It took a new relationship for the Matildas goalkeeper to discover the extent of her hearing loss.
I didn’t properly investigate the gnawing possibility I might have significant hearing loss until almost 29 years after I was tested as a newborn, those results showing my hearing was neither 100 per cent nor bad enough to really worry about.John Davis
When I finally sought and received a diagnosis in October 2022, it made sense genetically. My brother’s hearing loss, while much more severe than mine, was diagnosed at two years and nine months, because his speech was indecipherable. He was fitted with hearing aids and underwent intense speech therapy. At school his teachers attached a little microphone to their collar that broadcast straight into his hearing aids to help him learn in a noisy classroom.
It helped so much, because he knew exactly what to look for and removed an extra obstacle from the process. I booked an appointment, expecting to have my ears checked and then just walk out. Case closed. I told the audiologist about our family history and that I lip-read a lot and struggle in loud environments where there’s a lot of background noise. I also told her I feel overwhelmed when somebody is talking to me while the TV is on at the same time.
After that, I moved forward pretty quickly. Kirsty came with me to have the hearing aids fitted about 10 days later, before I went away for international friendlies against Scotland and England, and when I returned we went to pick them up. Just before I put the hearing aids in for the first time, Kirsty asked me if I could hear the rain outside. I couldn’t. As soon as they were in, I could.
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