Pixie Dust needed

[signtalker]

Just to let you all know why I've been abit quiet on the boards of late.

Less than 2 weeks ago, we were told that my husband(34) is going to loose his hearing. This has come as a very big shock to us all, I was aware it was getting bad, as i was finding myself putting things in place that i would use at work.2 hours of tests reveilled that his hearing is going down hill very quickly, at present they have offered him hearing aids untill i guess they just dont work for him.

he was also offered an operation on his cochlear in one ear,but due to the high failure rate this doesnt seem to be an option.

Even with all my qualifications, and the job I do, and having DS hearing impaired,this hasnt made it any easier to take onboard.Already he struggles to talk to me if driving a car as he is reading lips 90% of the time,night times in bed the light has to be kept on if i want to talk to him, again so he can read my lips.

I guess its one of those things that unless it happens to you, you cant even begin to understand.People have said that perhaps being married to me,he has the best chance of getting all the right information and access to all the services he requires. Im still alittle numb about it all, but trying to keep a brave face for him, when underneath its tearing me up.

Jules

 

[AngieUK]

Jules
I'm so sorry to hear your news it makes no difference that you are perhaps in a better position of helping him than many other would be - it makes news like this no easier......... i think somtimes people forget that it doesn't just effect the person it is happening to but the people who love them, are hurting also.
I don't think there is much i can say which will make you feel any better right now. Take care, and good luck with that brave face - i'm sure everyone here wishes you all the best. {{{{hugs}}}}

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Jules - bucketloads of {{{{{{{{{PIXIE DUST}}}}}}}}}}}}} coming all your ways.

 

[KayleeUK]

Loads of Pixie dust for you....

Kaylee

 

[Bouncy]

Sorry to hear your sad news.{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}} and PD to you and your DH

 

[WDWfan uk]

Oh how hard this must be for your husband, and indeed for you - it is a cruel irony that you are a signtalker Jules. It cannot make it any easier for either of you right now.
Hugs to you and I wish your family all the very best for this change in your lives.

 

[Astrid]

Oh no Jules, what bad news for you all.

I do hope that medical science can offer your husband something that will prolong his hearing for as long as possible.

Thinking of you, Astrid x

 

[Madjock]

Jules,

I'm very sorry to hear your bad news. My mother started getting progressively deaf few years back and is now almost totally deaf. I understand how frustrating it is for all concerned. The children find it very hard to understand why granny "shouts" all the time!

Lots of PD to you and your family.

Annmarie

 

[Goofyish]

I'm so sorry to hear about your DH. As someone who suffers from a hearing loss I can imagine what he is going through.

 

[Janice]

Oh I am so sorry to read this news Jules - {{{Hugs}}} to you and you can have as much PD as you need to help you through this.

 

[drennan]

Jules

I also send lots of {{{{hugs}}}} and pixie dust to the whole of your family which is affected by this awful news. But try and stay positive as much as you can even though you probably just feel like screaming.

Take care

 

[Sue's Mum]

Jules, I'm so sorry to read about this. Lots of {{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}} and all the PD in the world to help you both through.

 

[Muppet]

Jules

So so sorry to hear about your hubby. Sending a shed load of PD your way.

 

[keith&carol]

What rotten luck Jules- loads of Pixie dust coming.
My D.H. has had reduced hearing since having a mastoid as a boy. When he was about your D.H's age he had a lot of infections which resulted in having all the bones removed from his right ear, he had already lost the drum so is permanently deaf in that ear and has frequent infections in the "good" left ear. Somtimes he can hear properly but other times he is as good as deaf & can't use the phone.
It is just something that we have had no choice but to adjust to, although it is just as irritating for all of us in different ways.
When we go to the States I have to remember to shout directions when he is driving with his deaf ear next to me. This has caused a few domestics but we laugh it off . It all seems better after a night's sleep.
Good Luck to you both,
Love,
Carol

 

[Hilary]

Sending best wishes to all of you in coming to terms with this news.

 

[Mazzy]

Jules, I'm so sorry about your husband, as you know, being partially deaf myself, I can certainly understand the problems that deafness can bring during day to day living.

It's hard to know what to say to you, but maybe I can help on a little on a practical note about your husband driving the car and lipreading, my solution is to stick a rear view mirror (the kind you use to see your kids in the back) just under the original rear view mirror, and this enables me to lipread the person in the passenger seat. I couldn't manage without this mirror, it is not ideal, but it helps a lot, and it a lot safer than keep trying to look at the person sitting next to you by turning your head. When I'm the passenger, it just swivels and I use it to lipread the driver. I also use the 'make up mirror' on the passenger side to lipread the children in the back when I'm not driving.

We also have to leave the light on until we go to sleep, but if I suddenly think of something to ask DH and just need a yes or no answer, we have a sort of code(!) whereby he taps me once for No and twice for Yes, it saves putting the light back on, maybe that would make things a little easier.

I hope that with time, once you have got over the shock a little, and with your experience of the Deaf World, things will become a little easier for you all. You are not alone Jules, don't hesitate to email or pm me if you need someone to talk to.

Take Care.

 

[kazzie]

Jules,

Very sorry to hear your sad news.

This will be a difficult time,I'm thinking of you xx

 

[signtalker]

Thankyou to you all for your kind remarks.

I think im over the shock now, and have gone into full on access to services, equipment etc etc. yesterday hubby told work, his boss wasnt too brilliant about it, but the chap above him said he could have anything he needed equipment wise if it helped.

Im starting to put into place lots of things here that i would use at work(its amazing what you forget when its one of youre own!!), Hubby is now going to progress with sign langauge from a brilliant teacher(profoundly deaf himself from birth), so i think all round hes got a head start to most people who have been told they are going to be deaf.

Now all i need is to educate a few of the family members!!!.

jules

 

[Mowgli]

Thinking of you at this difficult time...
Well done you, for taking such a positive attitude to this challenge!
Wishing you all the best......