Hi everyone, as some of you know I am partially deaf in my right ear.
I was diagnosed last year but have been living with this substantial hearing loss for they reckon five years or more.
I was born with glue ear which is when you have fluid behind the ear drum. It was treated but what commonly happens is due to the trail of ear infections glue ear tends to leave, you will likely lose hearing in at least one ear.
Unfortunately for me, my trouble with hearing was often put down to me “not listening” or me being “intellectually challenged” or me being “a very nervous person.”
However, last year I met with an audiologist who figured out that I had spent most of my life filling in the gaps of speech like you would with a crossword puzzle. I would get little hints of words and use my knowledge of social context to figure out what the person was saying.
When the audiologist took away the context and just gave me single words, the drop was apparently the worst she had ever seen. I had gone from “pretty good” to “flat out terrible.”
Since using hearing aids, my energy levels have improved massively. I am no longer having to work so hard to hear and understand. I am enjoying watching programmes without feeling like running a marathon. I can interact better in groups and I am slowly realising that I am not stupid, I just have a disability that makes it harder to hear.
I’m sharing my story because I feel many of us are falling through the cracks of the current health system because we have learnt to “cope” and “problem solve.” What happens however is that we begin to feel that we are stupid because we have to work harder to meet societal expectations without any recognition or help for our disadvantages.
By telling my story I hope that this helps raise awareness for those of us who have been let down by the current health system. You are not alone and you are most certainly not stupid.
Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month! 💖 Also yes, that’s my simself XD
Warmed Silence || Deaf!Bakugou x Fem!Reader [ Request ]
@hopebluesworld
[ Out going Text ] When I get back from London, we’re celebrating your graduation! 😁✌ First drinks on me, okay?
[ Incoming Text: Bakugou ] Already breaking the laws, huh? Fine, just make sure it’s the good stuff. The last crap you got us had you vomitting for hours.
[ Incoming Text: Bakugou ] And thnx. See you when you get back.
The call came in at 3 in the morning. You had just woken up for an early morning jog when you saw your former homeroom teacher’s name flash in the darkness.
“Ma’am!! You can’t run in the hospital!!”
Mr. Aizawa calling...
Four missed calls...
9 text messages unread...
“Ma’am, stop!! You have to check in!!”
It was pointless trying to stop you. You were a woman on a fucking mission and you’d be damned if anyone was going to stop you from getting up to his room.
[ Incoming Text: Mr. Aizawa ] Bakugou’s been hurt. You need to take the first flight home. Your agency is sending someone to replace you.
Just keep running, just keep going. You’ll find him soon. He’ll be okay and you won’t have to worry anymore. He’ll be alright, you’ll see. You’ll see, you’ll see this is Katsuki, right? He was at the top of his class, he was unstoppable. Is unstoppable. Aizawa was always messing with his students, psyching them out so they were prepared for the worse. It was just in his nature to make you panic so you would see the silver lining in things that would otherwise seem hopeless.
[ Outgoing Text ] Very funny.
[ Incoming Text : Mr Aizawa ] If you want to be here for him, you need to get the first flight you can get back to Japan.
He just liked to mess with you...
[ Outgoing Text ] What do you mean hurt?
He wanted you to see the silver lining...
[ Outgoing Call Rejected : Mr. Aizawa ]
[ Outgoing Call Rejected : Mr. Aizawa ]
[ Outgoing Call Rejected : Mr. Aizawa ]
[ Outgoing Call Rejected : Mr. Aizawa ]
There was no way someone could hurt him...
[ Outgoing Text ] Fuck Shouta
[ Outgoing Text ] what the fuck is going on
[ Outgoing Call Rejected : Mr. Aizawa ]
[ Outgoing Call Rejected : Mr. Aizawa ]
[ Outgoing Text ] FUCKING ANSWER ME
[ Outgoing Text ] what do you mean he got hurt what the hell happened?????
Bakugou was going to be fine.
[ Outgoing Text ] I got a flight, I need you to call me.
You slammed against the elevator, letting out a swear as you fought at the tears stinging at the back of your eyes. You slammed your finger against the button, pounded on the metal doors to try and will them down faster. Everyone and everything was moving too slow, dragging and clawing at your confidence with every extended minute. "Come on!!” In one last ditch effort, you kicked at the door, causing a loud Bang! to filter out through the hallway. It must have been the last straw for hospital security, judging by how quickly they rounded their desk and started towards you.
Stairs it was then.
The thick smell of fresh paint burned at your nostrils. You took the stairs 3 at a time, bounding up them as quickly as you could, recovering quickly with any stumble that you took in your adrenaline-fueled state. You took solace in the way your pants and grunts reverberated off the walls, letting you know that this wasn’t a dream. This was real. In the oddest of ways, it kept you grounded. You couldn’t escape this nightmare, there was no waking up and showering it off. There was no laughing about it later or tucking it under your pillow to worry about the next night.
This wasn’t going to go away.
You threw the heavy door with the ICU plaque next to it. Your lungs were screaming now, your face burning from exertion. You didn’t waste time with arbitrary questions such as “which way should I go” or “should I try calling Mr. Aizawa again”. You would rip open every damn door in this hospital if it meant finding Bakugou. Your feet took the initiative, taking off down the hallway in front of you.
You couldn’t count the twists and turns you took. There were no doctors or nurses in sight - hell, you would have taken the security detail that had seemed determined to put a stop to you damaging their property. The longer you took trying to find any shred of a sign to Bakugou’s whereabouts, the more you felt the bile rising in your stomach. He was supposed to be here. He had to be on this floor. Where else would they keep him? What would they do with him? Where would he go?
It was by sheer luck that you saw the shaggy mop of black hair out of the corner of your eye. Even though it had been two years since you graduated - and five years since you had him as a teacher altogether - Aizawa Shouta hadn’t changed in the least bit. And it was his grounding presence that you needed in that very moment. With a jerk, you skidded to a stop. You stumbled only a little but quickly pushed yourself back and up off the floor. You called out his name and you had been certain he would have told you to shut up. He should have told you to quiet down, that Bakugou was resting.
That thought didn’t sit right with you. If Bakugou wasn’t resting nearby...
“You got here faster than I expected.” He said, eyeing you slowly. His tone, though ever still and unwavering, was sympathetic.
“Where is he?”
His expression didn’t change, regarding you as coldly as ever. There was no way you were going to take this news well, he knew that. Even if he did find a way to soften the blow, there was no doubt you and Katsuki were close. This was going to be devastating for you either way.
So better to just let you see it than beat around the bush.
“He’s in there. He should be up, so go ahead in.”
...just like that? He was just going to let you in? After creating such a fuss over Bakugou being hurt? Looks like you had been right. Aizawa was just making this seem worse than it was. But...you couldn’t shake the chunk of ice settled in the pit of your stomach. You swallowed thickly, before nodding. It didn’t matter, whatever happened, you could handle it. So long as he was going to be okay. So long as he was alive...
You moved past him, feeling his eyes follow you as you walked towards the door. Like ripping off a band-aid, you pushed the door to the side and peered in.
And there he was, sitting up with his back towards you. With the opened back of the hospital gown he was wearing, you could see the scars and stitches dotting his skin. Even though you were no stranger to seeing them, any new additions made you feel sick.
The room was warmed by the large bay window he was focused on staring out of. You could see the sun sparkling through the ever-shifting green of the leaves on the trees outside, casting shadows over the far wall. The window was open, allowing warm air to filter through and dance around the room. You could hear cars passing by, the sounds of birds singing their evening songs before disappearing into the trunks and branches. It was beautiful. So absolutely peaceful in fact that your lover friend found himself lost to it and remained blissfully unaware of your presence behind him
“Katsuki...?” You tried, slipping fully into the room. The door shut gently behind you with a clack.
And yet he didn’t move. He remained focused on the window.
Despite the warm spring air, you couldn’t neglect the chill that ran over you. It normally didn’t take him this long to take note of you in his personal bubble. You two had made it a point in the past few years you knew each other to acknowledge the other at least. Perhaps it was shock? Maybe it had been too close a call? Maybe it was -
You took a step forward but stopped. You hadn’t seen it before, too happy to see him alive to actually take his person into account. Wrapped around his head was a thick layer of bandages, placed all the way down to his ears. And when you noticed the red discoloration in the center, your entire body froze. It was like a punch to the gut, a slap to the face.
No...no, no, no, no...
It doesn’t take long to make your way across the hospital room and around the bed. Those bright red eyes the same ones you had fallen in love with focused on the window, watching the birds dance along the branches. Their song was beautiful, the pitch rising and falling with each call and response. But you knew - Katsuki Bakugou could not hear them.
Your first thought was to say his name, to try and get his attention. And without thinking, you opened your mouth to call out to him. Maybe you were wrong, maybe he just hurt his head and...no, even you couldn’t lie to yourself. The blood was so contained that you were certain they lead directly to the ear canals. Ruptured eardrums...was that curable? Could they perform surgery or was it...permanent? What did the doctor’s say? What could they do? Have they seen him lately? What were they-
Your thoughts came to a halt as Katsuki finally moved, his eyes falling from the window to your hands. You had been clenching them and unclenching them, more than likely since you sat down. His eyes scanned over your skin, almost as if all the answers were locked in you. You wanted to whisper to him, to hold him and tell him everything was going to be okay. That you knew there had to be something that could be done. But you couldn’t...there was nothing that could be done...at least not now.
And now was all that mattered.
In a moment, of bravery, your hand reached out and - after only a moment of hesitation - you placed your hand in his. Your fingers laced between his and with as much confidence as you could muster, you gave him a firm squeeze. His eyes lingered on the joining, trying to will his trembling to stop. He seemed ready to absolutely break, to crumble apart at the seams. But he had seen more and done more. He had to be strong, ever amazing, ever powerful. So his eyes darted up to yours, ready to pull away and set up his walls once again. Ready to stand on his own two feet.
It was what a true hero did, right?
But he froze when he saw your gaze. There was no smile, no look of pity or concern. You knew him too well: it would only make things worse. He couldn’t quite place what the expression was or why it made everything...settle. It wasn’t better, hell it wasn’t even close. He couldn’t hear you talk, he wouldn’t be able to listen to you sing out of key or complain drunkenly how he never takes you anywhere nice even though you insisted on staying at your apartment anyway. But...all of that could wait. It would wait until he was ready. Because for right now, all that you cared about was that he was alive. You had a chance to fix it, you had a chance to make everything okay.
And in that moment, in that warm room that fell into an equal silence, that was enough for the both of you.
After getting used to her hearing aids, Kayleen couldn't attend full moon gatherings with her family since she can't wear them when 'going wolf'.
Now Kayleen's sense of sight and touch have advanced beyond her own knowledge. Her eyesight is better than the average wolf, and she can detect a predator's location through the vibrations in the ground. This means she knows how many feet/yards/meters away they are, size, weight and how fast they are approaching. She is able to do this in wolf form and human-like form.
WARNING WARNING, INCOMING FICLET! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
This little ficlet is for @jupitercrash! I hope you enjoy Annie!
No Need to Explain
One shiveringly cold morning, Link sat all bundled up on a bus alone. Granted, most people avoided him anyway. They all knew him and didn't care to try to communicate with him. Too much work. After all, he was deaf and no one knew sign language. After dealing with his deafness all his life, he had become comfortable with being by himself. Or so he told himself.
However, everything would change the moment a rather tall man boarded the bus. Link spared him a glance but didn't linger, despite the unfamiliar face. He didn't let himself get his hopes up anymore. Even when the red-faced giant of a man plunked himself in the seat next to Link, he didn't budge. A few moments later, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He settled his mouth in a thin line and turned around.
Up close this man looked like he stepped off the wrapping of a set of Brawny towels, complete with sunny grin. Having finally captured Link's attention, the lumberjack like man started talking to him. Link lifted his hand up in a plea to stop and pushed his hair back behind his ears. He communicated to the man in simple gestures that Link can't hear him, no matter how hard he might try. When the look of dawning realization rises in the bearded man's eyes, Link turned around to gaze out the window once more.
He'd rather not see the look of disgust that crosses everyone's faces when they find out he's deaf as it breaks through the numbness he has artfully crafted around himself. And from such a handsome man as the one sitting next to him? It would be utterly devastating. So, he resigns himself to staring lifelessly out the bus window.
However, he feels that gentle tap on his shoulder again a moment later and stiffens in surprise. He feels something cold slide onto his hand and he looks down to see to see a cell phone. Link looked at the man with confusion, noticing the man has lost his grin. Instead, a grim determination fills his jade green eyes. He gestured at Link to take the cell, no trace of disgust visible. He took it carefully and flipped it around to see it's on. He glanced back the tall man who gestured at him again, more insistently. Link looked back down at the phone to see it has a note from the man typed on it.
"I had no idea you couldn't hear me and I apologize if I offended you. Can we start over? I'm Rhett :)" The world seemed to come to a stop around Link. Cracks splintered throughout his shell, something warm seeping in despite the bitter cold. He kept staring at the words until he noticed drops appearing on the screen and reached up to feel tears on his cheek. A broad grin spread across his face as he started typing.
"Hey, listen, it's alright. Of course we can start over! It's nice to meet you Rhett, I'm Link." Link turned back to Rhett to hand him the phone with a beaming smile, their fingertips touching softly.
11 Things I W.ish People Understood About Being Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing by Mehgan L. Bayer.
Next time you encounter a D/deaf or hard-of-hearing person, keep some of these facts in mind for successful communication. They may thank you for it!
1. Yes, we can still drive.
We only have problems with our ears. In fact, many deaf people are naturally observant, and they can be great drivers.
2. Some D/deaf people can speak.
Just because a D/deaf person is not speaking doesn’t mean they are incapable of doing so. Speaking is a choice for many deaf people, as some prefer to communicate via American Sign Language (ASL) only. Sign language is not universal. Some other forms of sign language include British Sign Language and French Sign Language.
3. Some can still hear.
Hearing loss is a spectrum. Some people like me cannot hear anything without cochlear implants. My dad and brother, on the other hand, can hear some with the help of hearing aids. Then you have people whose hearing loss is so mild they may not even realize it.
4. A lack of hearing does not necessarily mean lack of intelligence.
While there are some syndromes that may be associated with hearing loss and intellectual challenges, the sky is the limit for D/deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Deaf people can go to school to be doctors, lawyers, teachers — just about any profession imaginable! There are some restrictions on certain jobs in the military or law enforcement, to name a few (for safety reasons). I always tell the children I meet who are just like me to “Keep your chin up and charge the mountain!” and never let someone tell you that you can’t do something because of your hearing loss.
5. Communicate with us directly when possible.
We know it may be tempting to look at our interpreters or family members to help communicate, but we often want to communicate with you. We are still humans with feelings and communication capabilities. Some suggestions for communicating include a pen and paper to write things out, gesturing, basic sign language (if you know it!), and if absolutely nothing else is a possibility for communication, we can attempt to lip-read. However, it is believed only 30 percent of the English language can be lip-read, so it is not always very effective.
6. Deaf people do not necessarily use Braille.
RESOURCES FROM
HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION
Hearing loss resources
Helpful links
Hearing Health magazine
Braille is intended for those who are blind. We do not necessarily use Braille unless we are blind, too.
7. Not all deaf parents have deaf children.
While my brother and I were born deaf/hard-of-hearing as a result of our father’s genetic hearing loss, this is not always true, and there is actually a special name for hearing children born to D/deaf parents. They are referred to as children of deaf adults (CODA). Often, they can be bilingual in both English and ASL.
8. D/deaf and hard-of-hearing people communicate in many different ways.
If the hearing loss is mild enough, the individual may just prefer spoken English. For those with little-to-no hearing, some may still communicate via spoken English with the assistance of high-powered hearing aids or cochlear implants. It seems to me that the majority prefer sign language, because it forms a special culture of people who share a language. The sense of community in the Deaf culture is very strong. ASL is a very pretty, visual language, and I like to encourage people to at least learn how to finger-spell.
9. Cochlear implants are not a cure.
As a bilateral cochlear implant recipient for nearly six years, I can tell you that cochlear implants are not a cure as many may believe. They have their limitations, are capable of breaking or malfunctioning, and while some people like me can have amazing results from years of hearing practice, not everyone may be as lucky. When I take my implants off at night or to shower, I am just as profoundly deaf as I was before the implants.
10. The D/deaf don’t have to be “fixed.”
This is a controversial point that has divided the Deaf and hearing worlds for years. I made the decision at the age of 12 to receive my implants. My parents did not make the decision for me. Hearing aids and cochlear implants are just two of the many options available to D/deaf/hard-of-hearing people. I personally lip-read, sign and primarily use spoken English depending on who I am interacting with at any given moment.
11. “Never mind.”
A D/deaf or hard-of-hearing person may tell you that the most annoying thing they hear on a regular basis is “Never mind.” Some people may only be willing to repeat things a certain number of times before they finally give up. This can be extremely frustrating because whatever the person was trying to say at the time was clearly of importance to them, but when you can’t hear the message, it’s as if suddenly it doesn’t matter.
