Slowlycatchymonkey

Well motorcycling is well known for causing tinnitus and deafness so maybe consider getting some good plugs. Slow hearing loss is one of those things that by the time you realise what’s happened it’s too late and there’s no reversing it.

If your family aren’t deaf and you wear good ear defenders/plugs in noisy environments you’ll be dandy.

TLDR I’m jolly pleased with things. I’ve never enjoyed being sociable so that side of things really wasn’t missed initially but then you discover so many things you’re locked out of, it’s like watching life from behind a glass partition so you withdraw from normal activities. It’s one of the reasons they think deaf people are so much more likely to suffer from dementia, they become isolated and lose touch with reality but like Clive I’m lucky to have a good family. Humour is the thing I miss most, someone cracking a joke and someone else snapping back a witty retort, even if you can see their faces by the time you’ve pieced together the clues of what’s being said the moment is long gone and you’re standing there with a neutral expression while everyone else is laughing, you really do feel like a spare part. It’s a particularly painful loss as I used to be known for being good at a sharp comeback. Fortunately my family speak clearly and all have very deep loud voices that I’m well tuned into so I still get the banter at the table. I spent most of yesterday in a state of shock, I went to my upholstery course and even though it’s a bastid noisy environment I could hear the tutor (just) and to have a comeback for her “no-one likes a smart arse” comment felt like gold. Before I wouldn’t have heard what was being said let alone been able to lob one back. Serious hearing loss leaves you locked in but working in an eye hospital and treating patients who were profoundly deaf and also losing their vision has always made me grateful it’s only my hearing and not my eyesight too. I have another appointment coming up as there is more tech available that could potentially boost my hearing even further. I’d like to say it feels like Christmas but it’s way beyond that. I’m very excited by all the things I might be able to do again.

Thanks Rich. It’s pretty overwhelming after all this time but everyone around me is so very happy about it too it’s like a lottery win. Had a good one this morning stopped at a pedestrian crossing and the van started beeping a kind of loudish emergency type beep, I was in the middle of freaking out out looking for warnings on the dash when I remembered pedestrian crossings beep, the sound was coming from outside

You’re past competent if you can do that stuff. You know that.

I had a similar thing too. Every now and then if my body wasn’t totally straight I’d get a sharp pain, it was so debilitating I was frozen to the spot and couldn’t even inhale. Turned out the twat doc I implored to please stop (because I was sure it was going wrong) who chastised me (apparently I was being weak) was wrong and that bastid coil that was supposed to be in my womb was impaled in my spinal column. Such fun. So many more awful extras to that story that aren’t for sharing

Well it’s frustrating for the unaware isn’t it… although not arf as frustrating as it is for us deafy’s, we got to deal with wots in front of us.. and sometimes an empathy lacking wonder. Not saying I’ve been there but….

I ride like a totally deaf person. I assume I’ll hear nothing. I was horrified by the number of times I’ve missed blue lights behind me and realised I can’t hear their loud sirens. But imo a good rider is worth ten twats.

I so wish I could give this update thing to you Clive. I just think we may have been born 20-30 years too early for the implant tech that’s to come. It’s a silent invisible loss with huge consequences that normies don’t understand but maybe remember other folk around you are lucky in so many other ways ie to have you around so yer u win some you lose some. IMO if you can ride a two wheeler you’ve won

Mr Slowly told me I looked like vid of a baby hearing noise for the first time and I did exactly the same jaw drop n disbelief as all of those people. You can’t quite comprehend what you’re hearing, there’s a noise and you have to attach it to what the rest of your brain knows/understands. Feels totally crazy. So nice.

Ah ya bastid, I thought I was done crying cos I’m not a cryer! Yep all of that. Can’t describe it. It’s insane.

Nope...

Nope I keep forgetting I can hear now and keep watching stuff with the volume off Just had a weird moment sitting at the kitchen table thinking the dishwasher was making a terrible noise and must be about to explode and leak everywhere, I turned to look at it and the door was open so it wasn't the cause of the terrible glugging pump noises.. it was the boiler which is in another room Totally freaked out by how noisy my house is, that catering freezer in the garage sounds like it's about to take off!

Meaning you currently trust him?

It would never get said the other way round dino.

Don't get it? Whats a top fan?

Glad you had nice weather. I saw the sun briefly this afternoon, novel

Me? Noooo

Likely but they're often the ones I end up good friends with later.

Well you'd know

A bit of celebrating went on last night with lots of music so this morning was not the morning to be starting an upholstery course and wielding a pneumatic staple gun for the first time, feck knows how I managed not to staple myself or anyone else The tutor has a sour face and a sharp tongue. My bench partner was having trouble using a tensioning tool and the tutor couldn't get her to understand what she needed to do. After multiple attempts I suggested anchoring the webbing the other way then there would be more room to use the tensioner. The tutor looked me up and down and nodded saying hmm quickly followed by "nobody likes a smart arse" They were her first words to me Eventually the tutor told her to do what I'd suggested, I said "thats a good idea, I wish I'd thought of that." She looked like she was going to hit me but then thought better of it, a little smile crept into the corners of her hard face I like her, she is bright and sarcastic, I suspect a lot of fun ahead.

Vulcan, he was from VULCAN urgh where have the proper geeks gone?

Just the thing that stood out with a shudder.