Eagle Times: Protect your hearing

Have you ever experienced the moment when you see someone's lips move but you're not quite sure what they said? Or perhaps you ask, "What?" four times to the same question, and finally just smile and nod in agreement, not knowing what you agreed to.

Many people don't do anything to protect their hearing. They blare their music and work around loud machines, not realizing that once your hearing is gone it's not coming back without a great surgeon and money.

This had been my reality since I was a little girl. By the time I was two I had more ear infections than many other children. Along with ear infections came several sets of tubes. I lost all the hearing in my left ear at the ripe age of ten. The doctors, being the miracle workers they are, were able to restore my hearing but it would deteriorate over the next several years.

Do you know that feeling of defeat when you've lived with something your whole life and it finally gets in the way of your future? This is what my hearing loss did to me. It had stopped my career path and I didn't know if I could get past it. A doctor performed my second reconstruction surgery and gave me my hearing back.

Sure, surgery is expensive but the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to hearing the little things in life, especially when your life goals are at stake. It might be annoying to have people tell you "turn your music down" your whole life but maybe you should listen. Hearing loss doesn't go away on its own, and it occurs very easily.

Protect your hearing at all cost. You might thank yourself later.

 

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