About
March 2016
If you’d like to know why I named my blog Sudden Silence and read about my unexpected plunge into deafness, you can read my first post, which explains it all.
I detailed my simultaneous bilateral cochlear implant surgery here:
My husband, Dave, is also hearing impaired, and wears a hearing aid in his right ear. We met online through a hearing loss support group called The SayWhatClub. Having a spouse who understands first-hand what it’s like to be hearing impaired makes a huge difference. He is unfailingly patient, kind and supportive. I can’t imagine my life without him!
As for my hearing loss story…I grew up hearing impaired, with a sensorineural loss of unknown origin, although it’s apparently progressive. I communicate orally and lip-read well. I do not know sign language although I’m attempting to learn it now.
My hearing loss was discovered when I was around 4 years old, and I wore one hearing aid in my right ear, the “worse” ear. I went to regular schools in mainstream classrooms with no accommodations, other than sitting at the front of the class. My hearing was stable until 1993. For unknown reasons, I lost what was left of the hearing in my right ear, rendering my hearing aid useless. My left ear was not affected and I changed to bi-CROS Beltone hearing aids, which I just loved. They helped bring my hearing pretty much back to what I had been used to, even though I was now profoundly deaf in my right ear, with a moderate-to-severe loss in the left ear.
In April of 2008, I had another episode of sudden hearing loss, this time in my left ear. This has been even more traumatic because I now have a profound loss in both ears, making my hearing aids useless. Having never been raised as deaf, and rarely even acknowledging the fact that I was hearing impaired, it’s left me feeling like I’ve joined a new secret society where I don’t know the language. Learning sign language is something I’ve always been interested in but I think it will be a slow process. Luckily my whole family is also interested in learning right along with me.
I received simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants on July 22, 2008.
And finally…I talk too much. 🙂 When I was a kid, I always thought I’d grow up to be a “writer.” I think I’m making up for lost time!
I can be reached at wendi.wendy at gmail.com
Sudden Silence 
Hi! I think this is a new blog? And I didn’t realize you were so recently late-deafened. It’s hard to lose your hearing so suddenly. I’ve had a progressive bilateral hearing loss for over thirty years. My husband only recently started losing his hearing in the past few years due to Menieres. We have a lot in common. Will you be getting a CI?
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Hi Kim!
Yes, I just started my blog a couple of weeks ago when I lost more of my hearing. It really helps to write about it!
Thanks so much for your nice comments. 🙂 I’m hoping to get a CI, and I’ll be going for an evaluation soon. If that becomes a reality, I’ll be writing about the whole CI process here as well.
Take care!
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Hello –
I’m a mom of 2 boys… my oldest son, who is 11, has a moderate hearing loss in both ears. We found out when he was 4. I JUST started a blog myself regarding this… with the hopes to offer support… share resources… and continue to learn and get support for myself.
You wrote: “Having never been raised as deaf, and rarely even acknowledging the fact that I was hearing impaired – it’s left me feeling like I’ve joined a new secret society ”
Sometimes, I feel like that is what everyone expects from people that are HOH. Since my son is not deaf, and does not use ASL, and can hear pretty well (with assistance) – it’s like everyone wants to just treat him the same as the rest of the hearing population – when he’s not. I think he feels like he should try to be the same also. When I mention differences to people – they are quick to blow things off or act like I’m making excuses for him or trying to get him special treatment… It can be frustrating.
I want him to learn more about the deaf culture and meet other HOH people. It would be escpecially cool if he could meet more kids that are HOH and wear hearing aids. He is the only kid we know that does – and, it’s a bit hard on him sometimes.
He also wants to learn ASL in middle school as his language – and that will be cool. I’d like to learn it also – just because. His hearing loss does not seem to be progressive… but, your story shows how things can change.
Deb
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I just found your blog via Deaf Village – wow, your implants are just 2 days away now! I had my own on June 26 and was switched on just over a week ago and it is fanTAStic. I can talk to my kids again – wow! I heard a bird tweet for the first time in 25 years… I learned that a mouse click actually emits a clicking noise!
I wish you all the best for this very exciting time!
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Hi Wendi,
I’m a college sophomore and my mom recently found your blog and sent it to me. Thank you so much for writing this! I have a similar story to yours – a progressive deafness, grew up completely mainstream and never knew a single deaf person until recently, still don’t know ASL – and I will be getting a cochlear implant on Sept. 9, 2008! Reading your “First Post” was pure deja vu because the same thing happened to me in December 2007 – I was at work (I worked at Hollister, with the crazy loud music) and all of a sudden the music became unbearable! The bass had always bothered me a little, but suddenly I couldn’t stand it, because I had lost even more hearing. In April 2008 I finally decided to get a CI, but I’m not brave like you…one ear at a time! I have a little residual hearing in my right ear that I want to preserve, so I’m doing the left.
I’ll be honest, reading your posts about your actual surgery absolutely terrified me. But it’s good to know what the surgery was like – I kept laughing at the parts about your glasses – I have poor sight myself without my contacts so I’ll be a little deaf-blind during my surgery too!
Hope your recovery is going well and I look forward to reading more about it!!
~Tania
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Hey there, Wendi!!!
Tomorrow is the day for your activation!! I am so stoked for you and can’t wait to hear all about it!!
Jennifer 😀
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hi wendy
i am a mother of a 2 yr old bilaterally deafened child. I started my blog in hope for raising funds needed for her CI. We are from the Philippines, health care system here is so poor that we have to raise the money on our own.When my daughter was assessed by a neurootologist (the one who will operate), the physician requested for a CT scan which till now we havent done yet. The physician wants to make sure if LARGE VESTIBULAR AQUEDUCT SYNDROME is present in her two ears because if it is present we have to restrict her activities to preserve her right ear.Her hearing loss is assymetrical in both ears. She has moderate-severe in her right ear but very profound in her left . We are considering CI for her worst ear. Have you heard of LVAS wendy? I’ve done research about it and based on what you have experienced with your hearing it fits very well with the symptoms of the syndrome.
GOD bless you and your family always.
berose
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You are indeed a good writer. You catched my interest and got me to read about your CI experiences for several hours – even though it is a topic that I have never been interested in. Keep on writing, and be proud of the fact that you have created an amazing resource through your blog and your experiences. I am sure that a lot of people appreciate that, even random visitors like me. 🙂
By the way, I have a slight hearing impairment and quite severe tinnitus myself – but hearing is one of those things that is very easy to take for granted. Being reminded that nothing should be taken for granted is always useful!
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Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.
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Hi I was googling for CI batteries and I stumbled upon your blog. Nice read and will be pooping ard to read more.
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hi wendi! i was trying to find “contact me” so i can send you a message but couldnt find it.
wanted to let ya know that i changed my blog’s url to yummiee cupcake from i can eat cant i.
tomorrow is the 6th CI anniversary! time flies so fast and initially i thought it has been 4 years haha. goodness, 6 years!! i’m going to start writing and hopefully it’ll be ready for tomorrow!!!
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Hi Wendi,
Do you include a blogroll here? If you are considering it, let us know and we’d like to link blogs with you. As far as we are told, non CI here, many still need and love inclusion of captioning, especially for any meetings and conferences, any group discussions, even with CI’s.
And if anyone cares to support the CCAC, all volunteer advocacy for inclusion of quality captioning universally, please see our website and join us (free).
Lauren/CCAC
http://www.ccacaptioning.org
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Lauren, thanks for your comment! I used to have a blogroll and it…disappeared. I didn’t even realize it until I went to add CCAC to my Blogroll and realized it wasn’t displaying on the site!
I’ve added CCAC, and think it is a wonderful cause!
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Wendy,
I am an approved, bilateral candidate and want to go simultaneously! Love your blog! and would love to know how you chose AB, and what specifically you like and dislike about AB now. I’m trying to decide between AB and MedEl, am 47 years old, Mom to 3 kids, and would love t hear from you. My email is taberfamily@bresnan.net
Thank you!
Robin Taber
Grand Junction, CO
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My wife has quite a few deaf family members. She used to be able to sign really well and teach it to the kids. Unfortunately, she never taught me, so they’d be signing in their high chair when momma wasn’t around and I’d be all WHAT?? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!!! I guess you had to be there. Lol, great blog though. You’ve got an interesting story and tell it well.
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Thanks so much! I am laughing about the kids signing to you though — I can imagine they could employ that really well as teenagers (or pre-teens, now that I think about it). Imagine being able to talk back to dad when he has no idea what you’re saying! 😀
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I nominated you for a Liebster Award today. I love reading your writings in is real and relatable. Thanks http://www.ausomemomma.wordpress.com
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