Now that I can hear again I'm starting to think about the changes other people have had to make for my hearing impairment. Apart from the obvious ones like writing or typing a conversation or learning to speak slowly and clearly; friends and family changed their communicative behaviour when around me.
They became so good at it that they still do it, even though I can hear them now. My husband and youngest son are still signing, pointing and tapping me on my arm to get my attention. This morning my husband tapped me on my arm and then waited for me to turn around and face him before he spoke. I didn't face him so he tapped again. I eventually had to remind him that he could just speak and I would listen. My youngest son still 'mouths' words so I can lip read him. I have to remind him to speak! My eldest son hasn't stopped talking. We haven't really spoken in three months and he has a lot of talking to make up.
My work friends are still using their hands to enhance meaning and writing things down. Some are still asking "can you hear me?" like they just can't believe I can go from profoundly deaf one day to hearing the next.
So far, in the last five days I've listen to the radio and recognised songs, I've used the phone (my beloved iphone) with an audio cable, I've listened to music through a speaker while exercising, I've socialised happily and easily participated in conversations, I've watched TV and understood about half the spoken words (still have text on to help), I've heard a knock on the door, and I've heard people in other rooms of the house. This cochlear implant is truly a little miracle. Imagine, deaf one day, hearing the next!
x
