Success in a Twilight World

My digital Phonak hearing aids enable me to blend seamlessly into modern life. They give me both a place and voice in the world. With a hearing loss since the age of 2 years old due to a suspected bout of meningitis, sound is a gift to cherish.

 

At the age of 4, I received my first hearing aids. There began a journey of awe and wonder as a I rushed to discover what all these new sounds belonged to.

 

I was determined that my hearing loss would not stop me doing anything I wanted to do. I learnt to row even with the angst of my audiologist (most hearing aids are not waterproof!), went through mainstream education with great success and attended one of the world's top universities. I do not tell this to boast, but to highlight the potentials that embracing hearing aids can bring and to raise the often low and negative profile of young people with hearing loss. There are many of us who have met with success, although there is still a lot of work to be done. Many young children with hearing loss in the UK go through mainstream education, and some, like me, hardly meet another deaf person in their lives.

 

Hearing aids do not solve everything. There is frustration, hurt and anger at a lack of understanding. Hearing loss is often 'invisible', especially with those who wear hearing aids. Young, successful professionals with hearing aids are good at 'covering up' and our loss is not obvious. There are many more of us than most governments and companies seem to think and we make a positive contribution to the economy and society. Yet in invisibility, we live in a twilight world.

 

There are things I still miss out on - spontaneous telephone conversations make me nervous, and group conversations can be difficult to keep up with. Nevertheless, I can't imagine life without my hearing aids and they improve my quality of life in a priceless way.

 

Hear the World presents a platform where hearing can have the attention it deserves. A space where both perfect hearing and hearing loss can be celebrated and understood. Where both worlds of sound, hearing and hearing loss can meet without stigma and negative stereotypes that should have no place in the digital age.

 

The V & A museum in London had a recent exhibition of innovative design for hearing aids called 'HearWear' from top designers. Think of silver noise control necklaces, snazzy ear pieces, a loop system with ipod style earplugs for bars and restaurants. The standard hearing aid model has not changed much, even though its functions have, and Phonak has been one of the world's leaders in this. There was the eyewear revolution. Let's roll in the Hear wear revolution. Phonak - will you stand up to attention and act on this? I want to feel good with my hair tied back, and I'm sure men would appreciate it too!

 

I have another challenge for Phonak: will you capitalise on this huge breakthrough to discover the hip, successful and proud twenty-somethings who live with hearing loss and wear Phonak hearing aids? Will you step into the unknown and go where others have feared to tread? Will you give us the chance to be leaders seen and heard in the revolution of sound?

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