The other day, I met a sweet elderly patient who drives 4 hours to get her teeth cleaned. Granted, it’s kind of ridiculous. But her sweet smile and bubbly personality seem to make her life so easy.
She also had the curiosity of a mouse and asked me right away if those were hearing aids. “Yep!” I said. “How did you lose it?” “Why I was born this way.”
As I began her cleaning, she went on to tell me a story of her deaf uncle. He was so devoted to his country that he lied about his hearing loss to get into the military. He read lips so well that he fooled everyone. Until one day, they dropped coins on the floor to get everyone’s attention, everyone shook but HIM. He was unfortunately discharged immediately and got into a ton of trouble. Most people would do anything to not be drafted. He, however, is my kind of hero.
As I’m finishing up, the curiosity in her proceeds in asking more questions about my hearing loss and life. As I’m answering her, her bubbly personality seem to diminish and finally asked if it’s really okay to ask me all these questions. Feeling perplexed so I said to her, “Never be afraid to find the story in all of us”. Her smile grew bigger than I saw earlier in her appointment.
I challenge you all to sit down with someone who is alone at a cafeteria table at school, someone who may be quiet at a gym, someone who may be struggling with something at work, someone who seem to work harder than most people and ask about their story.
We can be your best friend and you can be our champion.
That Deaf RDH Foundation 
Thanks for sharing wonderful
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Thank you. Hope you are well!
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hey there – I am deaf as well – often times I do get questions, how did you become deaf, I tell them, from the measel shots back in the 80s my reactions can be from surprised to pity. all I could do is smile, me being deaf is who I am, honestly I could NOT imagine being hearing, I have to turn off my hearaids just to have QUIET I cannot sleep with it on, I am lucky for that part, or when my kid has a noisey toy.
following
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Oh gosh. I love my sleep time without my hearing aids. It’s the best. The little things!
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its like, if I wanna fall asleep on the couch and the husband has his game on, or the tv on, I just cant fall asleep or if I am home alone reading or something nope, gotta turn it off weird.
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have you had to learn that “survival” thing when people talk to you,and you cannot catch up but you cant ask them to back up, or its not important you nod your head with their facial expression when like the symptize complaint or happiness and such? it happens ALL the time in lines check out
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