Hearing for John
Defying the challenges of hearing loss
by
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Hearing loss cannot be concealed. Why should it be? If we declare it, share it, wear it as a badge that we are not ashamed of, inviting the world to accept us as we are, then we give others the chance, even the incentive, to find ways of helping us to adapt to their ‘normality’. If we are completely open we show that we are not afraid and we automatically make it difficult for others to raise it as an issue. This fighting spirit not only provides good reason for them to respect us, it also does wonders for our own self-respect. We owe this much to ourselves and also to everyone who offers us support. Every gesture of care towards our difficulties deserves an equally caring response from us, a vitally important part of building bridges. Above all, this should eliminate any temptation to make comparisons in which we feel second best. One of the most valuable keys in dealing with hearing loss is discovering how to be happy with ourselves. Hearing is only one of our senses, only one part of us. It is surely wrong to allow it to dominate us. Of course we can’t ignore the problems it causes but we can be more aware of our own positive values. Our track record, interests and skills all have a special personal dimension. We can and should be proactive in recognising how many strengths we have.
We have good reason to be optimistic about the future. Awareness and support for those of us who are deaf and hard of hearing are growing significantly thanks in no small part to the energetic activities of the hearing charities and a steadily expanding army of caring professionals and volunteers. The pace of innovations and invention is getting faster.
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About the Book
When sounds are in shadows, let sunshine in.
'THIS IS A VERY readable book. It is well written and full of memorable phrases and interesting ideas. It is honest: frank without being sentimental, truthful, yet positive.' These comments were published in Fanfare, the quarterly magazine of the leading UK charity, Hearing Concern. The reviewer is Val Tait, a widely respected hearing therapist.
'The book is divided into short chapters, each chapter no more than two or three pages long. They are narrated from different points of view: John's; his wife Tricia's; their daughter Samantha's; John's audiologist. This gives us an all round picture of how hearing loss affects not just the person, but family, friends and colleaues too. The sections by hearing professionals are thoroughly illuminating and answer some of the questions about the strengths and limitations of hearing aids.'
Over more than thirty years of progressive partial deafness, the author has noticed surprising indifference and lack of support for this increasingly common but hidden disability.
Although much is now being done to encourage more action and awareness, he believes that many of us directly involved could make a difference by being more open and positive. Sharing our problems can be very effective in helping to find solutions that can lift our feelings about hearing loss out of the shadows and on to a sunnier plateau with the help of hearing professionals, support groups, hearing charities and people who are close to us.
About the Author
As producer of the BBC’s first weekly television motoring programme John covered many world championship motor sporting events including Formula One Grand Prix from which he learned first-hand about the dangers to his unprotected hearing posed by extreme noise. At that time, ear defenders were comparatively rare in the pit lanes at Monaco, Monza and Le Mans, and John became aware that problems with his hearing following exposure to the roar of racing engine exhausts seemed to last progressively longer.
His partial hearing loss was positively diagnosed in his late thirties and shortly afterwards an acoustic neuroma caused a total loss of hearing in his right ear. Even so, with the help of increasingly more powerful analogue hearing aids and the skills of his hearing aid audiologists, his media activities continued to prosper. Motor sport gave way to his successful independent children’s animation company where, with the help of digital hearing aids and despite further loss of hearing, he managed to maintain a ‘business as usual’ profile until he retired.
He now he spends his time travelling and working in UK and Spain on new creative projects. His first book, NEW & YOU, was published with authorHouse in August 2006.