[nfb-db] new to the list

Sat Apr 18 18:48:01 UTC 2015

Hi Angelina, Gives me an opportunity to say hi to all these fine folks on
list whose posts I have been enjoying for quite a while, saying hi to you,
smile. Hmmm, is that even a sentence? I think I just gave myself a failing
grade, giggle. 

It has been quite an adventure learning I have hearing loss. I frankly
thought it started from a horrendous cold which lead to swollen glands. The
colds kept coming back year after year very similar to the first. I later
found out that wasn't the truth as I have a secondary disability which did
cause my hearing loss.

When it hit me the hearing was bad in my right ear, I was watching TV in
bed. I turned and someone must have turned my TV way down. I turned back to
see what was going on and the TV as was before. I cleaned out my ears the
next day and it didn't help. Well denial of the reality of hearing loss kept
coming up more and more. Like you I was nearly hit by a car and then I had
to do something. I called my VR counselor and said we have a problem. He
sent me for an E.N.T. evaluation and a hearing aid was recommended. I
thought it was a fairly minor drop but the chart said differently. That was
fifteen years ago. 

My question is do you ever get totally used to hearing loss? I don't think
so. You do learn to cope and be proud of who you are. But never to enjoy a
symphony fully. Never to really hear fully the birds singing across the
lake. Well there's tweeting over there, so come on over here birds so I can
better appreciate your songs. I heard an eagle in my backyard. Trust me
folks the coolest sound ever. When my husband is tired, his voice slurs. So
I have begun to imitate him. He doesn't like it so a subtle strain on our
marriage. When we are out I ask him to translate, if someone is not
listening when I ask them to slow there speech or whatever fits at the time.
Bugs me when I hear the person and my husband starts translating. So circle
and frankly I just retreat until I am ready to face the world again with my
normal smile and zest for life. Hearing is exhausting. Making people
understand you don't need them to scream, but listen to what I am saying. I
was in the freaking hospital for a test. The gal taking my insurance info
refused to speak up, refused to speak to me but kept looking down at the
paper she was trying to explain, thus muffling her voice. I had it and ask
for a Supervisor. I told the Supervisor she didn't train her personnel very
well and gave her the conversation the dim wit and I had. The volunteer that
came up behind me said later, what happened the young gals were shocked
looking. Nice of her to tell me, as she finally hopefully realized she was
guilty as charged. 

But many great persons are out there and will accommodate kindly. But you
have to speak up and be proud of who you are a deaf-blind person a first
class citizen.

So I have moved to digital hearing aide. I do need to go for another
evaluation as my hearing aid is really soft. I have the insurance approval
in hand, so no excuses, guilty grin. 

You know what, my friends still love me. My family still loves me. I the
wonderful person called Becky is still the same gal. I just can't hear as
well. 

I didn't go for the Stapes surgery as I was scared. So possibly in part I
could have received my hearing. But oh well life is still good and I am
still functioning well. My business is still doing really good and I am busy
loving every moment of life. I even taught a few classes over at the NFB
Krafters Korner,

www.krafterskorner.org <http://www.krafterskorner.org> 

I don't plan to this year, but who knows, smile. I am full of surprises,
giggle.  

Warmly,

Becky Frankeberger, and guide dog Jake

Butterfly Knitting

-           Ponchos

-           Afghans

-           Shawls

-           Custom Knitting

360-426-8389

becky at butterflyknitting.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/attachments/20150418/14747284/attachment.html>