People Who "Get it"
By Denise Portis
Editor: Here's another great article by Denise Portis. This one is
about people who "get it" and people who don't. I've often
wondered what it is that separates those who "get it" from
those who don't. If you have thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hearing loss is often referred to as the invisible disability. Some
will argue that it is NOT a disability. I think people who think that
however, do not have a degree of hearing loss in which their life is
different because of it. If hearing loss does not cause you to miss out
on what is being said, and has not directly affected your communication,
it really isn't a disability - yet. If you have a progressive hearing
loss, you eventually scrape together the money to buy a hearing aid, and
then assistive devices, and perhaps eventually a cochlear implant. You
recognize the fact that you have a disability and learn to live with it.
I have people in my life who do not "get it". It is
unfortunate that these people are close to me - or at least use to be.
When they question why I wear my cochlear implant coil where everyone
can see it, and even decorate it with "implant bling", I
realize they believe I'm drawing attention to the fact that I have a
hearing loss. Recently partnered with a hearing assistance dog, Chloe, I
have learned that instead of being proud of all of the hard work I have
put into my training they question why I would want to have a dog
partnered with me in public.
Sometimes I think that I have done them a disservice in that I was
not very open about how my progressive hearing loss affected my life. I
did not let them see the pain, the isolation, the depression, the eating
disorders, and the suicidal thoughts. I survived all of that, and am a
better person for it. Perhaps if I had been more transparent, they would
rejoice with me in what I am hearing with the cochlear implant. Instead
they continually forget what my implant is even called and refer to it
as "that thing". If they had seen how I was "then",
perhaps they would see how independent I have become and embrace
assistive listening devices, and hearing assistance dogs.
The people in my life who "get it", are my immediate family
as my hearing loss has affected them as well. Knowing that one day my
"empty nest" will have a dog to alert me to our alarm, the
phone and the door when Terry is out of town gives them stability and
relief. "Mom" is going to be ok.
Other people who "get it", are people who also have hearing
loss or someone in their family does. They "get it", because
they live it. They understand. I receive not only emotional support, but
even spiritual encouragement from so many of them. They know what
hearing loss can do, and they also know how strong it can make you with
supportive people around you.
I do have one person in my life; a dear friend named Sandy. I am her
only link to hearing loss. Everything she has learned about hearing loss
has really been from my family and I. She was my "cheerleader"
all through the research I did for the cochlear implant, and she has
been supportive of every assistive listening device I have purchased in
order to teach better. She also knew nothing about hearing assistance
dogs, and yet greatly supports the fact that I will have my partner with
me next school year... in her school. Because I know so many people who
"don't get it"... even some very close to me, I don't really
understand why Sandy "does". However, I am grateful for it!
I think the internet is a fantastic thing. I have "found"
people just like me all over the country... even the world. I have
access to wonderful yahoo groups like bhnews, and Hearing Dog Teams,
many HLAA chapter/state groups, and message boards like
myhearingloss.org. I receive digests via email from superb newsletters
like HOH-LD News (Hard-of-hearing/Late deafened) and some Google groups
related to hearing loss. As members voice their concerns, and questions,
other members rally and respond. I believe it has revolutionized the
hearing loss community. For you see, we understand this invisible
disability... and realize its ok to make it visible. Through education,
advocacy, and support we shed some light on a disability that was once
in the dark. I appreciate my association with people who "get
it".
I'll always have people in my life who "don't get it". I
can try to educate them and respond to them in a positive way. I can do
this because of the support I have from people who do "get
it". However, those people who do not no longer have any influence
or power over who I am or who I will be.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhNEWS/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hearingdogteams/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/txhll/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HLA-LA/
http://www.nchearingloss.org/
http://www.myhearingloss.org/forum
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOH-LD-News/
http://groups.google.com/group/hearinglosshaven
Denise Portis
(c)2007 Hearing Loss Diary
