let stories meet you where you are. Your to-read list will shrink—not through force, but through love.
By Fiazahmedbrohi a day ago in Longevity
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