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Choices

© Jill Ann Smith

Everyone has choices to make during their lifetime. Hearing impairment doesn't come with a list of instructions, so you need to choose how you're going to handle your situation. Your choice will have everlasting repercussions you may not even be aware of, until you open up with others.

As time passes, the choice to face your hearing impairment head on becomes quite apparent. With any loss, you will experience some denial. I was tested by an audiologist at one of my jobs, but still ignored the fact I had a hearing loss. When I came to grips with the truth, I made the choice to live with my hearing loss.

Even now, I tend to slip a little especially when I'm facing a problem that I know will challenge my hearing. The fear creeps inside me causing me to feel uncomfortable and insecure. It's a natural process I still need to overcome.

Choices we have to make on a regular basis can be extremely difficult. Sometimes it helps to see how others in a similar predicament choose to make the best of their hearing problem. Then you don't come down so hard on yourself, when you are in a tough spot.

On a recent episode of Gideon's Crossing, Marlee Matlin played a deaf mother whose daughter wanted to have a cochlear implant operation. Mother and daughter were fighting about the young girl's choice to have the operation. The mother argued that her daughter only wanted to hear because her boyfriend was embarrassed of her deafness. When questioned by the doctor, the girl argued she was mature enough to make her choice to hear. The mother finally revealed she was afraid her daughter would no longer need her, once she could hear.

Communication helped the mother and daughter come to the same conclusion. I believe it's important to open up and express whatever fears you may be feeling when you're hearing impaired. Be sure you're able to vent your emotions to others, when the other person can be a welcome recipient. Otherwise, all there will be are hurt feelings on both sides. Choosing to air your grievances can be a good step if both parties are calm and thinking rational.

After all, the hearing people aren't aware of your struggles unless they hear them from you. The time you give to communicating your side will be time well spent. The choice to be a part of the mainstream is something you'll discover wasn't as frightening as you imagined it to be.