Deaf Awareness Week 2024 - Ruth shares her experience of severe hearing loss

As part of Deaf Awareness Week, Ruth shares her experience with severe hearing loss.

I still recall the day when, after our swimming club, a teacher bounced towards my mum and exclaimed, "Isn't Ruth deaf? We just found out! She could join our disabled squad!" I gawked at my mum and protested, "No way! That's not me! What about people who really are disabled? I'd be a fraud!" I never really thought of myself as disabled - just someone with pesky ears that misbehaved in crucial moments. Even though I underwent two surgeries yearly until I was 21 and spent countless hours in hospitals, it never hit me. I even switched schools for smaller classes to hear better (no, still didn't click!).

I’ve always been really proud when people have said, oh I didn’t realise Ruth was deaf! As it meant I had been successful with masking it. But actually in hindsight I look back and realise if I had felt it was ok to speak more openly about it, to know I wouldn’t be judged, there are things that could have been done to help me. It wouldn’t be cheating, it would bring me up to the same level as everyone else to begin with.

My hearing aids are fantastic, but they also give me ear infections. When this happens I go back to my own ears,  meaning I can barely hear anything at all. When my hearing aids fail, it's exhausting and isolating. I’ve found ways to try to prevent this happening as far as possible. Headphones are of comfort when this happens as I can bring loud sounds close to my ears, whilst on a good hearing day, I enjoy listening to the waves hitting the beach and really appreciating it!

My headphones go around my hearing aids to stop them whistling and SSE provided a microphone adaptation. Lip reading is also of huge importance to make up the sounds I can’t hear, so when cameras are off it can be a struggle.

More jovially - let’s be honest I’m probably not your best note taker in a larger meeting! Sometimes I accidentally speak over people as I’m waiting for the gap and crossing roads is risky as I can't hear approaching cars well.

Parenting is challenging because I can't hear my kids at night, especially when my husband is away. They often ask about sounds they hear and what they are, which I can't help them with and that can be tough.

For me, hearing requires intense focus, I have to really tune in, so tapping my shoulder or saying my name before speaking helps. Closed captions in larger meetings are essential for me to participate. Brushing off someone's request for you to repeat yourself can be isolating - it's important to give people the option to decide what's relevant.

I’m looking forward to getting Bone Anchored hearing aids this year, which utilises bone sound technology.