The day had finally arrived. I didn’t have any expectations because it could go either way. There was only one way to find out. I was super nervous because I had no idea what would happen. Boy, did I have no idea. The audiologist got everything ready whilst we waited for the Auslan interpreter to… Continue Reading The Switch On
In late August, I received a letter from the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital. The letter contained my surgery date of 10th November 2016. Whilst I was happy I had gotten a date, it wasn’t the right timing. I was due to fly to London a couple of weeks after and it would have… Continue Reading The Surgery
Continued from The Decision The CIC arranged a series of appointments over a five week period so they could assess my eligibility for a cochlear implant. What impressed me was that they chose to book 2x appointments together over 2 hours so an interpreter could be booked, rather than having to make 4 separate bookings… Continue Reading The Evaluation
I’ve always known about cochlear implants from a young age. My mother learnt of them – I don’t know where and how – but she explained it to me, and asked if I wanted to get one. I said no, and according to her, I said “I’d rather keep my broken ears for now”. Mind… Continue Reading The Decision
Continued from Part 2: Flip the mirror Nick Doyle. Pip Russell. Alice Brennan. Meg Aumann. These are the names of people who will forever hold the life-changing moments of my life. Nick Doyle approached me to mentor hearing-impaired oral teenagers in high school in a volunteer based organization called Hear For You. At first I… Continue Reading Deaf-Proofing My Life: Part 3
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Continued from Part 1: I am huffing and I am puffing. I am six years old and I have decided my current relationship with my mother is both a love and hate relationship. Scratch that, it’s a love-hate relationship with my life too. I love my mother because she is the best mum in the… Continue Reading Deaf-Proofing My Life: Part 2
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“I’m sorry, your daughter is profoundly deaf.” A doctor says the 7 little words. Poof. My future disappears. My parents are devastated and their world is turned upside down. I am 18 months old. I don’t understand. Hearing aids. Hands covering mouths. Am I meant to cover my mouth too? Hands are now fiddling with… Continue Reading Deaf-Proofing My Life: Part 1
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As I type this, I’m enjoying the atmosphere Edinburgh has to offer. It’s a gorgeous city, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to reflect on this year. 2016 was certainly not what I was expecting this time last year. Truth be told, it was one of the most challenging years I’ve had.… Continue Reading 2016: A Self-Reflection
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I was asked to create this video to launch this year’s National Week of Deaf People. It’s being shown to the public at Australia’s Biggest Deaf Club Event in conjunction with the inaugural National Auslan Conference at Deaf Children Australia. For those who are unable to attend, you can view it below: Sources: #10 – Drisana… Continue Reading Celebrating Deaf Pride – National Week of Deaf People 2016
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1 – Being able to communicate in the local sign language within days because it’s easier to pick up than spoken languages. 2 – You can turn your hearing aids/cochlear implants off at any time. 3 – You don’t have to listen to people farting. 4 – Immediately being accepted into a new community overseas… Continue Reading 14 Benefits of being Deaf
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