Travel with my sister: overcoming a lifelong hearing loss

Travel with my sister: overcoming a lifelong hearing loss

My younger sister was born three months early and grew up with a pronounced hearing loss. After a recent change to the better, she agreed to accompany me on a trip ...

KIAS History

that my sister is different, I noticed for the first time when I was seven and six. Forida was said that she should wear hearing aids and I remember how much it was embarrassing to her. The chunky beige -colored AIDS noticed their children's -sized ears and distinguished them for other school children than differently; not one of us.

It got worse than I was nine and eight. Forida received new equipment, including a box -shaped black microphone that she wore over her chest. It could also have been a scarlet -red letter. Classmates teased every day and I remember that I defended them with excessive fadual. My sister, who was gentle, where I was shrill, gently, where I was stubborn, and sweet, where I was selfish, deserved a easier life.

alt = “Forida and Kia on a hike in the chillers Hills with hearing loss”> Atlas & Boots Forida and Kia on a hike in the Chiltern Hills

Forida's hearing loss affected her schoolically, but my family was not worried as long as she was happy. When I interviewed her for an article about traveling with disabilities many years later, I understood how it affected her free time. In the article, Forida speaks of eating in a restaurant and being afraid of having to order something because she knows that she doesn't understand the waiter. On another occasion, she told me that she would like to visit Malaysia, but was afraid to travel with hearing loss. If she couldn't understand people at home, how should she understand people abroad?

I, who I traveled to the world, found a deep sharpness in it. I wanted to encourage my little sister to travel, but I didn't know how to get beyond empty platitudes. I could tell her that she should "leave her comfort zone", but if life at home is already uncomfortable, it seems overly punishing to dare abroad.

alt = “Forida on the way in the chilers hills”> Atlas & Boots Exploration of the Chilers Hills

Forida seemed to have been resigned with her hearing loss. I saw how she gave up group talks and let her thoughts wander or avoided contact with strangers to avoid possible problems.

It was in July this year when I visited my mother's house in London when I saw a change for the better. Forida had recently done a hearing test and raved about a hearing aid: "I wasn't aware of how bad I hear," she said. "When I put them on, I was able to hear the lights and clothes rustling."

A few days later she sent me a picture of the Oticon Opn aids and explained that unfortunately they were not available from the NHS. Instead, she was able to get a few two floors deeper. I spent the evening researching the aids, reading reviews and breeding reviews - including politician Edwina Currie, who said that the aids had changed their lives.

Alt = “Forida and Kia on Coombe Hill in the Chiltern Hills trips with hearing loss”> Atlas & Boots Kia and Forida on the Coombe Hill

With the same protective pulse that I found as a child, I booked an extended hearing test for Forida at Harley Street Hearing and decided on my private way. Together we met Jas, a senior audiologist who confirmed that Forida would actually benefit from the OPN aids.

My primary goal was to show Forida that travel with hearing loss does not have to be scary, so I booked ourselves for a trip after she got used to the hearing aids. We agreed to start and booked a break in the Chiltern Hills: not too far from home in London, but far enough to see something new.

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In the following, Forida describes her way in her own words - from maintaining the aids to our trip. In my observation, my little sister was much more relaxed and more relaxed. I suspect that it was not only because the hearing aids help you listen, but also because you are surprisingly discreet. Forida's childhood aid have identified them as different and it finally seems to be free of her legacy.

alt = "The new hearing aids from Forida are practically invisible"> Atlas & Boots take a break on our day hike

Forida completes a training session to learn how to differentiate words, noises and pitches. Reaching the maximum capacity will require time and commitment, but it seems to be much more open to travel with hearing loss. It can take years for it to be ready for Malaysia, but the Chilers Hills were an excellent start.

Forida's story: Life and Travel with Hearing Loss

A literally report on Forida's journey, from receiving your hearing aids to our trip.

structure Friday, August 31, 2018

I received a few rechargeable OPN minirite hearing aids. My audiologist Jas helped me download an app called Oticon on, which helps me to hear directly from my iPhone and increase and reduce the volume. She showed me step by step how to use everything and how to keep hygiene. When I wanted to book another appointment, I could really hear everything the receptionist said for the first time. She was so nice and wished you good luck on her trip with the new hearing aids. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to explore everything.

alt = “A moment of reflection in the chilers Hills”> Atlas & Boots A moment of reflection in the chillers Hills

I left the clinic with a smile on my face. I couldn't believe the happiness in me. I carried my hearing aids all the way home and at the same time heard every single tone that I couldn't hear before. When I arrived at the subway station, I always heard so many beeps. I always thought 'where does it come from?'. Then I realized that there are all the people who go in and out with their oystercards. It was even loud for the first time. It felt like everyone was too much, but the use of the Oticon app helped me to reduce the volume via my iPhone.

When I came home, I showed my husband all the equipment and explained what they would do for me. I could hear all voices and I could choose whose voice I would like to pay attention. I could hear every word that my three -year -old said without asking her to repeat it. I was so excited to hear every word speaking. It was such an incredible feeling.

shopping with my daughter Saturday, September 1, 2018

Today my older daughter and I drove to Westfield Stratford City to buy a few little things for their secondary school. I thought let's eat in a loud place because I want to see if I could hear it. I was able to put the microphone of my iPhone louder to hear my daughter louder, and I could actually hear every word she spoke.

alt = “Forida talks to her older daughter”> Atlas & Boots Forida is talking to her older daughter

I felt really confident for the first time. I would usually not speak much because it annoys me to ask the other person to repeat the words. I look forward to exploring this brand new world.

dealing with a loud job Saturday, September 29, 2018

I work in a busy catering service and carried my hearing aids to work. In the beginning it was so overwhelming with so many noises that were thrown on me. The first week was the most difficult to adapt. It took me a month to get used to the volume with which I felt comfortable.

alt = "Forida can hear her children in a lively locations"> Atlas & Boots Forida is safer to talk in loud places

I carried out lace hearing tests (Listening and Communication Enhancement) online, which will help me get used to hearing words in a loud place to hear what exactly is what I need to cope with noise at work and listen to words at the same time.

The noises that I could not hear before Monday, October 1, 2018

I can actually hear my children breathe when they sleep. I hear tiny white noises or ticking a watch that I could never hear before. Or birds chirping in the morning. It is astonishing that if I want to hear a certain tone, I can increase the volume and hear it clearly. In the beginning I jumped on some noises and have kept thinking about what that or that is a sound.

alt = “A walk in the chilers Hills”> Atlas & Boots A walk in the chillers Hills

My husband said my hearing aids help me a lot. He said that I am not stressed or frustrated for the first time. I don't have to let him repeat his words and the words of our children so often. I have the feeling that I can talk to my children much better now.

alt = “Forida with her children in the Chiltern Hills”> Atlas & Boots Forida with her children on Coombe Hill

I organized a meeting with a few friends in a well -attended restaurant. I could hear well and clearly, but I prefer meetings in quieter places. In loud environments, everything can be too loud at first, but here I can reduce the volume with the app and turn on the microphone on the iPhone to hear the words louder.

trips with hearing loss Saturday, November 10, 2018

I, my two oldest children and my sister Kia went on a trip to the chillers Hills. I've always been nervous when I had to travel with hearing loss, and this was a good way to test my self -confidence.

I noticed so many differences. I usually have difficulty talking on the train because it gets too loud and I find it difficult to understand myself. This time I could hear everything as if we were going to have a normal conversation in a quiet place. I was able to interact with my children and my sister more than usual. For example, they played a game in which they tested each other in the capitals of the world, and I was able to take part.

alt = “Forida now feels more comfortable while traveling with hearing loss”> Atlas & Boots Forida now feels more comfortable while traveling with hearing loss

In the Chiltern Hills we have undertaken several hikes. It was nice to hear birds chirping and leaves rustling and experiencing something new. At some point my son said: "I love to explore this place", and I realized that I should bring my children to new places to experience new things. Traveling with hearing loss should not put me off.

alt = "ready to discover the world"> Atlas & Boots ready to discover the world

We went to some local Restaurants and a beautiful tea shop, where I could order with confidence. My improved hearing helps me a lot and I feel much more confident. I'm not afraid to go out and discover more. I actually had a nightmare that I left the house without wearing my hearing aids. You have now become part of my life and I am so grateful.

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