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At the age of 19, I was diagnosed with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss - considerable damage to the inner ear on both sides - and wear a pair of hearing aids (Widex). Whilst I have a degree of residual hearing, much of my hearing is now permanently lost. Understanding speech is especially challenging for me and I rely heavily on lipreading, which I think I’m becoming pretty skilled at now *flicks hair*. High pitched sounds are a lost cause, though (think fire alarms and birdsong). My hearing aids are helpful in many environments and situations, but they will never restore “full” hearing (a common misunderstanding, I find). I also have Epilepsy, which I was diagnosed with shortly after I began to lose my hearing (purely coincidental, apparently!) The causes behind my Epilepsy and hearing loss are unknown. 

 

Medical conditions aside, I am mother to two beautiful Ragdoll cats (anticipate guest appearances across the blog), a Friends enthusiast, bibliophile, and lover of language (Susie Dent is my idol.) Inspired by members of the Deaf Community, and Deaf and Disability advocates with a strong online presence, I made an exciting decision: to write a blog. My intent is for the blog to hopefully contribute in some small way to improving Disability Awareness within society, through drawing on my personal experiences and encouraging readers to engage in conversations about Disability - and challenge preconceived misperceptions they may not have been aware they held.

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Enjoy!

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