VALECIA’S HEARING LOSS STORY
My bestfriends…
“it took me this long to realize it, but you suffer a lot more hiding your hearing loss than you do if you face up to it” - Valecia Adams
Hey, yall! My name is Valecia, and I am Hard of Hearing.
I am President and Founder of Empower & Hear Inc. I created this space to help Women of Color who suffer from hearing loss to confront the challenges they face daily and improve their livelihoods through acceptance and education, resources, confidence-building and most importantly, self-advocacy.
In second grade, my teacher told my mom, she thought I needed to be screened for hearing loss. I would go on to get tested all through grade school. I think its safe to say, I was borderline and pretty much fell through the cracks.
Fast-forward to my early adulthood. I’m in Community College and part of an internship program. I knew I was in trouble the second day I was there, and was soon in a meeting staged with upper management discussing my work performance. I inadvertently shared that I may have hearing loss (first time ever mentioning this out loud) and after a few stares and whispers, I was told I could return when I get hearing aids and shown the door. I decided that day, that one, I did not have hearing loss and 2, that I would deny I did, if ever confronted. I was almost 50 years of age before I accepted my hearing loss. I had no choice, my hearing gradually deceased before I even realized I was really bad off. However, at the same time, I was tired of my denial, tired of hiding my struggle to hear, tired of the stigma I walked around with. I had descended into isolation, as I realized I needed hearing aids to get my life back.
Hearing aids opened possibilities for me and immediately contributed positively to my quality of life. My hearing aids are my best friends! I joined a resource and support group and the community helped me get my voice back. The stronger I grew, the more I wanted to share with others who are experiencing the same things and feel the way I’ve felt. You can live your best life with acceptance, education. With hearing aids and resources, your self-confidence, self-advocacy, and confidence grows and contributes to you pursuing your life goals and wildest dreams! I am in a great place these days.
Do you or someone you know suffer from hearing loss? Has denial held you back? Have you stop socializing or attending events because of your hearing loss? Empower and Hear Inc. can help. It starts with education and accepting your hearing loss, using hearing loss resources to build self-confidence, and developing self-advocacy skills to help you speak up for yourself while you pursue your life goals.
Stay Empowered,
Valecia
