While pouring hot water in to the tub, I heard the sound of running water. My ears—my ears that could not hear—always caught this sound.
Seven years ago, when I was 22, I decided to stop wearing my hearing aid. Since I lost my hearing at three, the hearing aid had been part of my body.
I am not a person who insists that hearing aids are not necessary. It was that it was not for me, and that it was not enough to make up for the hearing that I had lost. It is true that it was hard for me for a while after deciding not to use it anymore.
However, while using it my body was weak, making my ears ring and my head dizzy, and not using it had instantly made me feel much better. That is why I never started to use the hearing aid again. I was grateful to the fact that my body was healthier, and I loved that feeling. It was better than the convenience of hearing a little better. After that, I reentered university, tried many new things, and even stumbled upon the music work shop.
The first time I ever heard the sound of water was three or four years after I stopped using the hearing aid. It was when I was on a trip with my family to Izu. From our hotel room, we could see the sea.
After getting there and calming down from the excitement of the trip, I went on the balcony alone. The sound I heard then was the sound of the waves. At first, I thought it was my ears ringing again. I closed my eyes and tried to listen. I heard the waves and could imagine them coming and going, in front of my eyes.
I told my niece, and she asked me if I could really hear the sound. As she believed me, I started to believe in myself too. After that, every time I went to sea, I would listen to the waves. I could definitely hear them.
To me, the sound of water was the beginning of all sounds. After water, the sound of wind came, and many other sounds. Little by little, my world of sound started to grow.
Still, my ears are a long way from understanding people’s voices which are very complicated to hear. Maybe I’ll never be able to listen to them. But I don’t think it is impossible.
I always want to be positive, never giving up to the “handicap” of my hearing. I want to search for the real me, that lay amongst the handicap.
(This story translated by Miyoko Adachi. From next time, the translater will change.
Please look forward!)
Seven years ago, when I was 22, I decided to stop wearing my hearing aid. Since I lost my hearing at three, the hearing aid had been part of my body.
I am not a person who insists that hearing aids are not necessary. It was that it was not for me, and that it was not enough to make up for the hearing that I had lost. It is true that it was hard for me for a while after deciding not to use it anymore.
However, while using it my body was weak, making my ears ring and my head dizzy, and not using it had instantly made me feel much better. That is why I never started to use the hearing aid again. I was grateful to the fact that my body was healthier, and I loved that feeling. It was better than the convenience of hearing a little better. After that, I reentered university, tried many new things, and even stumbled upon the music work shop.
The first time I ever heard the sound of water was three or four years after I stopped using the hearing aid. It was when I was on a trip with my family to Izu. From our hotel room, we could see the sea.
After getting there and calming down from the excitement of the trip, I went on the balcony alone. The sound I heard then was the sound of the waves. At first, I thought it was my ears ringing again. I closed my eyes and tried to listen. I heard the waves and could imagine them coming and going, in front of my eyes.
I told my niece, and she asked me if I could really hear the sound. As she believed me, I started to believe in myself too. After that, every time I went to sea, I would listen to the waves. I could definitely hear them.
To me, the sound of water was the beginning of all sounds. After water, the sound of wind came, and many other sounds. Little by little, my world of sound started to grow.
Still, my ears are a long way from understanding people’s voices which are very complicated to hear. Maybe I’ll never be able to listen to them. But I don’t think it is impossible.
I always want to be positive, never giving up to the “handicap” of my hearing. I want to search for the real me, that lay amongst the handicap.
(This story translated by Miyoko Adachi. From next time, the translater will change.
Please look forward!)
