I am looking at my calendar and I am not seeing any days off until Labor Day.
Which is kind of a drag because I have so enjoyed my time away from cubeland since the beginning of May. I am sort of use to that now. On the other hand, when I am not at work, the paycheck suffers, so full paychecks will be nice, and work well toward helping with today’s Big Expense.
Today...I buy myself SSABs (aka hearing aids). I have grown to detest the common term, so Eldest and I came up with the more palatable (to me) term SuperSonic Auditory Boosters. I can live with that.
So. SSABs.
It has been a long time coming, and I have migrated through my family being irritated with me not catching what they are saying, to being solicitous when we are in public together and I am stumped at what the server is asking of me. I am at the point of often not being able to rely on non-verbal signals to pick up what others are saying, and end up just staring at them. Or anwering them totally off topic. Yeah. That works. Often TV shows are a total wash. The volume has to be too loud for me to get all the conversation.
Pretty embarrassing.
I won’t go to the fear about the possibility of considering a job interview.
So after much ado and time, I started the actual talking to audiologists and shopping. It was truly painful…until I tried a pair…and I heard sounds and low voices and tones I hadn’t heard in years.
Brought tears to my eyes. And pretty much settled it for me.
Vanity is out the door. And somehow we would figure out a way to pay for them, but I was going to get myself a pair of those, and I was going to be able to hear birds again.
Brief aside, most insurance companies do not cover hearing loss, or hearing aids. Nope. Footing the entire bill for this one. I could smoke, and they would pay my bills for lung cancer and heart disease. I could drink and they would pay for my liver disease. I could eat my way into obesity and they would pay for my diabetes treatment and related issues. I’m not judging…I’m just saying…but I digress.
SSABs of today are not the hearing aids of yesteryear. Mine will be programmed to my hearing loss, to emphasize what I cannot hear and leave alone the frequencies that I can. Pretty much awesome from where I sit right now. I hope it is going to be all I hope it is going to be.
I hope the sound of eating chips doesn’t freak me out. I hope that the sound of my own voice isn’t so loud I quit talking. I want to hear birds again (I still hear meadowlarks and morning doves and finches, but miss so many others) but I know there are lots of really irritating sounds I don’t hear right now that’s probably for the good. Along with the good will come the irritating, I suppose. I wonder if I will hear everyone in cubeland typing. People aren’t going to be able to sneak up on me anymore because I can’t hear them!
Tomorrow is going to be a new day, full of surprises.
Awesome! Good luck...it takes awhile to get used to them but it is worth it. I won't be at knitting this week but want to "hear" all about them next week :).
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I'm often amazed at what technology can do in terms of keeping up with our health/happiness. Can't wait to hear how they work!
ReplyDeleteThis will not only help you, but those around you. My DH needs them but refuses to even consider it. I have started wearing noise cancelling headphones when we watch TV. 'nuff said. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad for you! I love the SSAB term.
ReplyDelete::chuckle:: Reminds me of when my son was in grade school and had to get glasses. It was, "I don't need glasses I don't need glasses I don't need glasses!" until the technician had him put them on him and had him look out the window. Then it was, ".....oh." And all the way home: "I can read that sign! I can see the leaves on that tree!"
ReplyDeleteI will take partial credit for pestering you no end to seek a technology solution! I am so glad you are pleased!
ReplyDeletecongrats on the SSABs!!! yaaaaaaaaay! I cant wait to see them in action!
ReplyDeleteHow was the noise with the grand bebes last night?
ReplyDelete