-
Practicing Boldness with Hearing Loss: My first experience at an HLAA Convention
I hadn’t realized how incredibly powerful it would be to be immersed in the hearing loss culture. There was something almost magical about a gathering of people around a single specific topic, where everyone could fit in and find common ground. It’s an awesome thing to create intentional spaces for people who feel marginalized. Continue reading
-
Lip Reading vs Speech Reading
Lip reading is very challenging, with only around 30-40% of English words viewable on the lips. Lip reading is best used as one of many tools to help figure out what is being communicated. Speech reading includes using more contextual clues like body movement, expression, as well as educated guesses of the topic. Continue reading
-
Informed Decisions, Better Outcomes: ANAwareness Week and World Vestibular Schwannoma Day
The Acoustic Neuroma Association is doing all sorts of great presentations and webinars this week to celebrate World Vestibular Schwannoma Day. I love this year’s theme: informed decisions, better outcomes. In my experience supporting others with Acoustic Neuromas, as well as my own journey, I have really seen the benefit of informed decisions. Continue reading
-
Hearing Accommodations Not As Promised
I did my due diligence and still had a challenging experience for hearing accessibility. Have you had situations where accommodations did not work as advertised? Continue reading
-
Book Recommendations for Acoustic Neuroma Warriors
I do so love a good book. I am going to share a compiled list of book recommendations. The ones I have read, touched me deeply and helped me on my journey. Continue reading
-
Cultural Trends that Make it Harder to Hear
I often find that I have a lot of emotions around times when I struggle to hear. My perception is always that everyone else is hearing just fine, but frequently, it is actually a situation where it is hard to hear- and everyone is struggling to understand. Continue reading
-
The Dreaded Question: How Are You Doing?
While I really appreciate my close friends and family checking in with me, I often feel exhausted by the small talk conversation of “How are you doing?” It seems odd to me that usually the only socially acceptable answer is “fine.” Why do we bother to ask the question at all if the only answer… Continue reading
-
Conventions and Professional Events with Single Sided Deafness
Conventions and professional trainings can be extremely challenging for hearing in the best possible situations. I recently had a really negative experience for hearing accessibility at a seminar. I hope we see growth in convention accessibility as technology becomes easier to implement. Continue reading
-
Listening to What Your Body is Telling You
I have a tendency to be a little too stiff upper lip, and push through things. But my body has been forcibly teaching me how important it is not to ignore or pass over vital information that is being conveyed. Continue reading
-
Go Gray for May and May is Better Hearing Month
May is for brain tumor awareness and better hearing. As both of these apply to my specific situation, I am very amused that these two campaigns happen to be the same month. #GrayMay #BetterHearing #BetterHearingMonth #HLAA Continue reading
About Me
Emily was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 27 and decided to make that experience worthwhile by paying it forward to other brain tumor warriors. She is passionate about supporting people and advocating for hearing assistance around motherhood and running a family business.
Recent Posts
BLOG TOPICS
accommodations acoustic neuroma advocacy baha balance balance-problems bone-anchored-hearing-device bone anchored hearing aid brain brain-surgery brain-tumor community deaf deafness disabilities disability disabilityawareness flying hard of hearing healing health hearing hearing-aids hearing-loss hearing accessibility hearingaidpride hearingaidsarecool hearingaidsempowerme hearing fatigue hearing loss invisible-disability listening fatigue mental-health oticon pain podcast recovery single sided deaf single sided deafness ssd surgery theater tumor unilateral hearing loss vestibular schwannoma
The "Lucky" Brain Tumor 