Struggle Wearing Hearing Aids

People have always asked me one question after they get to know me, "Why do you wear hearing aids?" or "How is life with hearing aids?" I'm always kind of stuck when the first is asked, because there are many reasons why. What reason do I start with?

I was born with a hearing defect. No one really knew this until I got older and was more responsive. Due to this, it took me a while to actually get my first pair of hearing aids. My mom tells me that she tested me to see if I could hear her one day. She tested me with something I still love to this day: Burger King.

I've always been a Burger King fan. Maybe that's why I've packed on more pounds than I should have for my skinny frame. Nevertheless, my mom asked me if I wanted to go to Burger King, and I didn't respond. She knew then that I needed to get tested.

Around the state she went, getting me tested for my hearing. After the first test, it was determined that I was hard at hearing, but he told my mom to test me again. So she kept getting me tested, and she kept getting the same response. I missed many days of school, getting tested for something everyone knew I had.

However, she finally broke down in one doctor's office and told her that she was tired of tests. That doctor became sympathetic and wrote me a subscription to get some hearing aids. Then, the real battle began. If I recall correctly, I got my ear molds for my hearing aids during a break. It takes a while for them to finish making the actual hearing aids. It can take up to a month or two, as they have to make sure it's perfect.

I'd started school again once my mom got the call that they were finished. She took me to the doctor to pick them up. I will be the first to admit that I was nervous. I didn't want my ears to fall off or anything, and I've never stuck anything in my ear. However, as Dr. Sue Jones placed the first mold in my ear, I became excited. She didn't put the aid on, so I was confused for a second.