Mum lived in silence
Trudy didn't realise that her mum was any different. She was just Mum. This is Trudy's story.
Gay with her grand-daughters (Trudy's girls)
Trudy 2008My Mother has been hearing impaired for all my life. I never saw it as a disability. It was just how Mum was. I never knew any different. Hearing aids, batteries going flat, Mum saying Pardon, hearing aids whistling and me repeating myself was part of everyday life. It was not until I got older that I started to become aware of the difficulties Mum experienced day to day because of her hearing loss.
I remember her telling me how frustrating it was not to be able to hear what people were saying to her, or only picking up a few words in each sentence. Talking on the phone was virtually impossible. Mum could not ring and make an appointment for herself. Even going to the doctors was difficult, as she did not hear a lot of what was said. Watching TV proved to be a challenge. She would be constantly asking my sister or me what had happened or what had been said. She really did live in a world of silence!
Mum's dream was to hear her grand daughters speak
About a year after my second daughter was born, Mum came to me and told me she was going to have a Cochlear Implant. I had never really heard a lot about it but Mum had done her research and was determined it was the right thing for her. I remember Mum saying her greatest wish was to hear her two little grand daughters speak.
Mum's life completely changed after her implant. I could not believe how much better she could hear. She really started to lead a normal life. Now she could have a conversation with people and actually hear what was being said. She could ask questions and hear the answers. The results on the phone were amazing. Mum could now ring and talk to her family and make appointments for herself. She became so much more independent and confident. I guess the best part about having the implant was that Mum's greatest wish actually came true. She finally heard her two grand daughters speak!!