I am, however, still having problems with my ears. The ear pieces are now fitting perfectly, but my very sensistive ears are still not happy. I so looked forward to wearing my new hearing aids at the sea and hearing all sort of new sounds, but it wasn't to be. Just before we left, I took a course of antibiotics – I've been through so many this year – and my ears weren't quite back to normal by the time we left.

Advertisement

Holiday blues
This resulted in my not being able to wear my hearing aids for much of the time during the holiday. I tried every now and then, but they became sore again. I have now given my ears a proper chance to heal, even though it was very frustrating to live in silence again. But from two weeks ago, I have been putting on the hearing aids again for short stretches of time, so that my ears can get used to them again.

I learnt a new sound this holiday – the "ch"- sound as found in the name Charmaine. I stayed with wonderful people who went to a lot of trouble to help me with my speech.

Hearing important at work
It is very important for me to wear my hearing aids and be able to hear while I am working. While at work, I look down onto my hands all the time, so I don't hear when the clients are talking to me. When I am wearing the hearing aids, I can hear when they are talking to me and I can look up in order to lip read. So the heraing aids are really helping a lot.

I don't actually know if my ear problems will ever disappear, but the hearing aids of Widex have been great, and has fuelled my desire to be able to hear. But because my ears aren't comfortable being so closed up by the hearing aids, and they perspire a lot, I started making enquiries last year in order to try and find a permanent solution which would enable me to hear without wearing ear pieces at all.

Possibility of cochlear implants
I landed up with Professor Swart and his team, who do cochlear implants. At the beginning of December I went for X-rays to see whether my cochlea would be at all suitable to receive implants. According to the X-rays everything looks fine, but I am now waiting anxiously to hear what the doctors have decided about my case, and whether they will be prepared to do the operation.

At night I dream that I can hear and talk properly, and in my dreams I communicate with those closest to me in the manner in which I would like to communicate with them. Communication is still often a problem for me and my confidence regarding this still needs a lot of work, but thanks to Widex and the fact that I can hear when I am wearing the hearing aids, things are progressing slowly, but surely.

I really missed my speech therapy these holidays. My speech therapist has finished her studies and left, so I will probably get a new therapist this year. We will have to get to know each other and take the time to adapt. But I don't expect problems. I enjoy doing speech therapy and it makes me feel that I am progressing.

I have decided to make speech and hearing a priority in my life this year. Last year I started doing this, but there were many other things that demanded attention from me, but I was proud of the progress I made with regards to hearing and speech therapy. There were people who thought it would be useless, because my level of deafness was so high, but I have learnt in my life that where there is a will, there is a way. And with a wonderfully supportive team like that of Widex, it becomes even more possible.
 

Print this article

Rate this article Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

JOBS

Civil Engineering Technician Gauteng - Johannesburg Accountant Gauteng - North/Sandton Financial Manager R550,000-600,000 Per Annum Central African Republic Financial Accountant R300,000-340,000 Per Annum Gauteng Treasury Specialist R500,000-630,000 Per Annum Gauteng - East Rand Credit Manager R300,000-400,000 Per Annum Mpumalanga Financial Manager R27,000-30,000 Per Month Gauteng - North/Sandton Delphi developers Gauteng - North/Sandton Find more jobs Register your CV Post a job