I remember my amazement when I got my first pair of glasses. I had always known that trees had roots and rough bark and a lot of green on top. That's about as much as my first grade mind knew. When I put on my first pair of glasses, I was amazed that the trees had leaves and that I could see them.
Over the last couple of years, Betty and I have developed a friendship with a dear lady who is hearing impaired. She reads lips really well. She loves it when the TV is really loud and she can hear the music. She has taught us about being happy with your lot in life and relishing the simple pleasures that you do have.
I knew that I was having some difficulty understanding people when I couldn't see their faces. I knew that there was a possibility that I had lost some hearing, but I always just shrugged it off and kept on going.
Recently I began some routine health reviews at the VA clinic here. They suggested that I go through a hearing screening. In preparation for the screening, my ear canals were thoroughly cleaned. A large amount of wax had accumulated. I immediately could hear better and I thought I was done, but decided to have do the screening to be thorough.
The day of the hearing screening, I was told that there was a range of frequencies that I was missing in my left ear and that I would be a good candidate for a hearing aid. That gave me some time to think about what it would be like to wear a hearing aid. A time or two, I have given my aunts a hug to hear feedback coming from their ears. I could not imagine how I would be able to tolerate that.
Yesterday was the big day. I was fitted for a hearing aid and left the clinic to again experience the world of sound, but with a tiny device hidden behind my ear. The aging process had quietly taken tones from me without my being aware of it.
I've had two days experiencing the sounds around me with the same wonder that I felt a half a century ago when I put on my first glasses and discovered that trees have leaves. I'm enjoying the soft sounds of whispers and sighs. I'm enjoying the song birds of spring. I am enjoying Betty's conversation with our dog as she scurries around the house. Each of our five senses is a precious gift from God. I will cherish each of them every day of my life.
Over the last couple of years, Betty and I have developed a friendship with a dear lady who is hearing impaired. She reads lips really well. She loves it when the TV is really loud and she can hear the music. She has taught us about being happy with your lot in life and relishing the simple pleasures that you do have.
I knew that I was having some difficulty understanding people when I couldn't see their faces. I knew that there was a possibility that I had lost some hearing, but I always just shrugged it off and kept on going.
Recently I began some routine health reviews at the VA clinic here. They suggested that I go through a hearing screening. In preparation for the screening, my ear canals were thoroughly cleaned. A large amount of wax had accumulated. I immediately could hear better and I thought I was done, but decided to have do the screening to be thorough.
The day of the hearing screening, I was told that there was a range of frequencies that I was missing in my left ear and that I would be a good candidate for a hearing aid. That gave me some time to think about what it would be like to wear a hearing aid. A time or two, I have given my aunts a hug to hear feedback coming from their ears. I could not imagine how I would be able to tolerate that.
Yesterday was the big day. I was fitted for a hearing aid and left the clinic to again experience the world of sound, but with a tiny device hidden behind my ear. The aging process had quietly taken tones from me without my being aware of it.
I've had two days experiencing the sounds around me with the same wonder that I felt a half a century ago when I put on my first glasses and discovered that trees have leaves. I'm enjoying the soft sounds of whispers and sighs. I'm enjoying the song birds of spring. I am enjoying Betty's conversation with our dog as she scurries around the house. Each of our five senses is a precious gift from God. I will cherish each of them every day of my life.
5 comments:
Welcome to the world of aging. It seems to happen to all of us. I am considering a process where there is a metal pin implanted in the bone behind my right ear, to help me hear better. The hearing aids are not as effective as they were at one time. The doctor put a thing around my head with a hearing aid on it behind my ear and I could hear better than I had for years.
I am also seeing a doctor to check the Retina in my right eye. When I had an eye exam the doctor sent me to an optomologist and he referred me to a retina specialist. I will see him on the 15th of this month. When I had my eye exam, I could not read anything with my right eye.
A lady is living with me who is deaf. I don't look forward to loosing my hearing or sight. We will see.
I'm afraid I'm not too far behind you. I know I can't hear out of my left ear as well. Or maybe it's my right either way my hearing is imparied some. Maybe I should have listened to my mother about not listening to my music too loud. Maybe my own speakers have been blown. So one day I'm sure I will be sitting in a doctors office fitting my ear for the same device. . . at least we have them to improve life.
I remember when Don got his hearing aids. the lady who sold them said often men are really surprised at the sounds when they visit the men's room! haha... Don is wanting to get some new ones.
I got a real education tonight when I started the lawn mower without turning off my hearing aid first. I won't do that again.
It sounds like Mom is working at becoming the first bionic Grandma!
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