Upde Designs

Happy Friday.  Another chapter in life has arrived for me.  Yesterday I received my hearing aids from the Clinic.  For some like me it is another crack in the persona of who you think you are.  I have resisted for several years and know that I have missed a lot of conversations, agreed to some things I didn’t even know that I had agreed to and frustrated a number of friends and acquaintances.  I’ve also been on the receiving end of jokes,  pranks, and teasing by others.  In the final decision process I did it mainly for the people I serve and care about.

Jeanne, in all the thousands of times she has had to repeat herself never once showed one slight hint of frustration with me.  She would simply repeat what she said with a smile on her face.  But then that is the special gift that Jeanne is.  I remember the frustration I had with my Father who also had a hearing loss and would ask for a repeat of almost everything.  Lesson learned = age is the stalker of us all and with it comes the loss of certain functions.  Most of us will experience hearing degradation as we get older and then will be faced with the decision I was.

In my work people share very confidential information with me and I’m honored that they do.  But when they do that it is normal to lower their voice.  In those instances I could see their lips moving but could only hear the 10,000 chirping crickets in my ears from the tinnitus and then would have to say “I can’t hear you.”  For the last several years I have gone to an ear specialist who has been matter of fact and not very empathic about my tinnitus and hearing loss.  I hadn’t been to him in over 5 years and this time he put his hand on my shoulder and informed me that he too now had tinnitus.  He said that it is a part of aging as well as from a series of loud noises.

So yesterday I head things I have not heard in years.  I actually had to tell a couple of people they didn’t have to talk so loud.  🙂  I have to go back for an adjustment this morning because there are some things I don’t want to hear but for the most part I am committed to making them a part of my life.

Hope you enjoy your Friday and have something good happen to you.  Thanks for stopping by and be careful.