Self-perception has been on my mind lately. I’ve been thinking about how my cochlear implants changed how I see myself and my deafness. Before my implants, I was very tough on myself. I took full responsibility for communication and felt...
My Cochlear Implant Journey, Part 17: A Short Trip Away From Home
Taking My Ears on the Road About a month after my second implant was activated and I was hearing from both ears, I decided to take a short venture away from home. It was not to test my hearing but...
My Cochlear Implant Journey, Part 16: Bilateral Heaven
Deciding to get cochlear implants is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Having two implants has taken the experience to the next level — being able to hear in both ears is bilateral heaven. I have a greater...
My Cochlear Implant Journey, Part 15: Activating My Second Cochlear Implant
Now that I have two cochlear implants, I’m done with hearing aids permanently. About a week after my surgery, I tried wearing my hearing aid but there was no sound. I realized I was completely deaf now. The attempt to...
My Cochlear Implant Journey, Part 14: Going Under the Knife, Take Two
I said goodbye to the last of my natural hearing on June 24, 2019, when I underwent surgery for my second cochlear implant, this time for my right ear. This second surgery was almost exactly a year after my first...
My Cochlear Implant Journey, Part 13: Deciding to Get a Second Cochlear Implant
There are several reasons I decided to take this journey again. I realize with all the positive outcomes of having just the left implant, it may seem unnecessary, so I’ll try to explain. For one thing, my right ear uses...
Diabetes & Hearing Loss: What’s the Deal?
Are hearing impairment and diabetes connected? More than you might think. Hearing loss — which affects an estimated one of every five Americans — is twice as common among people living with diabetes, making healthy habits and regular hearing checkups...